Shaban is a significant month for Muslims and is an important time for the preparation of the holy month of Ramzan. It is the 8th month of the Islamic or Hijri calendar and is the last lunar month of the year before the holy month of Ramzan. The term Shaban comes from the Sha’ aba’, which is an Arabic word that means ‘emerge’,or ‘branch out’which holds great importance in Islam. As per Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad would offer fast (Roza) more in the holy or sacred month of Shaban than in any other month, excluding Ramadan. In Shaban, most Muslims start preparing for fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.

Shab-e-Barat is one of the most sacred nights of the mid-Shaban that is known as the night of forgiveness and is celebrated on the 15th night of the month of Shaban. It is an important night for the Muslim community to seek mercy or apologize for their crime or illegal work from Almighty Allah. As per the Islamic Calendar, it will be celebrated between the night of the 14th and 15th in the month of Shaban. Muslims celebrated the 15^th Shaban by burning candles and agarbatti on the graves of loved ones and offering prayers on the night of forgiveness. Shab-e-Barat will be celebrated between the night of February 4 and February in the year 2026 in India. On this night, the doors of Allah’s mercy and forgiveness are spread broad open for every person. Mid Shaban is celebrated that is only by the Shia community to celebrate the birth anniversary of the 12th Imam Mahdi with fireworks.

The celebration of Shab-e-Barat may include visiting the graves of deceased loved ones, special prayers, offering charity or food to poor or needy people, and recitation of the Quran. It is compulsory or common for Muslims to pray throughout the night. It is believed that God forgives the sins of people who spend the whole night in prayer and seek forgiveness. On this night, God grants them mercy and blessings. The blessed night begins at sunset on the 14th Shaban and ends on the 15th Shaban during the Shab-e-barat. Thus, Sab-e-barat is the night for seeking forgiveness, prayer, deceased family members, and many more.

Shab-e-Barat is also the night of forgiveness and prayer, where Muslims observe prayers the whole night and ask forgiveness for themselves and their ancestors. Muslim individuals offer namaz in their homes and mosques for forgiveness in the shab-e-barat. During the Shab-e-Barat, Muslims pray the entire night and ask God to bestow them with his blessings and forgive their sins. On this day, people make and distribute sweets (halwa) to each other. The Shia community celebrates the birth anniversary (Wiladat) of Imam Mahdi with fireworks on the night of Shaban 15.

Shab-e-Barat (Shaban 14) Night of Forgiveness