Shab-e-Barat to be observed without festivities today

LAHORE: Shab-e-Barat, the 15th of Sha’aban, considered as the night of blessings and forgiveness will be observed on the night between Wednesday (today) and Thursday (tomorrow) with a dampened traditional religious zeal but with increased solemnity as mosques are under lockdown due to fears of coronavirus spread and people have been compelled to offer prayers at their homes.

Traditionally, large numbers of the faithful throng the mosques to offer special prayers Nawafil and Shabina during the whole night under normal conditions. But fear of coronavirus changed the conditions completely. This night, which according to some traditions is the night of blessings and accountability wherein mass judgments regarding lives, deaths, bestowments and blessings for the next year are made by The Almighty Allah, will now be observed from homes. The traditions say that, judgments for awarding blessings and Rizq to the believers are also made and prayers of the believers are answered.

The city mosques which used be specially illuminated to celebrate the occasion and facilitate the worshippers, were now locked down without any lights. The mosques are now devoid of special Nawafil and Shabina prayers. Similarly, the large number of believers who used to visit graveyards to make special prayers for the departed souls of their near and dear ones are barred from visiting there. The graveyards which used to present a festive look in the past, as believers used to light candles and scent sticks on the graves and seek Allah’s blessings for the souls of their departed kins, will now give a deserted look.

Ulema and prayer leaders have appealed to the masses to make diligent and whole-hearted supplications before the Almighty Allah on the blessed night for warding off the deadly pandemic of coronavirus.