Shab-e-Barat
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| Shab-e-Barat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Official name | Persian: برات, romanized: the bright night |
| Observed by | Muslims |
| Type | Islamic |
| Observances | Commemoration of the recently deceased Forgiveness |
| Date | Night between 14 & 15 of Sha'ban, which is known as Mid-Sha'ban |
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Shab-e-Barat, Barat Night, Cheragh e Barat, Berat Kandili, or Nisfu Syaaban (in Southeastern Asian Muslims) Shab-e-Barat is one of the major festivals for the Muslim community celebrated on the 15th night (the night between the 14th and 15th) of the month of Sha'ban, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar.This blessed night starts at sunset on the 14th of Shaban and ends at dawn on the 15th of Shaban. Different countries have different ways of celebrating this day and each has a different name for it. Shab-e-Barat is observed simultaneously with the Shia Mid-Sha'ban Mahdi birthday festival, but Barat has different origins. Shab-e-Barat has its roots in the Persian festival of Mehregan seven month of persian. Barat also is known as Cheragh (lamp), where tributes were offered to the recently deceased and 3days evening ceremony dedicated to remembering the dead.[1] [1]
Description
Some people mistake Shab-e-Barat festival and Shia Mid-Sha'ban ceremony as they take place at the same time, but Shab-e-Barat's rituals and styles differ from region to region, while Mid-Sha'ban is celebrated the same everywhere. The observance of Barat involves a festive nightlong vigil with prayers. In most regions, it is a night when one's deceased ancestors are commemorated. Shab-e-Barat is considered a major event in the Islamic calendar, where Muslims collectively worship and ask for forgiveness of their wrongdoings. It is believed to reward them with fortune for the whole year and cleanse them of their sins. In many regions, it is also a night when prayers are offered to forgive one's deceased ancestors.[2] Additionally, Twelver Shia Muslims commemorate the birthday of Muhammad al-Mahdi.[3][4] Salafi adherents oppose the recognition of Mid-Sha'ban as exceptional for prayer.[5]
Origins
According to a study by Eiichi Imoto and Mohammad Ajam, Shab-e-Barat is rooted in pre-Islamic religions in the Middle East and Persia. Eastern Iranians traditionally preserve the Barat like the Bon Festival in Buddhism and Pitri Paksha in Hinduism and Zoroastrianism. the main goal of the ceremony is praying for the happiness of the souls of the dead. in this case it is also very similar with main proposes in doing Halloween ceremony by Christian. The study states that the Persian word brat (bright) is different from the Arabic word bara'at. The Khorasan people call the Barat the Cheragh (light) Brat, meaning bright or light festival.[6] Al-Biruni (973 – after 1050) had written about "a festival from 12 to 15 of the lunar month that in Arabic is Al Baiz meaning bright, and Barat also is called al Ceqe meaning Cheque." In some Iranian cities, people celebrate this festival by gathering in the cemeteries, lighting Peganum harmala (wild rue)—a holy plant in old Persia—placing the fire in a corner of the tombs, and pouring some salt on the fire while reading a poem saying: "The Peganum harmala is bitter and salt is salty so the jealous eye of the enemy be blind."[1]
Shab-e-Barat is also known as the Night of Forgiveness or Day of Atonement.[7] Muslims observe Mid-Sha'ban as a night of worship and salvation. Scholars like Imam Shafii, Imam Nawawi, Imam Ghazzali, and Imam Suyuti have declared praying acceptable on the night of mid-Shaban.[8] In his Majmu'[definition needed], Imam Nawawi quoted Imam al-Shafi'i's Kitab al-Umm that there are five nights when dua (prayer) is answered, one of them being the night of the 15th of Sha`ban.
Etymology
Shab-e-Barat is mainly celebrated by Muslims in Asia. Muslims believe that on the night of Shab-e-Barat, God writes the destinies of all men and women for the coming year by taking into account the deeds they committed in the past. It is of high value to Sunni Muslims,[7] and is regarded as one of the holiest nights on the Islamic calendar.[9]
Significance and traditions
To pray for the dead and ask God for the forgiveness of the dead is a common ceremony in all cities that hold Barat ceremonies. According to a hadith tradition, Prophet Muhammad went into the graveyard of Baqi' on this night, where he prayed for the Muslims buried there. On this basis, some clerics deem it advisable on this night to go to the graveyard of the Muslims to recite part of the Qur'an and pray for the dead.[10]
According to some Sunni Islam traditions, this night is called Shab-e-Bara'at (transl. "the night of freedom") because Allah frees those who are destined for Hell.[7]
Customs in different countries
This occasion is celebrated all over South and Central Asia. In the Arab world, the festival is celebrated by Sufi and Shia Muslims. Salafi Arabs do not celebrate this holiday.
Iran
The Barat festival in Khorasan, especially in the Greater Khorasan region, Kurdistan, and parts of Iran, is one of the most important festivals for respecting the souls of the dead.[2] People in every area have their own customs, but the common tradition is to prepare sweets and candy with dates (Halva) and Date palm. before sunset Groups gather in cemeteries to clean the tombs to place offerings of sweets and candy pot on the tombs for the departed to eat, to pray, and to light candles to turn on the lights (cherag). In some Iranian cities, to celebrate this festival people gather in the cemeteries to burn Peganum harmala or haoma (wild rue) in a corner of the tombs and pour some salt on the fire, and recite a poem saying: the Peganum harmala is bitter and salt is salty so the jealous eye of the enemy be blind. In Iran, the Barat festival is celebrated in two different ceremonies. in the recent century On the day of 15th,which is a national holiday all city streets are lit to commemorate the birth date of Imam Al Mahdi, the last imam of Shia.[7]. but shab barat festival have a long history."[1]
Iraq
In Iraq, people give children candies as they walk through their neighborhoods. Sunni Muslims in Iraqi Kurdistan and Afghanistan celebrate this holiday 15 days before Ramadan, so Muslims in Indonesia do communal dhikr devotions in mosques followed by a lecture (ceramah) led by an ustadz[definition needed]. This tradition is rarely followed in Indonesia, but it is widely followed in Aceh, West Sumatra, and South Kalimantan. In southern Asia, Muslims make sweets (especially halwa or zarda) to give to neighbors and the poor on the evening before the 15th of Sha’ban.[11]
Bangladesh
Shab e Barat is observed by Bangladeshi Muslims. Many schools remain closed on that day. Many people fast on that day and pray after the Isha Prayer.
India
Historically, Shab-e-Barat in India has been associated with fasting, visiting mosques, charity, and lighting lamps, candles, and fireworks.[12] The Darul Uloom Deoband seminary in India has opined that individual worship on the night of 15th Shaban is mustahab (virtuous) but practices such as lighting bulbs, preparing a variety of dishes, wearing new clothes, making halwa and collective worship in mosques are bid'ah (innovation) and should be avoided.[13] People belonging to the Muslim community of India pray all night and also recite the holy Quran. They start their prayers after sundown with the Isha Ki Namaz(night prayer). On the next day down, before azaan, sehri is eaten. Devotees also believe that Shab-e-Barat is the night when God decides the fortunes of people.Here are some wishes you can share with loved ones on the occasion such as : Mubarak ho aap ko Shab-e-Barat. On this day, may Allah’s mercy, blessing, benefit, pardon and forgiveness descend upon the people of earth. [3]
Pakistan
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Shab-e-Barat is observed throughout Pakistan, and is an optional holiday that can be chosen from employment and holiday laws in Pakistan. Some employees may choose to take this day off, though most offices and businesses remain open.
Turkey
Berat Kandili is considered sacred. The ceremony has been popular since the Ottoman Empire of Sultan Selim II when it was named "oil lamp" after burning lamps in minarets.
Shab e Barat in Japan
Shab e Barat in Japan is an important ceremony for Muslims of japan. In Islam, there are several Islamic events that have their own significance. However, Shab e Barat is also among the holiest event in Islam. Each year, Muslims in Japan do special arrangements regarding the event. They eagerly wait for the moon sighting to be aware about the confirmed date of Shab e Barat in Japan and to plan their activities accordingly.[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Dr. Ajam. "Brat and its roots".
- ^ Jamal J. Elias (1999). Islam: Religions of the world. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-0-415-21165-9.
... Laylat al-bara'a ... fortune for the coming year is popularly believed to be registered in Heaven ... prayer vigils and by feasting and illumination ... oblations are made in the name of deceased ancestors ...
- ^ "The great Shia scholar, Abu Ja'far Mohammad ibn Uthman al-Amri – Imam Reza (A.S.) Network". imamreza.net. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017.
- ^ The Return of al-Mahdi. P11
- ^ Muhammad Umar Memon, Aḥmad ibn ʻAbd al-Ḥalīm Ibn Taymīyah (1976), Ibn Taimīya's struggle against popular religion: with an annotated translation of his Kitāb iqtiḍāʾ aṣ-ṣirāṭ al-mustaquīm mukhālafat aṣḥāb al-jaḥīm, Mouton, 1976, ISBN 978-90-279-7591-1,
... among the Salaf as well as those among the khalaf, however, reject any excellence for the night in question and challenge the authenticity ... Marking mid-Sha'ban by fasting is without foundation, nay marking it is disapproved of. Likewise, celebrating it by preparing ...
- ^ "Shab-e-Barat 2021: Who Can Bestow Fortune and Forgiveness?". S A NEWS. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Live Chennai: Shab-E-Barat – Festivals of India – Festivals in India – Muslim Festivals – Ramzan – Id-ul-fitr – Bakrid, Eid Mubarak". livechennai.com.
- ^ "Shab-e-Baraat 2020: Date, history and significance of Shab-e-Baraat". Hindustan Times. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Lailatul Barat". wincalendar.com.
- ^ "Shab-e-Barat 2021: Know about the importance of the day". The Indian Express. 28 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "About: Shab-e-Barat (شب برات)". Events in Karachi – Latest Event Updates- Articles – About Karachi.
- ^ Sircar, Jawhar (26 March 2021). "Understanding the History and Purpose of Celebrating Shab-e-Barat". The Wire. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- ^ "Shabe barat". darulifta-deoband.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
External links
