What The Holy Quran says about the Shab Baraat ?
Shab Baraat:
This is the night in which the glad tidings of forgiveness and pardon are
given to the worshippers of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). This night is mentioned in the
following verses of the Holy Quran: Dukhan 1-4. A group of the Mufassirin and the scholars
interpret this “Lailatul Mubarakah” as the 15th night of Sha’abaan, which is called as
Lailatul Baraat“Lailatul Mubarakah” in the light of the Tafseer:
The excellence of Shab Baraat is mentioned in many Hadith. What does “Lailatul
Mubarakah” mentioned in the Holy Quran is clearly written down by the scholars that the
Lailatul Mubarakah means Shab Baraat.
Imam Shaykh Ahmed Bin Muhammad Saavi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him)
(deceased 1427 Hijri) writes in his book: Haashiya As Saavi Alal Jalalain under the above
mentioned verse in Vol. 4, Pg No: 57, Tafseer Kabeer, Surah Dukhan:
Translation:
“ Lailatul Mubarakah means the 15th night of Sha’abaan. This is the opinion of
Hadhrat Akrama and a group (of scholars) and this is acceptable because of some
reasons. One among them is that the 15th of Sha’abaan has 4 names:
1. The blessed night.
2. The night of deliverance.
3. The night of Mercy.
4. The night of reward.”
Imam Syed Mahmood Alusi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) (D. 1270 Hijri) writes in
Ruh Al Ma'ani:
Translation:
“Hadhrat Akrama and one group said that this is the 15th night of Sha’abaan
and this night is also called as the night of mercy, the blessed night, and night of reward
and the night of freedom.”
The author of Ruh Al Bayan (D. 1127 Hijri) writes:
Translation:
“Lailatul Mubarak means the night of Sha’abaan.” (Ruh Al Bayan, Vol. 8, Pg No:
448)
The King of the saints, Hadhrat Ghawth ul A’adham (D. 561 Hijri) (May Allah be well
pleased with him) in the Tafseer of Lailatul Mubarakah:
Translation:
“ That is the 15th night of Sha’abaan and it is Shab Baraat.” (Ghuniya Lit talibi
tariqil haqqi Vol. 1, Pg No: 189)
The Holy Quran says about the Lailatul Mubarakah
“In that (night) is made distinct every affair of wisdom.”
Surah Dukhan (44:4)
This verse shows that Lailatul Mubarakah is the night of decisions and about the 15th night
of Sha’abaan, it is mentioned in the Hadith that all the affairs of the coming year are
decided.
This way the mentioned Hadith become the details of Lailatul Mubarakah, as
mentioned in the narration of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased
with them) in Ruh Al Ma'ani, Vol. 4, Pg No: 174:
Translation:
“It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (May Allah be
well pleased with them) that the decisions of all the matters are taken on the 15th night of
Sha’abaan.”
One final explanation:
In this connection, the Mufassirin have related 2 opinions.
One that Lailatul Mubarakah
means Shab Baraat and the other that it means Shab Qadr.
To reconcile (Tatbeeq) these 2 interpretations, it is said that about Lailatul Mubarakah, it is said: Dukhan-4
This shows that in this blessed night decisions are taken and it is mentioned in the Hadith
that decisions are taken on the 15th night of Sha’abaan and they are given to the
respective angels in Lailatul Qadr. Thus, if Lailatul Mubarakah is interpreted as Shab Qadr,
it means that the angels are given the orders on that night and if Shab Baraat is taken,
then it means taking the decisions.
It is given in Hashiya Al Jaml alal Jalalain, Vol. 4, Pg No: 100 and in Ma'alim Ut Tanzeel:
Translation:
“It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Abbas (May
Allah be well pleased with them): Verily! Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) makes the
decisions in Shab Baraat and passes them on to those who are responsible in Shab Qadr.”
Interpretation by Shah Abdul Aziz (May Allah shower His Mercy on him):
“On interpreting Lailatul Mubarakah as Shab Baraat, a question might be raised that it is
clearly given in the Holy Quran that it was revealed in Shab Qadr, then what revelation of
the Holy Quran mean in Shab Baraat?”
Hadhrat Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlwi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) writes
about this in Tafseer Azeezi, 30th para Surah Qadr, Pg No: 259:
Translation:
“Here a question is raised. That is the Holy Quran was revealed completely
over a period of 23 years, this began in the month of Rabe’e ul Awwal. Then, the 40th
year of the blessed life of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was just starting.
Whereas in the Holy Quran, 3 separate occasions are indicated. One among them is the
month of Ramadhan, second Shab Qadr, which comes in the last 10 days of Ramadhan and third, Lailatul Mubrakah, which according to most Ulema is the 15th night of Sha’abaan, which is also called as Shab Baraat. Then how do you reconcile all these 2
opinions with what has happened?
The answer to this is that after a thorough research in the Hadith, what we get to know is
that the revelation of Holy Quran from “Lauh Mahfooz” to “Bait Ul Izzat,” which is a high
station in the heavens was done in Shab Qadr. The same year, the decision to do so was
made in Shab Baraat. Now all the 3 are correct. The actual revelation was in the month
of Ramadhan in Shab Qadr. The decision to do so was made in Shab Baraat and the
revelation of it on the blessed tongue of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was
started in Rabe’e ul Awwal and it was completed before the passing away of the Holy
Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). After this interpretation, there is no contradiction.”
A beautiful explanation by Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan (May Allah shower
His Mercy on him)
Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan writes about the excellence and superiority of Shab
Baraat:
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) has named Shab Baraat as “the blessed night” (Lailatul
Mubarakah) and the Holy Quran was revealed in this night. The same has been said
about Shab Qadr.
The fact is that the decision to reveal the Holy Quran was made in Shab Baraat and in
Shab Qadr, the Holy Quran was brought to the skies of this world in Shab Qadr. Then in 23
years in this world it was revealed bit by bit. This blessed night comes on the 15th of
Shabaan. Every night in the last portion of the night, Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) graces
the skies of this world with His presence. In Shab Baraat, Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala)
does so from the sunset itself.
This night, the flowers of Wisaal ( Lit. union) and Qurb (closeness) of Allah (Subhanahu Wa
Ta’ala) are showered on those are busy in praying. The heavens are decorated and their
doors are left open. Those who live in Jannah like the damsels of heaven etc. come out
and watch those who worship Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). The souls of the Prophets
and the martyrs are very happy in their highest stations (A’ala ‘Illiyeen) i.e. the matters of
this world (A’alam Nasut) are unveiled to the angels who live in the spiritual world (A’alam
Malakut) like the death of somebody or the birth of somebody or somebody becoming
rich or poor, healthy or ill, famine etc. the changing of power or government, in short
everything is decided and given to those responsible. The prayers of those who pray are
accepted, those who ask for something are given what they ask for, those who strive for
something are helped i.e. they are rewarded for their efforts. The reward for obedience is
given to the obedient. The punishment of the sinners is reduced. Honor (karamat) is
given to those who love Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala).
Then Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) declares the whole night that who is facing a difficulty
that I may grant him (or her) comfort; who is the one who asks for forgiveness that I may
grant him (or her) forgiveness; who asks for sustenance (Rizq) that I may grant it?
People think that when you obey Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), you get less Rizq; but with
obedience of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) and with asking for forgiveness, the Rizq is
increased. Then I would say that the nature of human beings is also taken care of. Even
if somebody does not ask, even then Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) gives. If you say that
O Allah! Don’t give me food, even then this prayer will not be accepted. Whatever is
written in our fate will come to us. If you don’t want to accept what is in your fate, then
you will be forced to accept it. (Fadhaail Ramadhan Pg No: 23/24)
Reason for naming Lailatul Mubarakah:
Shab Baraat is a blessed night. Each moment of Shab Baraat is filled with the blessings of
the Majestic Lord Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) and invites the blessings of Allah
(Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). That night from the ‘Arsh of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) to the
deepest point in the universe is enveloped in the Mercy of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala).
That’s why, this why this night is called “Lailatul Mubarakah”
The author of Ruh AL Bayan, Shaykh Ismail Haqqi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him)
writes:
“This night is a night of blessings because all blessings descend on those who do good
deeds in this night and every grain from the ‘Arsh of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) to the
deepest point in the universe receives the blessings of the beauty of Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’ala).”The reason for calling it Lailatul Bara’a:
The word “Bara’a” means to get freed. In this blessed night, the sinners are given their
freedom and the virtuous are given the glad tidings of closeness of Allah (Subhanahu Wa
Ta’ala). For this reason, this night is called Shab Baraat.
Those worshippers of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) who remain in His presence and
devote themselves to Him with their whole being, they are given the certificate of
acceptance of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) even in this sensory world:
When Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) raised his head
after finishing his Salaat, he saw a green paper whose light was till the sky and on it was
written: This is an assurance from the Powerful King to Umar Bin Abdul Aziz that is he is safe
from the fire of Hell.
(Ruh Al Bayan, Vol 8, Pg No: 447)