Importance of the Night of Salvation

On another occasion the holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "During the 15th night of the lumar month of Shaban offer prayer to Almighty Allah and observe "Siam" (fasting) the following day for Benign Allah bestows bounties on His "Bandas" (servants).

And forgives persons except who believe Allah has a partner and who have cut off connection with relatives."

It may be mentioned here that there are people hailing from the upper strata of the society and of them a good number have severed connection with their close I distant relatives. Now the pertinent question is that if these people, who are all Muslims, supplicate Merciful Allah for forgiveness of their sins and also for bestowal of bounties on the sacred night of Laila-tul-Barat then it is likely their supplication will not be granted as clearly indicated in the saying of the holy Prophet (peace be upon him).

Now we may turn our attention to the consort of the holy Prophet Hazrat Aisha Siddiqa (R.A). We learn from her that the Messenger of Allah (SM) used to offer special prayers during the night of Laila-tul-Barat besides visiting graveyard and supplicating Benign Allah for salvation of the departed souls.

The holy month of Shaban and observance of Laila-tul-Barat or the Night of Salvation with due solemnity and fervour reminds us of the advent of the most important month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan. Immediately after the expiry of the month of Shaban the holy month of Ramadan, that is the month of Siam (fasting) begins. During this month of Shaban Muslims all over the world get an opportunity to prepare themselves mentally and physically for month-long obligatory fasting from dawn to dusk in the following month.

The Night of Salvation (Laila-tul-Barat) is no doubt an auspicious and solemn occasion and under no circumstances its sanctity should be spoilt. But it is a matter of great regret that our grown-up children and youngsters indulge in blasting crackers and go for noisy fireworks on this sacred night. We must avoid such frivolous pastime for Islam does not sanction such useless and unnecessary merry-making. And why such acts frivolous should be avoided? Because these cause vexation to the devotees deeply engrossed in offering prayers and supplicating Benign Allah for forgiveness of their sins in the nearby mosques and houses, and also to the old and ailing persons living in the neighbourhood. The holy Quran also does not sanction of such senseless misuse of money as clearly indicated in Sura (Chapter) Baqara (the Heifer). Guardians of the children, revered Imams (leaders) of the mosques, teachers of the educational institutions social leaders, among others, can play commendable and positive role in restraining our grown-up children from such harmful deeds. Let us not forget that Islam is a scientific religion, and it guides man from cradle to grave. Let other communities illuminate their houses and business premises on occasions for which they may have their own reasons. But we Muslims can't blindly imitate them.

Man is prone to err. Sometimes he commits monumental blunder, and as he is not unmindful also of his mistakes, follies and foibles he repents for them afterwards and thinks if there is any way out to get rid of them. Here is that opportunity. Laila-tul-Barat or the Night of Salvation gives him that unique opportunity to avail forgiveness of Allah. A Muslim, therefore, must not miss this golden opportunity. We are aware that there are one hundred and one attributes of Almighty Allah. His one epithet is Gafur-ar-Rahim which means Allah the Forgiver and Most Merciful.

A supplicant's appeal to such Gracious and Merciful Allah should be sincere. On the occasion of auspicious Laila-tul-Barat if person (say a grocer) after a night-long prayer and entreaty to Benign Allah adopts unfair means in the following morning after opening his grocery then it is obvious Merciful Allah will not be pleased with him. In this context we may refer to Ayats 1-5 of Sura Tatfif or Dealing in Fraud wherein Almighty Allah declares that "Woe to those that deal in fraud, those who, when they have to receive by measure from men exact full measure but when they have to give by measure of weight to men, give less than due. Do they not think that they will be called for account on a Mighty day?"

So, Muslims should observe and celebrate the auspicious occasion of Laila-tul-Barat with sincerity as well as due solemnity and fervour.

Kazi Aulad Hossain is a retired govt high official.