The month of Shabaan is a most auspicious one. The Holy Prophet has referred to it as"MY MONTH" and during this month, HE used to fast more than in any other month besides Ramadaan.
The 15th night of Shabaan is known as SHAB-e-BARAAT, which is next to Lailatul Qadir (27th night of Ramadaan) in auspiciousness. The Holy Prophet is reported to have said: "People are not aware of the excellence of the month of Shabaan, the month that comes between the months of Rajab and Ramadaan. In this month, the action of the people are presented (to ALLAH). I wish my actions to be presented whilst I am fasting."
On this night which begins from Magrib salaah Azan, the AMAL NAMA (record book) of a person containing all his deeds of the past year are closed and kept away in preservation till the day of resurrection and new Record books are started. Also, on this night,the various angels in charge of births, deaths, etc, are briefed and are assigned and instructed by ALMIGHTY ALLAH their various duties-the names and number of people who are to die during the coming year, births and the dates and times they are to take place during the coming year.
DEAR MUSLIM BROTHER AND SISTERS - 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 this night and during this night, offer special prayers and repent sincerely for our past sins and ask for HIS forgiveness.
Hazret Ali has said: "O people, spend the 15th night of shabaan in divine worship and keep fast on the 15th day of shabaan. on this auspicious night, ALLAH spreads HIS mercy on the earth and calls out: 'IS THERE ANY WHO SEEKS CURE FROM ILLNESS THAT I MAY CURE HIM? Thus HE calls the needy ,and grants them their needs, up till dawn."
(ibn majah)
Also on this night the doors of mercy and forgiveness are opened wide,and those who sincerely grieve over and repent for thier past sins and seek forgiveness from ALLAH, are pardoned and forgiven by the grace of ALLAH, the mercy.
Hazret ABU BAKR said: "On the night of Shabaan, ALLAH spreads HIS mercy on the earth and pardons all the sinners except the Polytheist,the Hypocrites and those who harbour ill-feeling towards their brethren." (baihaqi)
Further,a special point must also be made to visit the cemetery on this night and spend a long time there, reading and praying for the deceased.
Finally,on the 13th,14th,and 15th of this month one must fast not only to end one's AMAL NAMA with a good deed and begin the new AMAL NAMA with a good deed, but also because the Holy Prophethas said : "O PEOPLE,LIGHTEN AND CLEANSE THY BIDIES BY WAY OF FASTING DURING SHABAAN,SO THAT IS SHALL BE EASY AND HELPFUL TO YOU FOR THE FASTING DURING RAMADAAN.WHO SO FASTS THREE DAYS DURING SHABAAN,ALL HIS PAST SINS ARE WIPED OFF."
"O ALLAH,GUIDES US TO THE RIGHT PATH AND GRANT US WISDOM TO DO WHAT THOU HAST ORDERED SO THAT WE MAY RECEIVE THY FAVOUR."
Ameen.
More Information :
Prayers ( Nafl) for Shab-e-Baraat Shab-e-Baraat (Laylatul Nifsul Shaban) is the night when Allah the Almighty arranges the affairs of the following year. It is a night of worship and prayers for all Muslims. After sunset read 40 times "La Hawla walaa Quwwata illa Billahil-aliyil Azeem" with three times Durood Shareef before and after. It is mentioned that by reciting this, Almighty Allah will forgive forty years Nawafil for Shab-e-Baraat ( Special Prayers after Magrib / Esha - 6 rakaat Nafl prayer )
Read 6 rakaat Nafl prayer (2+2+2), after Magrib.
After every two rakaats read Surah Yaseen once, then dua Nisf e shaban. (This special prayer, by the blessing of Allah Almighty, will give you a healthy and prosperous life for the whole year.)
After Maghrib or Isha prayer read Surah Yasin three times, and after each time, read dua Nisfu Shab'aan see below) with the following intentions:
2 rakaahs of Nafil then Surah Yasin then dua Nisfu Shab'aan with niyyah (intention) ( for Long Life / Hayaati / Omar darazi ke Liye )
Read 2 rakaahs of Nafil then Surah Yasin then dua Nisfu Shab'aan reading with niyyah (intention) for Protection from Calamities. ( for The Guardian of Imaan )
Read 2 rakaahs of Nafil then Surah Yasin then dua Nisfu Shab'aan with the niyyat (intention) should be for not being needy to anyone except Allah. ( For Barakah in Rizq )
2. Read 12 rakaat nafl prayer, in each rakaat read: ( After Esha )o Surah Fatiha (Alhamdo) : 1x Surah Iklas: 10x. Afterwards read: 3rd Kalima : 10x 4th Kalima : 10x Darood Sharif : 100x Third Kalima Tamjeed
(Exaltation) " Subhaanallaahi wal hamdulillaahi wa laa ilaaha illallaahu wallaahu Akbar, wa laa hawla walaa quwwata illaa billaahil aliyyil adheem"
(Trans: Glory be to Allah. All praise be to Allah. There is none worthy of worship besides Allah and Allah is the Gratest. There is no power and might except from Allah, the Most High, the Great) Fourth Kalima Tawheed (Oneness)Laa ilaaha illallaahu wahdahoo laa shareeka lah. Lahul mulk, wa lahul hamd, yuhyiy wa yumeet biyadihil khayr wa huwa alaa kulli shay-in qadeer (Trans: There is none worthy of worship besides Allah who is alone. He has no partner. For him is the Kingdom, and for Him is all praise. He gives life and causes death. In His hand is all good. And He has power over everything) ( Salat-ul-Fatimuzohra Razi allahu Thaalah Anha )
3. Read 8 rakaat nafl prayer with one salaam. In each rakaat read Surah Fatiha : 1x Surah Iklas : 11x Hazrat Fatima (May Allah be pleased with her) is reported to have said that whoever will observe this prayer, on Shab-e-Baraat and will present its reward (sawab) to my soul, I will strongly recommend for his/her forgiveness to Allah Almighty before I enter the heavens.
4. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) used to read this dua abundantly on this night, we should do the same:Allahumma inni al-aloka afwa wal afiyata wal muafatad-daimata fid dunya wal akhirah
5. ( Salat-ul- Khair - 100 Rakaats Nafil Prayers)Read 100 rakaat naflt prayer reciting in each rakaat reciting Surah Fatiha : 1x Surah Iklas : 10x The person observing this prayer on Shab-e-Baraat will have tremendous blessings from Allah Almighty and his/her prayers will be answered and will be made free from the fire of hell and will go to paradise.The Prayer of Benefits Salat al-Khair ; which conists of 100 raka'ts It is good to spend that night praying Salat ul-Khair, which conists of 100 raka'ts, in each raka't reciting Sura al-Fatiha and 10 Surat Ikhlas. To complete the prayer one recites 1000 Sura Ikhlas. Hasan Basri "Thirty of the Companions of Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) related to me that Allah will look seventy times upon one who performs this prayer on this night, and with each glance He will fulfill seventy of that person's needs, the least of them being forgiveness." 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 Jannah, 30 angels to protect one from the Azaab (Punishment) of Jahanam (Hell), 30 to remove all misfortunes and miseries of this world and 10 angels to protect one from Shaitaan.
8th Month in the Islamic Calendar : Shabaan
Shabaan is the 8th month of the Islamic calendar and the month in which the holy night of Shab-e-Baraat is celebrated. Laylat al-Bara'ah - 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 Laylat al-Bara'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. Laylat al-Baraa'ah in Persian, as well as in Urdu, is called Shab-e Bara'at.It is the special night of seeking forgiveness 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 them selves and A'la Hadrat, Imam Ahmad Rida Fadil e-Bareilly (radi Allahu ta'ala anhu) has given a beautiful advise inthis regard. This great Imam said: "Verily the auspicious night of Shab-e-Bara'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 AlmightyAllah that through the Wasila-e-Uzma of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Salla Allahu alaihi wa Sallam) He forgives the sins and transgressions of allMuslims. Aameen."On this occasion, it should be the duty of all Sunni Muslims to forgive oneanother and to make sure that whatever debts owed to one another is settled. The importance of Huqooq al-Ibaad cannot be over-emphasised as this is among the pre-requisites for proper Ibaadat. I pray that all Muslimshumbly remember this night and try as much as possible to perform Ibaadat and other pious deeds so that their Record of Deeds be presentedin all dignity."Finally, I pray that the Almighty Allah assists you and I and the Muslim Ummah wherever you may be. Muslims should be aware of sincerity and honesty in all their deeds. May Almighty Allah forgive all of us. Aameen." Faqeer Ahmad Rida Qaderi (may Allah forgive him)How to welcome the Night On this auspicious night, you should perform fresh Ghusal and Wudhu and perform the two Rakaat of Tahhiyatul Wudhu.
In every Rakaat, after theSuratul Fatiha, you should read Ayatul Kursi once and Surah Ahad 3 times.Also perform eight Rakaats of Salah with four Salaams.In each Rakaat afterthe 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 Jannat al-Firdous.Countless Mercies Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) has stated: "Verily! Almighty Allah directs His Special Grace on the world on this Night. Heforgives 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 onlypertain to the Ahl as-Sunnah Wah Jama'ah collectively, for the righteous followers of the Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali indeed number millionsof Muslims.The visitors of this NightIt is narrated that the departed souls (Arwaah) of the Muslims visit the houses of their friends and relatives on this night and proclaim: "O peopleof the house! You stay in our houses and enjoy