Sunni One

Shab-e-Barat 2027: Date in India and Meaning

Shab-e-Barat is the night of 14 to 15 Sha'ban, called in Arabic the night of the middle of Sha'ban. Many Sunni Muslims in South Asia spend it in prayer and in asking forgiveness, on the basis of hadith about this night.

In India

the night of Sat, 23 January 2027 (Sun, 24 January 2027 is the day)

Expected, subject to moon sighting. In Saudi Arabia (Umm al-Qura): the night of Fri, 22 January 2027.

The year after: the night of Wed, 12 January 2028 (Thu, 13 January 2028 is the day).

The hadith

A hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah (1390) says that God looks upon His creation on the night of the middle of Sha'ban and forgives all of it, apart from those who associate partners with Him and those who harbour enmity.

Jami' at-Tirmidhi (739) reports the Prophet visiting the graveyard of al-Baqi on this night; at-Tirmidhi records that al-Bukhari judged that chain weak. Scholars differ on the strength of the narrations about this night, and several hold the hadith on forgiveness to be sound when its chains are taken together.

How it is observed

  • Ahle Sunnat (Barelvi) and Deobandi traditionsIndividual prayer, Quran recitation and dua through the night, and for many a voluntary fast on the 15th. A report urging the fast (Sunan Ibn Majah 1388) is graded weak.
  • Ahle Sunnat (Barelvi) traditionVisiting graves and offering fatiha for the dead; preparing halwa is a widespread custom.

How other Sunni schools see it

Deobandi scholars affirm the merit of the night but discourage congregational gatherings and customs such as fireworks. Ahle Hadith scholars hold that no specific observance is established for it.

Sources

  1. Sunan Ibn Majah 1390
  2. Jami' at-Tirmidhi 739
  3. Sunan Ibn Majah 1388
  4. Encyclopaedia of Islam, second edition, "Sha'ban" (Brill)

Updated 6 October 2026 by the Sunni One editors, compiled from the sources above.