Do muslims have to celebrate Shab-e-barat? 15th shabaan « Ammaara’s Blog
Sister Ammaara
“And We have sent down unto thee (also) the Message; that thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent for them, and that they may give thought.” [Qur'ân 16:44]
In the islamic calendar, there are only two festivals – Eid-Ul Fitr and Eid Ul Adha which the prophet [pbuh]
celebrated and after him, the four pious caliphs.
It is therefore a sunnah, isn’t it, for both men and women to celebrate these two festivals?
Today, it has become a trend – to celebrate each and every occasion. And this is innovation and every innovation [bidrah] is not accepted by Allah.
Shab-e-barat is not an islamic word. So, how can muhammad [pbuh] celebrate a shab-e-barat which is not even arabic?
Shab e Barat is actually Persian for lailatul qadr:
The night on which the Quran was revealed is termed “Lailatul Qadr” in Surah al Qadr in the Quran. When Lailtul Qadr is translated in Persian Language : Lailatul became Shabb and Qadr became “Baraat”. Thus Shab e Baraat is the Persian translation of Lailatul Qadr.
This is the night on which Quran was revealed, it is a night of great blessing and it falls in the last 10 days of Ramadan.Thus there is no reality in celebrating the night of 15th of sha’baan, because Shab e Baraat actually falls in Ramadan
.
IN RELIGION, THERE IS NO INNOVATION, NO CHANGE. WHATEVER ALLAH HAS MADE CLEAR, IS THEREFORE CLEAR.
CHANGE, MODERNITY CAN BE APPLIED TO OTHER THINGS EXCEPT RELIGION: EXAMPLE, THE BUILDING OF A HOUSE CAN BE INNOVATED, A DRESS, A SHIRT CAN BE STYLED ACCORDING TO THE ERA WE ARE LIVING IN [BUT SHOULD BE IN ACCORD WITH THE SHARIAH], A CAR SHOULD BE FABRICATED WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY. TECHNOLOGY IS NOT HARAM: MOBILE PHONES, INTERNET, ALL THESE ARE CREATED BY ALLAH IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FACILITIES TO HUMAN BEINGS AND THEY SHOULD USE THEM FOR THEIR OWN WELFARE AND THE WELFARE OF THE SOCIETY.
Allah also made it clear to us that the duty of Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam) is to clarify the truth to people when there is a dispute:
“And We sent down the Book to thee for the express purpose, that thou should make clear to them those things in which they differ, and that it should be a guide and a mercy to those who believe.” [Qur'ân 16:64]
A very strong indicator of the obligation upon us to follow the Sunnah can be found in this ayaah: “…And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad (pbuh) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it) , and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is severe in punishment.” [Qur'ân 59:7]
Allah has also made the obedience of Rassulullah (pbuh) in conjunction with the obedience to Him:
“And obey Allah and the Messenger, that ye may obtain mercy.” [Qur'ân 3:132]
Did the prophet [pbuh] celebrate Chab-e-barat? The answer is NO
The 15th of Shabaan is a great night. we need to do many istighfar, tawbah, supplicate Almighty Allah with all our heart and seek help from Him alone.
There is no specific night, to ask Allah for our dead relatives and brothers and sisters who are already dead. No, there is no specific day or night. Rather we should do this often. it is our duty and role to supplicate Allah for all muslims and muslimahs are who dead, so that Allah may have mercy upon us and them.
Many people say they believe in Allah and His messenger, yet they practise their own desires, follow their own whims and take the religion of their ancestors as their divine Words.
It is a sign of hypocrisy to persist in our actions and own thoughts, when truth is made clear to us.
“They say, We believe in Allah and in the apostle, and we obey; but even after that, some of them turn away; they are not (really) Believers. When they are summoned to Allah and His apostle, in order that He may judge between them, behold some of them decline (to come)….The answer of the Believers, when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in order that He may judge between them, is no other than this: they say, “We hear and we obey”; it is such as these that will attain felicity.” [Qur'ân 24:47-51]
Hence, cooking halwa on the day of 15th shabaan as if it was obligatory and to believe that the dead can eat from it, is pure shirk and an innovation.
Let us prepare ourselves spirituality in order to purify ourselves. Let us try to fast during the month of Shabaan.
