Lailatul Barat

Lailatul Barat History

Lailatul Barat, also known as the Night of Salvation or Night of Records, serves as a night of assessment, reflection, and supplication, wherein Muslims believe that their actions of the past year are assessed, and their fate for the upcoming year is recorded by Allah. The observance encourages Muslims to practice acts of worship including prayer, recitation of Quran verses, and seeking forgiveness for any transgressions. This night is perceived as an opportunity for Muslims to reap blessings, have their supplications answered, and have their sins forgiven.

The tradition of Lailatul Barat has a long history, tracing origins back to the time of Prophet Muhammad. South Africa, with its diverse Muslim community, observes Lailatul Barat and its significance is especially highlighted in the diverse religious culture of the nation. Many Muslims in South Africa relate Lailatul Barat to the idea of personal accountability and spiritual renewal. This observance serves as an important opportunity to introspect, reflect, repent and pray for mercy.

Observance of Lailatul Barat in South Africa typically involves increased prayer, night vigils, fasting, and charity. Mosques across the country hold additional prayer services where local communities gather to pray and reflect. Some people also spend the night in quiet prayer at home, while others participate in larger community events. Lailatul Barat typically occurs in the month of Sha'ban, the eighth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which falls at different times each year on the Gregorian calendar, which is predominantly used in South Africa. Timing for the observance of Lailatul Barat is therefore dependent on the observation of the lunar calendar. Date shown reflects the main observance day. This observance, like most Muslim observances, begins at sunset on the evening before.

Top 9 Facts for 2026 Lailatul Barat in South Africa

• For many in the South African Muslim community, Lailatul Barat is deeply revered as the Night of Records, a time when it is believed that Allah decrees the destiny, sustenance, and life span of every individual for the upcoming year.
• A distinctive local tradition in many mosques across the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal involves the congregational recitation of Surah Yaseen three times after the Maghrib prayer, with each reading accompanied by specific intentions for a long life of piety, protection from calamities, and independence from all but the Divine.
• The occasion is often marked by the preparation of traditional sweets such as Suji Ka Katli Halwa or Chana Dal Halwa, which are shared with neighbors and the needy to symbolize communal harmony and the spirit of sadaqah.
• It is a common cultural practice for families to visit local maqbaras (cemeteries) on this evening to offer prayers for deceased loved ones, reflecting the belief that the night is a primary opportunity for seeking mercy for the departed.
• Many adherents follow the folklore of the Tree of Life, often referred to as Sidrat al-Muntaha, believing that on this night, the leaves bearing the names of those destined to pass away in the coming year are shed.
• Spiritual leaders from the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) often highlight the night as a critical period for taubah (repentance), encouraging individuals to resolve personal disputes and seek forgiveness from others before the night begins.
• As a spiritual gateway to the month of Ramadan, the day following the night is frequently observed with a voluntary fast, serving as a physical and mental preparation for the thirty days of fasting that will follow a fortnight later.
• Some households in the Cape Malay community may prepare a warm, milky drink known as boeber, although this treat is more traditionally associated with the fifteenth night of the fast, it remains a popular comfort food for various mid-month religious observances.
• The night is also referred to as Shab-e-Barat within the South African Indian community, where families may stay awake until Fajr to engage in nafl prayers and individual meditation.

In the News and Trending in South Africa for Lailatul Barat

Top things to do in South Africa for Lailatul Barat

• In most places in the world, this night involves festivities, cooking, and staying up all night in prayer. Schools are often off the next day, to give young children a chance to recuperate.
• In some regions of the world, people visit graves and commemorate their ancestors on this night.
• Charity - This is a night of forgiveness and many use it as an opportunity to give back to their community through acts of charity and kindness.
• Read a book to learn more about Lailatul Barat:
  Seeking Allah Through the Means of Tawassul & Istigatha - by Muhammad Sajad Ali
  Shab-e-Barat: The Night of Deliverance - by Abū Ammaār Yasir al-Qadhī
  The Night of Atonement: A Brief Guide to Celebrating Shab-e-Barat - by The Islamic Bulletin