This year, Shab e Barat 2020 is expected to be on the night of Wednesday, April 8, 2020. However, the exact date is subject to the sighting of the moon of Shaban, 1441.
WHAT IS SHAB-E-BARAT
Shab e Barat is an important night in the Islamic calendar and it is celebrated in the mid of Shaban (on the night in between the 14th and 15th of Shaban). This is the reason why it is called Nisf Shaban. 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. Nisf Shaban is known as Shab e Barat or Shabe Barat in South Asia, especially in Sub-continent, Lailatul Barat in Arabic, Nisfu Syaban (Malam Nisfu Syaban) in Indonesia and Malaysia and Berat Kandili in Turkey. Shab e Barat is a night which many Muslims revere as the night of forgiveness, praying the whole night asking Allah to bestow them with His blessings.
THE MONTH OF SHABAN
Shaban is the 8th month of the Islamic Calendar. It is a month of blessings and asking Allah for forgiveness. The same is also evident from the following Hadiths about this blessed month:.Aishah bint Abu Bakr (R.A.) reported that:"The Messenger of Allah did not fast in any month of the year more than he did in Shaban. He used to fast all of Shaban." (An-Nasai: 2180).Our beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) used to fast all days during this month. Only this fact clearly states the virtues and importance of the month of Shaban.
SHABE BARAT ACCORDING TO HADITH
First of all, there are no Sahih Hadiths or verses in the Quran that clearly point-out or talk about the significance of the night. However, especially in South Asia, many people celebrate the night, spending time in worship of Allah.However, there are some Daaif Hadiths that mentions the importance and virtues of this night.
Aishah (R.A.) narrated that:
".... He (S.A.W.) said: 'Indeed Allah, Mighty and Sublime is He, descends to the lowest Heavens during the night of the middle of Shaban, to grant forgiveness to more than the number of hairs on the sheep of (Banu) Kalb.'" (Tirmidhi: 739).In another Hadith reported by Aishah (R.A.) that the Prophet (S.A.W.) spent the middle night of Shaban in extensive prayer to the extent that she thought he had died. (Al-Bayhaqi & Al-Tabarani).
SHABE BARAT ACCORDING TO PROMINENT SCHOLARS
According to Imam Al-Shafi'ee:
"There are five nights when the supplications (Duas) are accepted by Allah. These are (1) Friday night, (2) Night before Eid-ul-Fitr, (3) Night before Eid-ul-Adha, (4) First night of Rajab and (5) Night of Nisf Shaban."
According to Imam Malik:
"There are four nights in which gates of righteousness are opened, (1) Night before Eid-ul-Fitr, (2) Night before Eid-ul-Adha, (3) Night of Arafat (9th Dhul Hijjah during Hajj) and (5) Night of Nisf Shaban."
FASTING ON 15TH SHABAN
There is no authentic Hadith about keeping fast explicitly and exclusively on the 15th day of Shaban. As mentioned above that Prophet (S.A.W.) used to fast frequently during this month. So 15th Shaban cannot be singled out for fasting.
CELEBRATION OF SHAB E BARAT
Different countries have different ways of celebrating this night. People often tend to distribute sweets to each other on this night. Some people even celebrate the night with fireworks although this is a result of the influence of the local traditions and does not have any religious significance and even some scholars called this Bidah (Innovation in religion). In Iraq, people often distribute sweets to children. In South Asian countries, people usually distribute a local dessert known as a "Halwa" or other delicacies to neighbors, family, friends, and the poor and needy. Middle Eastern countries normally do not celebrate the night.
CONCLUSION
So, you may spend this night by doing good deeds such as asking Duas for yourself and for all the Muslims around the world, recitation of Al-Quran and any other act to get Allah's attention and blessings as these deeds are Sunnah of Prophet (S.A.W.) according to the Hadiths mentioned above. But note one thing that any act of worship during this night is not obligatory.
ALLAH KNOWS BEST.
