Question:-
Everyone is sending me messages of forgiveness as it is Shab-e-Baraat. They are requesting forgiveness before the night sets in.
How is it to send out these messages, and is there any proof from that Ahadith that the Sahaaba went around asking forgiveness?
Answer:-
The night of Baraa’at is a night of forgiveness wherein the mercy of Allah Ta’ala descends in great abundance. However, there are certain people that are deprived of the mercy of Allah Ta’ala on this night as well, such as one that breaks family ties, or one that is disobedient to his parents or one that entertains any form of malice for his Muslim brother or sister etc. No person wants to be deprived of the mercy of Allah Ta’ala on such an auspicious night, hence, people ask for forgiveness so that they too are able to enjoy the special rmercy of Allah Ta’ala.
This should not be a customary practice whereby standard messages of forgiveness are forwarded to one and all, just as customary messages are circulated on the days of Eid and Jumuah. This is a serious matter whereby one is required to rectify his or her matters with whom his/her relationship has been severed. Hence, if it is done with this particular intention, then there is no harm in doing so. Obviously, this should be the starting point and one should then strive to improve his relationship with all. We hope that the above answers your question.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:-
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 14 Shabaan 1443 / 17 March 2022
