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Although the chain of narrators of some of
these traditions suffers with some minor technical
defects, yet when all these traditions are combined
together, it becomes clear that this night has some
merits peculiar to it, and observing this night as a
sacred night is not a baseless concoction as envisaged by
some modern scholars who, on the basis of these minor
defects, have totally rejected to give any special
importance to this night. In fact, some of these
traditions have been held by some scholars of Ahadith as
authentic and the defects in the chain of some others
have been treated by them as minor technical defects
which, according to the science of Ahadith, are curable
by the variety of their ways of narration.
That is why the elders of the Ummah have
constantly been observing this night as a night of
special merits and have been spending it in worship and
prayers
What should be done in this
night...
In order to observe the Night of Bara'ah,
one should remain awakened in this night as much as he
can. If someone has better opportunities, he should spend
the whole night in worship and prayer. However, if one
cannot do so for one reason or another, he can select a
considerable portion of the night, preferably of the
second half of it for this purpose, and should perform
the follwing acts of worship:
(a) Salah is the most preferable act to be
performed in this night. There is no particular number of
Rak'at but preferably it should not be less than eight.
It is also advisable that each part of the salah like
Qiyam, Ruku and Sajdah should be longer than normal. The
longest surahs of the Holy Qur'an one remembers by heart
should be recited in the Salah of this night. If someone
does not remember the long surahs, he can also recite
several short surahs in one rak'ah.
(b) The recitation of the Holy Qur'an is
another form of worship, very beneficent in this night.
After performing Salah, or at any other time, one should
recite as much of the Holy Qur'an as he can.
(c) One should also perform Dhikr
(recitation of the name of Allah) in this night.
Particularly the following Dhikr is very
useful:
"SUBHANALLAHI WAL HAMDO LILLA HI WA LA
ILLAHA ILLAL LAHO WALLHAH HO AKBAR WALLA HAW WALLA WALLA
QUWATA ILLAH BILLAH HIL ALI YIL AZEEM".
One should recite Salah (Durood) on the
Holy Prophet (SAW) as many times as he can.
The Dhikr can also be recited while
walking, lying on bed and during other hours of work or
leisure.
(d) The best benefit one can draw from the
blessings of this night is prayers and supplications. It
is hoped that all the prayers in this night will be
accepted by our Lord, inshallah. Prayer itself is an
'Ibadah, and Allah Almighty gives reward on each prayer
alongwith the fulfillment of the supplicator's need. Even
if the purpose prayed for is not achieved, one cannot be
deprived of the reward of the prayer which is sometimes
more precious than the mundane benefits he strives for.
The prayers and supplications also strengthen one's
relation with Allah Almighy which is the main purpose of
all kinds and forms of worship.
One can pray for whatever purpose he
wishes. But the best supplications are the ones prayed by
the Holy Prophet (SAW). These are so comprehensive and
all encompassing prayers that all the human needs, both
of this world and of the Hereafter, are fully covered in
the eloquent expressions used in them. Rather, most of
the Prophetic prayers are of such miraculous nature that
human imagination can hardly reach the magnitude of their
perception.
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