Neema-e-Shabaan

1Introduction

The 15th of Shabaan is also known as Neema-e-Shabaan (middle of Shabaan) and it is also remembered as Shab-e-Barat among Muslims. It is a highly virtuous night during which our last Imam Mohammad Mehdi(a.s.) was born.

Imam Ali(a.s.) relates from the Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) that the 15th of Shabaan is a highly virtuous night and the believers should spend this night offering prayers and should observe fast on the following day. Verily during this night until dawn Allah(swt) inquires Malaik (angels) - is there anyone who repents his sins and I forgive him/her? Is there anyone who asks for increase in earnings (Rizk/Rozi) and I grant so.

2Summary of Aamal of Neema-e-Shabaan

( Click here to see the Aamal in urdu from Mafateeh-ul-Jinaan )

Imam Zain-al-Abideen(a.s.) said that if someone wishes to meet the souls of the One Hundred Twenty Four Thousand Prophets, he/she should recite the ziarat of Imam Hussain(a.s.) during this night . Since it is the night of the birth of Imam Zamana(a.s.), it is recommended to recite the ziarat of Imam Zamana(a.s.) as well.

The following dua is equivalent to the Ziarat of Imam Zamana(a.s.) and is recommended to be recited during this night.

ALLAHUMMA BIHAQQE LAILATINA HAZEHI WA MOULUDIHA WA HUJ-JATIKA WA MO-OODIHAL LATI QARANTA ILA FADLIHA FADLAN FA-TAMMAT KALIMATUKA SIDQAN WA ADLAN LA MUBAD-DIL BI-KALIMATIKA WA LA MOAQ-QIBA LI-AYATIKA NURU-KAL MUTA-AL-LIQU WA ZIYA-UKAL MUSHRIKU WAL ALAMUN-NOORU FI TAKHYA-ID-DAIJOORIL GHA-IBUL MASTOOR JAL-LA MAOLIDUHU WA KARUMA MUHTIDUHU WAL MALA-IKATU SHUH-HADUHU WAL LAHUY NASIRUHU WA MU-AI-YIDUHU IZA AANA MIAADUHU WAL MALA-IKATU AMDADUHU SAIFULLAHIL LAZI LA YANBU WA NOORUHUL LAZI LA YAKHBU WA ZUL HILMIL LAZI LA YASBU MADARUD DAHRI WA NAWAMISUL ASRI WA WULATUL AMRI WAL MUNAZ-ZALU ALAIHIMUZ ZIKRU WA MA YANZILU FI LAILATIL QADRI WA ASHABUL HASHRI WA AN NIASHRI TARAJIMATU WAH-YIHI WA WULATU AMRIHI WA NAHYIHI ALLA HUMMA FA SAL-LE ALA KHATIMIHIM WA QAA-IMIHIMUL MASTOORI AN AWALIMIHIM WA ADRIK BINA AY-YAMAHI WA ZAHOORAHU WA QIYAMAHU WAJ ALNA MIN ANSARIHI WAQRIN SARANA BISARIHI WAKTUBNA FI AAWANIHI WA KHULASA-IHI WA AHYINA FI DAOLATIHI NA-IMEENA WA BISUHBATIHI GHANIMEENA WA BIHAQQIHI QAAIMEENA WA MINAS SOO-I SALIMEENA YA ARHAMAR RAHIMEENA WAL HAMDU LILLAHI RAB BIL AALAMEENA WA SALLE ALA MOHAMMADIN KHATAMIN NABEEYEENA WAL MURSALEENA WA ALA AHLI BAITIHIS SADIQEENA WA ITRATIHIN NATIQEENA WAL AN JAMEE AZ ZALIMEENA WAHKUM BAINANA WA BAINAHUM YA AHKAMAL HAKIMEEN

It is recommended to recite 4 Rakaat prayer in this night and in each rakat recite :
- one time Sura-e-Hamd and
- 100 times Sura Tawheed (Qul ho Allaho ahad) .

This prayer should be followed by the following Dua :

ALLAHUMA INNI ILAIKA FAQEERUN WA MIN AZABIKA KHAYEFUN WA BIKA MUSTAJEERUN RABBI LA TUBADDIL ISMI WA LA TUGHAYYER JISMI RABBI LA TAJHAD BALAYI RABBI LA TUSHMIT BIYAL AADAYI AAOOZO BI-AFWIKA MIN IQABIKA WA AAOOZO BIREHMATEKA MIN AZABIKA WA AAOOZO BIRIZAKA MIN SAKHTIKA WA AAOOZO BIKA MINKA JALLA SANAAOKA ANTA KAMA ASNEITA ALA NAFSIKA WA FAUQA MA YAQOOLUL QAEELOONA FEEKA

Imam Mohammad Baqir(a.s.) said that whoever recites :
100 times "Subhan Allah",
100 times "Alhamd-o-lillah",
100 times "Allaho Akbar" and 100 times "La ilaha il-Allah"
during this night, Allah(swt) will forgive his/her previous sins and will accept his/her prayers.

It is also recommended to recite :
10 Rakaat prayer in sets of 2 Rakaat each.
In each Rakat recite once Sura-e-Hamd and 10 times Sura Tawheed (Qul ho Allaho ahad).

After each 2 Rakat set offer Sajda and recite this Dua :

ALLAHUMMA LAKA SAJADA SAWADI WA KHAYALI WA BAYADI YA AZEEMA KULLE AZEEMIN IGHFIRLI ZAMBI-AL AZEEMA FA INNAHU LA YAGHFIRU-HU GHAIRUKA YA AZEEMO

Best Dua during this night is "Dua-e-Kumail" and “Dua-e-Nudba”.
In addition, recite Quran and other virtuous duas as you deem necessary and ask for the forgiveness of past sins and the betterment of the future.

3Areeza

Towards the end of the night, Momineen and Mominaat usually present their griefs, worries and desires to the last Imam Mohammad Mehdi(a.s.) called "AREEZA" which is in fact a letter to the Imam(a.s.). This letter is written with a lot of love and affection using Safron as ink and is traditionally wrapped up in flour or pure soil and sprinkled with scents (Itar) and is thrown in a river with the intention that it reaches our beloved Imam-e-Zamana(a.s.).

4The Areeza: Arabic text and translation

It is customary among Shias to write a letter with love and affection to Imam-e-Zamana(a.s.) during the night of 15th Shabaan. This letter is called "Areeza" meaning "Request".

Here is the Arabic Text and English translation:

In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful.
I have written to you O my Master, may His mercy and blessing be on you, seeking a favour from you.
I have complained to you for what has happened to me seeking solutions firstly from Allah and then from you for a matter that has obsessed me. I am helpless in combating the problem and for that I have resorted to seeking help from Allah and from you, knowing the status you have with Allah. I am confident that you will help me get the solution to my problems swiftly and that you will intercede on my behalf.
I am helpless and moreover I am sinful, so help O my master and present this problem to Allah and I pray to Him that He will solve this quickly and grant me victory and success in finding the solution to my problems.
(Write your hajjat here) am not able to carry or bear with it. Although I am responsible for the increase of my sins and ignorant about my responsibilities ( Wajibats ) from Allah which are given to me. So help me O my Master peace be upon you during this time of problems and sorrow present my prayers to Allah before I compensate and before my enemies engulfs me, for you have shown me your blessings.
So I pray to Allah for great salvation and near victory with calmness from fears. For all Allah is most high and does what he wants.
Allah is sufficient for me from the beginning and in my hopes.
Whatever Allah wishes there is no strength nor any power except in Allah the high, the great.
(When dropping the Ariza in the sea, we normally recite the following addressing Husayn bin Rawh, the third Naib of the 12th Imam A.S. ) O Husayn bin Rawh, Salamun Alaykum, I bear witness you died in the path of Allah and ( hence ) you are alive and are sustained by Allah I am addressing you in your "life"which you lead with Allah
- this is my note and wishes to the Master of the Era (the 12th Imam A.S).
So please hand it over to him for you are indeed trustworthy.

5Aamal in Urdu (Mafateeh-ul-Jinaan)

6PDF articles

Text from the classic ziaraat.com profile.