Shab-e-Baraat: Night of prayers, remembrance

Special prayers, visits to the graveyards, offering of ariza to the river and remembering the dear ones marked Shab-e-Baraat in the national capital on Thursday.

Special prayers, visits to the graveyards, offering of ariza to the river and remembering the dear ones marked Shab-e-Baraat in the national capital on Thursday.

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Shab-e-Baraat, the 15th night of the Islamic month Shabaan, is meant as the night of forgiveness or the night of deliverance. Muslims across the city pray in preparation for the holy month of Ramzan.

"Apart from the special prayers for the occasion, people also visit the graveyards to seek forgiveness from the Almighty for their near and dear ones. The believers also observe roza on two days —this time on Thursday and Friday," said Maulana Abdul Hameed Noumani from Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind.

Farhan Ahmed, a communications professional from a private firm at Connaught Place, said, "I left office a little early to visit the Delhi Gate kabristan to offer my prayers before going for the namaz."

In the Shia community, Aamal-e-Imam-e-Asr, special prayers for the occasion, is offered after the namaz offered at night. Later, before the morning namaz, the community members reach a river or a water body to offer ariza.

Explained Abbas Naqvi from Anjuman-E-Haidery at Jorbagh, "Ariza —a chit of paper with prayers and one's wish written on it - is offered to the river, through which it is believed to reach the 12th (and the last) Imam."

While Anjuman members went all the way to Mohan Nagar to offer Ariza at Hindon, hundreds of other Delhiites offered it from the Loha Pul at the Yamuna.

Mosques across the national capital witnessed huge turnout since Thursday evening to mark the occasion.