Shab-e-barat 15 Sha’ban

Shab-e-Barat is considered a major event in South East Asia, worship collectively and ask for forgiveness for their misdeeds. It is believed to reward them with fortune for the entire year and cleanse them of their sins. In many regions, it is also a night when prayers are offered to forgive one's deceased ancestors. Additionally, Twelver Shia Muslims commemorate the birthday of Muhammad al-Mahdi.

Salafist adherents oppose recognition of Mid-Sha'ban as exceptional for prayer. Because there is no evidence that Muhammad or his noble companions or his family ever celebrated or commemorated the night of Shab-e-Barat. But according to a hadith tradition, it is known that Muhammad entered the cemetery of Baqi' that night and prayed for the

According to a study by Eiichi Imoto and Mohammad Ajam, Shab-e-Barat is rooted in the pre-Islamic religions of the Middle East and Persian. Eastern Iranians traditionally preserve Barat as the Bon Festival in Buddhism and Pitri Paksha in Hinduism and Zoroastrianism. The main objective of the ceremony is to pray for the happiness of the souls of the dead. in this case it is also very similar with the main proposals to make the Halloween ceremony by Christian.

The study indicates that the Persian word brat (bright) is different from the Arabic word bara'at. The Khorasan people call the Barat the Cheragh (light) Brat, which means bright or light festival. Al-Biruni (973 – after 1050) had written about “a festival from the 12th to the 15th of the lunar month which in Arabic is Al Baiz meaning bright, and Barat is also called al Ceqe meaning Check”.

In some Iranian cities, people celebrate this holiday by gathering in cemeteries, lighting Peganum harmala (wild rue)—a sacred plant of ancient Persia—placing fire in a corner of the graves, and pouring salt on the fire while reading a poem saying, “Peganum harmala is bitter and salt is salty so that the jealous eye of the enemy is blind.”

Praying for the dead and asking God for forgiveness is a common ceremony in all cities that hold Barat ceremonies. According to a hadith tradition, Muhammad went to the Baqi cemetery that night, where he prayed for the Muslims buried there. Based on this, some clerics consider it advisable to go to the Muslim cemetery that night to recite part of the Quran and pray for the dead.

Mid-Sha'ban is considered a night when individuals' fortunes for the coming year are determined and when Allah can forgive sinners. In many regions, it is also a night when prayers are held for Allah's forgiveness for deceased ancestors. Additionally, Twelver Shia Muslims commemorate the birthday of Muhammad al-Mahdi on this date.

Although not mentioned directly in the Quran, two verses are sometimes attributed to Mid-Sha'ban:

“Indeed, We sent him down on a blessed night. Indeed, We had to warn humanity. That night is made distinct each precise question-“ 

According to Twelver Shias, Muhammad al-Mahdi, the last Shia Imam, was born on the 15th of Sha'ban. Shias celebrate Muhammad al-Mahdi's birthday on this day and perform religious acts such as prayers for Muhammad al-Mahdi's reappearance, fasting, and worship. Iranian cities are decorated on the night of Mid-Sha'ban.

Mid-Sha'ban is celebrated in countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. Salafist Arabs do not celebrate this holiday.

In the Arab world, the festival is celebrated by Arabs of Sufi heritage and Shiites. In Iraq, children are given candy as they walk through their neighborhoods. Sunni Muslims in Iraqi Kurdistan and Afghanistan celebrate this holiday 15 days before Ramadan.

Some Muslims in Indonesia perform communal zikr in mosques followed by a lecture (ceramah) led by an ustad or otherwise known in Java and Madura as kyai. It is widely attended in Aceh, West Sumatra and South Kalimantan. In South Asia, Muslims make sweets (especially Halwa or Zarda) to give to neighbors and the poor on the evening before the 15th of Sha'ban.

This custom of distributing Halva is also practiced in Bosnia on the 15th night of Sha'ban, as well as on three other holidays: Laylat al-Qadr, Laylat al-Mi'raj and Laylat al-Raghaib.