Laylat-ul-baraat (shabb-e-baraat)-night of salvation
The 15th night of Shabaan is a very blessed night. According to the Hadith Shareef, the name of this Mubarak night is "Nisf
Shabaan" which means 15th night of Shabaan. The reason for this special night to attain its name of Laylatul Baraa'ah, meaning the
Night of Salvation, Seeking Freedom from Azaab and Calamity, is that in this night the Barkaat and acceptance of repentance may
be accomplished. Laylatul Baraa'ah in Persian, as well as in Urdu, is called Shabbe Baraat.
It is the night of seeking pardon and repenting to Almighty Allah, remembering our past sins and sincerely settling the mind that
one will never commits sins in the future. All the deeds that are against Shari'ah must be totally avoided so that our Du'a and
Istighfaar, hopefully, will be accepted. Muslims should check themselves and A'la Hazrat, Imam Ahmed Raza Bareilvi (radi Allahu
anhu) has given a beautiful advise in this regard. This great Imam said: "Verily the auspicious night of Shabbe Baraa'a is drawing
near when the deeds of the slave will be presented to the Almighty Allah. I humbly supplicate in the Darbar-e-Aqdas of the
Almighty Allah that through the Wasila-e-Uzma of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) He forgives the sins and
transgressions of all Muslims. Aameen.
HOW TO WELCOME THIS NIGHT
On this auspicious night, you should perform fresh Ghusal and Wudhu and perform the two Rakaat of Tahhiyatul Wudhu. In every
Rakaat, after the Suratul Fatiha, you should read Ayatul Kursi once and Surah Ahad three times. Also perform eight Rakaats of
Salaah with four Salaams. In each Rakaat after the Surah Fatiha, you should read the Ayatul Kursi (once) and Surah Ahad fifty
times.
WHAT TO RECITE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SUNSET
After sunset, you should recite "La Hawla walaa Quwwata illa Billahil-aliyil Azeem" forty times with three times Durood Shareef
before and after. It is mentioned that by reciting this, Almighty Allah will forgive forty years of your sins and forty Hoors will
await to serve you in Jannatul Firdous.
COUNTLESS MERCIES
Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated: "Verily! Almighty Allah directs His Special Grace on the world on
this Night. He forgives my Ummah more than the number of wool that is found on the sheep of the Bani Kalb". We should
remember that in those days the Bani Kalb possessed the most number of sheep that any other tribe.
How great is the Mercy of Almighty Allah on this night that He forgives millions of Muslims. We also realise from this that these
numbers can only pertain to the Ahle Sunnah Wa Jamaah collectively, for the righteous followers of the Hanafi, Shaafi'i, Maaliki
and Hambali indeed number millions of Muslims.
THE VISITORS OF THIS NIGHT
It is narrated that the departed souls (Arwaah) of the Muslims visit the houses of their friends and relatives on this night and
proclaim: "O people of the house! You stay in our houses and enjoy the wealth that we have left behind. You use our children and
take work from them, please perform our Esaale Sawaab. Verily our deeds have become complete, while your record of deeds is
still spread".
If the people of the house perform the Esaale Sawaab and Khatam Shareef on this night, then the Arwaah depart will the Sawaab
extremely happy and overjoyed all the time making Du'a for the people.
TO KEEP FAST
According to the Hadith Shareef which is narrated by Ibne Habaan (radi Allahu anhu) that Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)
said: "When the night of 15th Shabaan arrives spend the night awake and keep fast the next day".
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said often in his Khutba
(sermon): "O people! Lighten and cleanse your bodies by way of fasting during Shabaan, so that it shall be easy and helpful to you
for the fast during Ramadaan. Whoso fasts for three days during Shabaan, all his past sins are wiped off". (Baihaqi) Fasting is also
recommended on the 13th, 14th and 15th of Shabaan.
HOW TO SPEND THE NIGHT
On this night, perform Nawaafil, recite the Quran Shareef, recite abundant Durood Shareef, Istighfaar and Kalima Tayyibah. It is
also mentioned that if one reads Surah Dukhaan seven times on this night, Almighty Allah will reward you with 70 worldly needs
and 70 deeds for the Hereafter.
A HUMBLE APPEAL TO SEEK PARDON AND ASK ALLAH'S FORGIVENESS
Dear Muslim brothers, the Bountiful Allah in His Infinite Mercy has provided us with such an auspicious night so that we may take
advantage of it and repent for our sins, and thus obtain His Grace and Favour. It is for us to take full advantage of it. During this
night, offer special prayers and repent sincerely for our past sins and ask for His Forgiveness.
Also on this night the Doors of Mercy and Forgiveness are opened wide, and those who sincerely grieve over and repent for their
past sins and seek forgiveness from Allah are pardoned and forgiven by the Grace of Allah the Merciful.
Each Tasbih or Du'a should begin and terminate with the recital of Durood Shareef and one who wishes for the acceptance of his
Du'as should use the Wasila of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).
Hazrat Ghousul Azam, Sheikh Abdul Qaadir Jilani (radi Allahu anhu) has mentioned in his famous "Gunyat-ut Taalibeen" that the
month of Shabaan according to some narrations is related to Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). So, it is our duty, as the
Ummat of Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) to love and respect this month more than any other month (besides Ramadaan).
We should also offer abundantly salutations (Salaat-o-Salaam) upon the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).
NAFIL SALAAH TO BE READ ON SHABBE BARAAT
BASHARAT OF JANNAT: Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said that Allah Ta'ala instructs
and assigns 100 angels to the person who performs 100 Nafil Salaahs on this auspicious night - 30 of which will bring the good
news of Jannat, 30 angels to protect one from the Azaab (Punishment) of Dozakh (Hell), 30 to remove all misfortunes and miseries
of this world and 10 angels to protect one from Shaitaan.
THE GUARDING OF IMAAN: After performing Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. In the first rakaah, after Surah Fatiha,
recite Surah Ikhlaas 3 times and Surah Falaq once. In the second rakaah, after Surah Fatiha, recite Surah Ikhlaas 3 times and
Surah Naas once. After Salaam, make Du'a and ask Allah to protect your Imaan.
BARAKAH IN RIZQ: After Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. Thereafter, read Surah Yasin once, Surah Ikhlaas 21 times
and Du'a Nisf Shabaan once. Then, make Du'a for Barakah in Rozi and ask Allah not to make you dependent on anyone.
LONG LIFE FILLED WITH PIETY: After Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. Read Surah Yasin once. Then read Du'a Nisf
Shabaan once. Thereafter, make Du'a for long life filled with piety and righteousness.
REWARD FOR TEN THOUSAND GOOD DEEDS: Anyone who performs 20 rakaahs of Nafil after Maghrib in such a way that
after Surah Fatiha, recites Surah Ikhlaas 10 times in every rakaah, will be rewarded abundantly by Allah Ta'ala, and ten thousand
good deeds will be recorded in his Amal Namaa (Book of Deeds).
DEATH WITH COMPLETE FAITH/IMAAN: Anyone who performs 2 rakaahs of Nafil on the last Friday of Shabaan between
Maghrib and Esha will die with full faith and Imaan. After Surah Fatiha, one should read Ayatul Kursi once, Surah Ikhlaas 10 times
and Surah Falaq and Surah Naas once in both rakaahs. If the person who reads Nafil in such a way dies until the next Shabaan,
will die with Imaan, Insha-Allah.
SHAYKH NAZIM ON THE NIGHT OF 15TH SHABAN
Read surah yaseen 3 times
1,the first is to be readwith the intention of raising ones maqam or station
2,the second with the intention of asking for rizq or provision
3,the third with the intention of protection from enemies
After isha salat one should read 1,000 surah ihklas
Number of rakat needed to complete the above 40 rakat in which 25 sura ihklas are read in each rakat.
A way which does come from hadith and is mentioned for example in the book al-ghunyatu li-taalibiyi i-haqq, a work ascribed to
shaykh abdul qadir al-jilani consists of 100 rakat, best of all is to pray these 2-2-2 etc though it would be acceptable to combine
them into four six or eight rakat with one salam shaykh nazim prays two-two-two etc in each rakat you pray surah fatihah and
then ten surah ihklas