 According to Islamic lunar calendar the month of Sha`ban is the eighth month and the fifteenth night of this month is known as laylatul-bara'ah (the Night of Innocence) or laylat un-nisfe min Sha'ban (the Middle Night of Sha`ban) in the Arab world. In India , Pakistan , Bangladesh , Iran , Afghanistan , etc., it is called shab-e-barat. It is believed that the Qur'an was revealed in this night. We know from the Surat Al-Qadr that the Qur'an was revealed in the Night of Qadr and we also know from the Qur'an that the Qur'an was revealed in the month of Ramadan. So, every year it is Shab-E-Raat before fifteen days of Ramadan.
On this night Muslim people do not sleep rather they offer Namaaz, read Qur'an and keep praying whole night till the morning 5:00 'o' clock. On the day of Shab-E-Raat various types of Halwaas are prepared that are full of sugar, dry fruits and with many things that are vary delicious. Afterwards prayer (Faatah) is done. After only the Fataah prayer, done over the food Hlawaa the specialty of Shab-E-Raat that is various Halwaas can be taken. Muslim people keep fast on the next day of Shab-E-Raat. The fast which is kept by Muslim is very hard and difficult as it is not allowed to take even a single drop of water including food when it is one's fast. The fast is broken around 7:00 'o' clock in the evening.
This festival is one of the most popular festivals among the Muslim people. It is believed that on this night the most merciful and mighty 'Allah' writes the luck (Kismat) of people and also decides that this year who dies and what happens with the people. One thing is also believed that whosoever prays namaaz heartedly while awaking the whole night his prayer is probably accepted by God (Allah).
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