Shab-e-Barat, believed to be the night of fortune and forgiveness, is being observed in the country tonight with due religious fervour.
Muslim devotees started offering special prayers, reciting from the holy Quran, holding milad, zikr and other religious rituals seeking divine blessings for the wellbeing of mankind
They are also visiting the graves of their relatives and Muslim saints, and distributing homemade sweets and food amongst the poor and their neighbours, friends and relatives.
On the occasion, various religious and socio-cultural organisations and Islamic Foundation have taken elaborate programmes, including religious sermons, hamd-na’t, recitation from the Quran and special prayers.
Monday is the public holiday as the Shab-e-Barat falls on Sunday night.
President Abdul Hamid, prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia and leader of the opposition in parliament Raushan Ershad issued separate messages greeting Muslims on the occasion.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private television channels and radio stations are airing special programmes while newspapers have published articles, highlighting the significance of the night.
The Muslims consider Shab-e-Barat as one of the three most sacred nights and believe that on this night Allah arranges the affairs of the following year and decides the fate of all human beings fixing their `rizq’ (livelihood) for the next year taking into account their past deeds.
Shab-e-Barat also means the night of forgiveness. On this exalted night, Muslims pray to Allah both in preparation for the holy month of Ramadan and seeking forgiveness of the sins committed.
Source: New Age
