The Night of Bara`ah

The Night of Bara`ah (nisf Sha`ban)

Another significant feature of the month of Sha`ban is that it consists of a night which is termed in Shari`ah as "Laylatul-bara` ah" (The night of freedom from Fire). This is the night occurring between 14th and 15th day of Sha`ban. Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (s), prove that it is a meritorious night in which the people of the earth are attended by special Divine Mercy. We will be posting much more about this blessed night shortly.

What should be done in this night?

On the Holy Night of 15th Shaban, after Maghrib or Isha prayer it is traditional practice to read Surah Yasin three times, and after each time, read a special du`a with the following intentions:

1st reading the niyyat (intention) for should be for Long Life.
2nd reading the niyyat (intention) should be for Protection from Calamities.
3rd Reading the niyyat (intention) should be for not being needy to anyone except Allah.

What to recite (PDF) [excerpted from Guidebook by Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani]:

Reading of Surah Yaseen three times; first with the intention of long life in Islam and faith (imaan), second with the intention to ward off affliction from one's self and from the nation of Muhammad (s); and the third time with the intention of receiving one's sustenance without reliance on mankind.

Bismillahi 'r-Rahmani 'r-Raheem
Allahumma yaa Dhal-Manni la yamannu alayhi ahad,
ya Dhal-Jalali wal-Ikram ya Dhali wal-Anam.
La ilaha illa Anta.
Daharal-laji- een wa Jarul-mustajireen
wa Amaanul-kha' ifeen. Allahumma in kunta katabtanee
`indaka fee ummul-Kitabi shaqeeyan aw mahruman aw
matrudan aw muqataran `alayya fi'r-rizq famhu-llahumma
bi-fadlika shaqawatee wa hurmaanee wa turdee
wa iqtaara rizqee wa thabitnee `indaka fee ummil-kitabi
sa`eedan wa marzuqan lil-khayrati
fa-innaka qulta wa qawlukul-haqq fee kitabik al-munzal `ala lisani
nabeeyyika l-mursal:
yamhullahu ma yasha'u wa yuthbitu wa `indahu Ummul-Kitab.
Ilahi bi't-tajalli al-`azhami fee lalayti an-nisfi min shahri
Sha`abani al-mu`azami al-mukarrami allatee yufraqu fiha kullu amrin
hakeemin wa yubram, an takshifa `anna mina 'l-balaa'i ma
na`lamu wa maa laa na`lamu wa maa Anta bihi a`alamu
innaka Anta al-A`azzu 'l-Akram. Wa salla-Allahu `ala
Sayyidina Muhammadin wa` ala aalihi wa saahbihi wa sallam.

It is very necessary that just as others observe this night, you observe it. To make an invitation to feed people on that night, to remember Allah (swt) and to remember His Prophet (s), and to fast its day and pray its night, will be rewarded for that night and for whoever observes it.

In order to observe the Night of Bara`ah, one should remain awake on this night as much as possible. If someone has the opportunity, he or she should spend the whole night in worship and prayer. However, if one cannot do so for one reason or another, he can select a considerable portion of the night, preferably of the second half of it for this purpose, and should perform the following acts of worship: praying Salat ul-Khair, which consists of 100 raka`ts, in each raka`t reciting Sura al-Fatiha and 10 Surat al-Ikhlas. To complete the prayer one recites 1000 Sura al-Ikhlas.

The Night of Bara`ah is a night in which special blessings are directed towards the Muslims. Therefore, this night should be spent in total submission to Allah Almighty, and one should refrain from all those activities which may displease Allah.

Fast of the 15th Sha`ban

On the day immediately following the Night of Bara`ah, i.e. the 15th of Sha`ban, it is mustahabb (advisable) to keep fast. Prophet Muhammad (s) is reported to have recommended this fast emphatically. A large number of the predecessors (salaf) of the Ummah have been observing the fast of the 15th of Sha`ban.

Therefore, it is advisable to fast the 15th of Sha`ban as an optional (nafl) fast. One can also keep a fast of qada (make-up) on this day and it is hoped that he can also benefit from the merits of this fast.