When is Shab e barat?

Question

Does it actually start the night before the 15th day of Shaban or after? I think that Islamically, days start at sundown of the night before. Am I right? So is tonight the night for praying forgiveness or was it actually last night?

Additional Details

Shi'a, really? I have heard about it for many years, that it was like a Sunnah thing, not necessarily just Shi'a. That it is was a night that you stay up and pray and read Qur'an, dhikr and make make dua and such. I am not Shi'a so I am not really interested in the any of the Imam's birthdays, no offence to anyone.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Sister, Shab-e-barat [Nisf Sha'ban] is "bidah" and celebrated only by shia's, if you're sunni you don't celebrate it.

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shab-e-bara…

Answer 2

Yes, tonight is one of the most important and auspicious nights, the night of the 15th of Shabaan, also called Shab-e-Baraat. It is also the night of the birth of our 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi ibn Hasan (ATFS), and therefore a great night for rejoicing for all who are awaiting his (atfs) coming.

Answer 3

The month of Sha’ban is the eighth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The fifteenth night of this month is known as Laylatul Bara’ah or Laylatun Nisfe min Sha’ban in the Arab world. In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Afghanistan, etc., it is known as Shab-e-barat. Some people believe that in Surah al-Dukhan (44:3-4) there is a reference to this night as Allah says, “We sent it (the Qur’an) down during a blessed night. We are truly warners. In that night is made distinct every affair of wisdom” But the night referred to here cannot be a Sha’ban night, because it is said here clearly that the Qur’an was revealed in this night. We know from the Surah al-Qadr (97) that the Qur’an was revealed in the night of Qadr and we also know from the Qur’an (Al-Baqarah 2:185) that the Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadan, so it is obvious that the night of the revelation of the Qur’an was in Ramadan, not Sha’ban, and that it was Laylatul Qadr not Shab-e-barat (or the Sha’ban night). Some people also say that in the 2nd year of Hijrah, the direction of Qiblah was changed from Jerusalem to Ka’bah (Makkah) on the 15th day of Sha’ban. This report is also not confirmed by authentic Ahadith.According to most of the scholars of Tafsir, the Qur’an has not mentioned anything about the Sha’ban night. There are some Ahadith that speak about the Middle of Sha’ban and its night. However, the scholars of Hadith say that most of the Ahadith concerning this night are not sound. They are weak (da’if) according to the criteria of the Muhaddithin. Imam al-Mundhiri (died in 656 A. H.) in his famous book Al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib (vol. 2, pp. 116-120) has reported fourteen Ahadith on the subject of this night. The following points can be summarized from those Ahadith:

1. The month of Sha’ban is a great month.
2. In this month Allah takes the account of His creation.
3. Because this month occurs between two other important months, viz. Rajab and Ramadan, many people do not pay enough attention to it.
4. The Prophet -peace be upon him- loved to fast during this month. He used to fast most of the month of Sha’ban.
5. After sunset during the night of Middle of Sha’ban, Allah in His great mercy and kindness turns towards His creation and asks, “Is there anyone who would seek My forgiveness and I forgive him/her? Is there anyone who is in need to ask Me and I provide for his/her needs. Is there anyone who in pain and seek My help and I help him/her? Is there? Is there? until the time of Fajr.”
6. The Prophet -peace be upon him- is said to have recommended prayers during this night and fasting during the following day.
7. It reported that the Prophet -peace be upon him- used to visit the Muslim cemetery on this evening and he used to pray for the deceased Muslims. These are the things that we learn from some Ahadith about the significance of this night. However, there are many practices and customs common in some Muslim countries, such as making a sweet dish (Halwa), doing fireworks (atish baazi) etc. These things have no meaning and no reference in Ahadith. There are also some superstitious beliefs about this night. For example, some people believe that the spirits (arwah) of the deceased visit their relatives during this night. Some believe that there is a special Tree in the heaven upon whose leaves are the names of all human beings, and whatever leaves drop during this night, those people are destined to die in this year. Some think that the decisions about the life and death of people are made during this night. All these beliefs and superstitions do not belong to the authentic teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah.We must try to follow the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of the blessed Prophet -peace be upon him. It is our duty as Muslims to take advantage of all good occasions to revive our faith, to purify our souls and to increase our love and devotion to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, but we must follow the Sunnah of the Prophet -peace be upon him. We must not do anything in our celebrations that is against his teachings.

Source(s):

http://www.pakistanlink.com/religion/99/11-19.html

Answer 4

Holy night

http://smma59.wordpress.com/2006/08/28/a…

Answer 5

Its tonight :D

Well wishes for you and your family......

In Iran we call it Nim Shaban (middle of Shaban)

Answer 6

Where you from in uae it was on 14th

Answer 7

Arabic date starts from Magrib (sunset). So it is 15th tonight here for me. You must check with your hijiri calander in your area.
As for the greatness of this night, I answered here. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;…
Yes, we don't celebrate this night nor we ignore the importance of this night.

Aboo Hurayrah, ‘Aa’ishah, and other companions (may Allaah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allaah looks upon His creation on the middle of the night of Sha’baan, and He forgives all of His creation, except for a mushrik or a quarreler.” (al-Majmoo’Recorded by al – Bazzaar, at – Tirmithee, and others. Classed as Saheeh by Sheikh al – Albaanee in as – Saheehah, Number 1144)


The Messenger of Allaah Sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Allaah the Blessed and Most High looks to His creation on the middle night of Sha'baan and forgives all of His creation except for the one who ascribes partners to Him and the one who shows enmity."
(This is an authentic (saheeh) hadeeth. It is recorded by Ibn Maajah (no.1390), Ahmad (no.6642), Ibn Hibbaan (no.1980) and others from a group of Companions. It is authenticated by al-Haythamee in az-Zawaa'id (8/65) saying: "Reported by at-Tabaraanee in al-Kabeer and in al-Awsat and its narrators are trustworthy" and it is further authenticated by Shaikh al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no.1144)

Answer 8

Sister

Wahhabis are followers of Iblees. Iblees hates Rasoolallah (saww) wa Ale-Muhammad (as)

Anything related to Rasoolallah (saww) wa Ale-Muhammad (as) is hated by wahhabis. They will make different excuses for it.

Please recite Salwaat on Muhammad (saww) wa Ale-Muhammad (as)

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