Shab-e-Barat, which is also known as the "night of forgiveness," is observed between the 14th and 15th night of the Sha'aban, the eighth month in the Islamic Calendar. Shab-e-Barat is considered to be the holiest night of the Islamic calendar. According to the Quran, on this night Allah said, “Who wants forgiveness, I will forgive you. Who wants food, I will provide food.” It is believed that Allah said this throughout the night until it was Fajr, the time when Muslims pray at dawn.
The hadith is narrated by Hazrat Ali (RA) in which Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said about the 15th of Shaban in these words:
“When it is the fifteenth of Shaban, then stand (in worship) at night and fast during the day. Because Allah descends in this night at sunset to the first heaven and says: ‘Is there any seeker of forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there any seeker of sustenance, that I may sustain him? Is there anyone in affliction, that I may remove his affliction? Is there anyone like this, like that (and so on)’. This continues until Fajr.” (Ibn Majah)
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
“In the fifteenth night of Shaban, Allah manifests and forgives all His creation except for the Mushrik (idolater) and the spiteful.” (Ibn Majah)
What to do on this blessed day ?
On this blessed day, try to seek forgiveness from Allah the whole night. Indeed Allah is most forgiving and merciful. He will surely forgive you. Try to ask everything from Allah on this blessed night. Try to donate charity to poors , help others , do good deeds, listen Quran, read Quran, recite tasbeeh (SubhanAllah, Astagfirullah, Alhamdulillah, AllahHuAkbar etc) and pray Salat-ul-Tasbih.
What is Salat-ul-Tasbih ?
It is called "prayer of forgiveness", Rasulullah (ﷺ) is narrated to have said to his uncle Hazrat ‘Abbas (R.A): O Abbas! O my uncle! Shall I not give you a gift? Shall I not show you something by means of which Allah will forgive your sins, the first and the last of them, the past and recent, the unintentional and the intentional, the small and huge, the secret and open? The Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) then taught him the Salah al-Tasbih. Furthermore he advised him that it be offered daily, if possible. If not, then every Friday or once a month or once a year or at least once in one’s life time. (Abu Dawood)
How to pray Salat-ul-Tasbih ?
The Tasbih to be read in Salaat-Ul-Tasbeeh (4 rakat prayer) : ' Subhaanallaahi walhamdu lillaahi walaa ilaaha illallaahu wallaahu akbar ',
1. Rakat
First make the Niyyah (intention) by reciting "I intend to perform four rakats of the Salatul Tasbeeh"
You say takbir "Allahu Akbar" This starts the prayer.
Begin reciting "Subhanaka" After reading the Thana(Sana) Recite the above tasbeeh 15 times.
After you say: "Audhu billahi min-ash-shayta -nir-rajeem Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-raheem"
Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha
Another portion (Surah) of the Qur'an. After this Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Then go into Ruku (the bowing position) and after Tasbeeh (Subahaana Rabbiyal Azeem) Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times
Go to Qowmah (standing position after Ruku ) and after saying samee Allaahu Liman Hamidah, Rabbana Lakal Hamdh, Then Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Go into the 1st Sajdah and after the tasbih (Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa'la) Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Now sit-up from the first Sajdah in jalsa position (Sitting position between the two Sajdahs) and then Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Now go into the 2nd Sajdah and after the tasbeeh (Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa'la) Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
2. Rakat
Rise up to proceed to the next raka'at, After reading the Thana(Sana) Recite the above tasbeeh 15 times.
You say "Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-raheem"
Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha
Another portion (Surah) of the Qur'an. After this Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Go into Ruku (the bowing position) and after Tasbeeh (Subahaana Rabbiyal Azeem) Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times
Go to Qowmah (standing position after Ruku) and after saying samee Allaahu Liman Hamidah, Rabbana Lakal Hamdh, Then Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Go into the 1st Sajdah and after the tasbih (Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa'la) Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Now sit-up from the first Sajdah in jalsa position (Sitting position between the two Sajdahs) and then Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Now go into the 2nd Sajdah and after the tasbeeh (Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa'la) Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
After this, you sit for Tashshahud: You recite just At-tahiyyat, Allah-umma salli, Allah-umma Barik and Rabbana
3. Rakat
Begin reciting "Subhanaka" After reading the Thana(Sana) Recite the above tasbeeh 15 times.
After you say: "Audhu billahi min-ash-shayta -nir-rajeem Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-raheem"
Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha
Another portion (Surah) of the Qur'an. After this Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Go into Ruku (the bowing position) and after Tasbeeh (Subahaana Rabbiyal Azeem) Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times
Go to Qowmah (standing position after Ruku ) and after saying samee Allaahu Liman Hamidah, Rabbana Lakal Hamdh, Then Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Go into the 1st Sajdah and after the tasbih (Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa'la) Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Now sit-up from the first Sajdah in jalsa position (Sitting position between the two Sajdahs) and then Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Now go into the 2nd Sajdah and after the tasbeeh (Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa'la) Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
4. Rakat
Rise up to proceed to the next raka'at, After reading the Thana(Sana) Recite the above tasbeeh 15 times.
You say "Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-raheem"
Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha
Another portion (Surah) of the Qur'an. After this Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Go into Ruku (the bowing position) and after Tasbeeh (Subahaana Rabbiyal Azeem) Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times
Go to Qowmah (standing position after Ruku) and after saying samee Allaahu Liman Hamidah, Rabbana Lakal Hamdh, Then Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Go into the 1st Sajdah and after the tasbih (Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa'la) Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Now sit-up from the first Sajdah in jalsa position (Sitting position between the two Sajdahs) and then Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
Now go into the 2nd Sajdah and after the tasbeeh (Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa'la) Recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times.
After this, you sit for the complete Tashshahud: You recite At-tahiyyat, Allah-umma salli, Allah-umma Barik and Rabbana.
By turning to your face to the right first and saying "Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah" and then to his left and doing the same