Laila-tul-Barah

[Ruhi_Rose]

Is Laila-tul-Barah same as Shab-e-Barat?  If not, can you please mention the difference.  Also please let me know if anything about it is mentioned in the Quran.  As far as I know, it's entirely from the Hadith.

[Zainab_M]

Lailatul Bara'ah and Shab-e-Barat are the same occasion with different labels.  In the Middle-East they call it Lailatul Bara'ah and in Pakistan it's known as Shab-e-Barat.  It takes place on the 15th of Shaban and the night of observance is between 14th and 15th of Shaban.  

It's not mentioned in the Glorious Quran.  It's entirely from the Hadith with numerous stories attached to it.  Even according to Hadith followers there are two opinions regarding this occasion.

One group of Hadithists say that the Hadith narrations which mention about Lailatul Baraah or Shab-e-Barat are unauthentic or Daeef Ahadith and must all be discarded.  They also acknowledge that a lot of bid'ah or improper practices have ensued from the false Hadiths regarding Lailatul Baraah.

Another group of Hadith followers accept this occasion by upholding those Hadith narrations that mention it.  They guess and claim that the Prophet (SAAW) said it's the night for seeking forgivness.  Lailatul Baraah means the 'night of freedom from Hellfire.'  You will find a load of forged ahadith on Laila-tul-Barah.  These people have also tried to link this event with the Quran by claiming that Verses 2 to 6 of Surah Ad-Dukhan refer to Lailatul Baraah, but that's not true at all.  Verses 2 to 6 of Surah Ad-Dukhan refer to Laialtul Qadr as also mentioned in Surah Al-Qadr, 97th Chapter of the Glorious Quran.  Here, the Night of Qadr or the Night of Power means the Night when the Quran began being revealed which is on one of the blessed nights of the month of Ramadan.

Here are the Verses of Surah Ad-Dukhan.  They do not refer to any other night except the night when the Quran was revealed.

By the Scripture that maketh plain
Lo! We revealed it on a blessed night - Lo! We are ever warning -
Whereon every wise command is made clear
As a command from Our presence - Lo! We are ever sending -
A mercy from thy Lord. Lo! He, even He is the Hearer, the Knower,
(44:2-6)

Tales about Leilat-ul Baraah have been circulating since years.  This itself is sufficient proof of its being unauthentic.  Some claim that the souls of the dead visit earth on this night.  Then again, some guess that their fate for the following year is given to the angels while others think it's the night to seek the forgivness of Allah.   However, Allah has not specified any particular days or nights for asking forgiveness of Him.  Repentance is permitted at all times of the year provided one is sincere.

Those who accept the Hadith stories also fast during 14th, 15th and 16th of Shaban.  Some fast the entire month of Rajab which precedes  Shaban as a gesture to prepare and train oneself for Ramadan."  However, these practices are not warranted by the Quran.  Many of these folks exhaust all their energy by fasting on other months prior to the month of Ramadan, and by the time Ramadan arrives, they get so tired that they hardly enjoy their Ramadan fasts.  Allah has said that He has NOT placed any hardships in religion and  Allah has ordered to fast only in the month of Ramadan .. the blessed month when the Glorious Quran began being revealed.

Indeed preparing for Ramadan is a very good idea.  Also, many of us need to  save your energy so we can complete all 30 obligatory fasts during the month of Ramadan.  Preparation for Ramadan is done best with some additional worship in the month of Shaban, preferably in the form of nafl prayers, zikr, giving something on charity and beginning regular reading of the Quran (at least 2 or 3 rukus a day which can be increased during Ramadan).  Of course, extra worship of Allah is permissible and useful at all times.  Extra fasting is also allowed whenever one wishes.   But many of our jurists have made a rigid rule to fast for the whole of Rajab and also certain days of Shaban which is not commanded in the Quran as obligatory.  The Divine Rule to fast is only in Ramadan.   


Related post (later posted by Sister Ruhi)
- Custom of Shab-e-Barat and its link with orthodox Christianity
- On fasting in Rajab and Shaban
-  How far do you agree with perception of Rajab and Shaban?
-  The hoax about Eid Ma'Bath

[Ruhi_Rose]

Thanks so much sis.  As usual your explanations are so simple, clear and logical - very much in line with the Quran. 

This Lailatul Bara'ah has been talked about in many different ways by people.  You're right about that.  It's resulted in confusing me utterly.  So I decided that I must simply make sure if it's in the Quran or not.  If it's not in the Quran, I'll quit it and start making my own Ramadan preparations by planning my schedule for Ramadan - and there's so much to plan when you have kids at home - and like you said, the best preparation is by increasing nafl prayers, reading of the Quran and increasing our dua or supplications for the Prophet (S) and our loved ones. 

Btw ,, how about the Shiias, do they also observe Lailatul Baraah or Shab-e-barat the same way?

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Hmmm, this being the month of Shaban, there's a lot abuzz about Laila-tul-Barah among Hadithers.  Sister Zeynab has put up a good write-up.  Sis Rose, no need to get confused.  Just forget what the Hadithers are sayin and only be focused on the Quran.  In the Quran this event of Laila-tul-Barah or Shab-i-Barat is nowhere mentioned.  We have to fast only in Ramadan.  If one has the time to start the extra worship and reciting of the Quran a few days prior to the commencement of Ramadan, that's great.  However, one must make sure that everything is in order so that the Ramadan fasts can begin without interruptions or problems created by the daily household chores.  Very true, with kids in the household there's a lot to plan regarding our schedule to keep the Ramadan days going smooth.  And of course, in order to fast the whole of Ramandan, one must be 100% healthy - physically and mentally.  May Allah (Subhana Wa'Tala) grant us health and energy so we can successfully complete all our 30 fasts during this very blessed month, InshAllah, ameen.  It's a great favor from Allah that He has made us lucky enough to experience yet another blessed month of Ramadan.  Life is so uncertain, no one knows if they'll be alive to go through the next Ramadan.  In North America, Ramadan is starting on August 11, 2010.  In Middle-East and Pakistan probably a day later.

As for Shiias, they too have their own stories about Shaban.  They probably don't fast during Shaban but they spend the night of 15th Shaban in prayers because according to them 15 Shaban marks the birthday of Imam Mahdi.  The so-called birthday of Imam Mahdi is connected with a long story of how his mother had a dream on the night of his birth or something like that.  I don't know the details of the story .... and these Shiia / Sunni stories are really not worth exploring.  However, the crux of the matter is that both Sunnis and Shiias observe 15th Shaban but both have concocted their own different tales, nothing of which is confirmed, not even hinted upon in the Noble Quran. 

[Zainab_M]

Thanks for that info on the Shiia perspective of the month of Shaban.  I knew that Shiias also consider the month of Shaban to be important, but I didn't know it was linked with the birthday of Imam Mahdi on 15 Shaban. 

[Ruhi_Rose]

yes, same here.  thanks sis, for all the info.  I feel a lot more at ease now

[N. Truth Seeker]

O yes, Shaban is a very important month for Shiias because of the birthdays of 3 of the Shiia imams.  3rd Shaban is the birth of Imam Hussein.  5th Shaban is the birthday of Imam Zein-ul-Abedin and 15th Shaban (night) is said to be the birth of Imam Mahdi. 

[Ruhi_Rose]

o really?  i see .. thanks brother.  I thought Imam Hussein's birthdate was 15th of Ramadan

[N. Truth Seeker]

15th Ramadan is Imam Hasan.

[Ruhi_Rose]

I see, thanks br. pt.

Lailatul Bara'ah and Shab-e-Barat are the same occasion with different labels.  

and btw, these 2 labels sound different but have the same meaning.  "Lail" in Arabic means night and "shab" in Persian & Urdu means night too.  The terms "baraah" and "barat" are obviously the same.  In Arabic "ah" at the end becomes "at" in Persian and Urdu.  However, I didn't know the word "bara'ah" meant freedom from Hellfire but obviously it does.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Yes, "lail" and "shab" mean the same, that is, night.  The term "lail" is also used in farsi meaning night. 

The word "bara'ah" (براءة ) in Arabic means innocent or guiltlessness.  The same word in Persian would translate as "bey gunahi" (بی گناهی ) or "baraat"  (برائت), as you right pointed out the "ah" in Arabic becoming "at" in Persian. 

So, the expression freedom from Hellfire refers to the term innocence or guiltlessness (i.e. bara'ah or baraat), which means acquiring innocence or washing away one's sins to free oneself from Hellfire.  And additional worship of Allah plus repentance is the key to cleaning up one's sins.  That's the reference. 

[Ruhi_Rose]

aa ah!  I got it.  Many thanks for this very articulate and simple clarification brother pt.  

Did anyone of u fast on the 14 or 15th of Shaban.  Have any of u started preparations for Ramadan starting on Aug. 1, 2011 (InshAllah) ?  I am ready for Ramadan but haven't yet done extra worships apart from my daily 5 prayers, some important zikrs and reading 2 to 3 pages of the Noble Quran daily.  

[Zainab_M]

Thanks and very well explained br. ts.  Yes, the expression implies innocence or elimination of sins leading to freedom from Hellfire.

Sister Ruhi, no, I haven't started any particular preparations for Ramadan though like you I too am ready for it.  Actually my regular days already consist of a busy spiritual schedule .. my 5 prayers, reading of the Quran or studying tafsirs and more than a dozen zikrs.  During Ramadan I will increase my reading of the Quran and try to do several more nafl prayers in addition of what I am already following, InshAllah.

[Ruhi_Rose]

That sounds super.  I must also increase the number of zikrs I say daily.

What about u, sister Heba and br. ts?

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Much the same as u and sister zeynab.  Continuing with my daily prayer schedule and Quran reading, and hope InshAllah to increase them during Ramadan.  Haven't yet done any extra preparation though I would love to, I am ready to start my 30 obligatory fasts as soon as Ramadan arrives.  Praise be to Allah alone.