Worldwide preparations marking 15 Shaban on climax

By: Raza Ali

ROME, Italy: As 15th of the holy month of Shaban draws near, preparations to celebrate the auspicious occasion have touched their heights across the world.

Fifteenth night of Shaban is a worthy and lofty-status night. There is a narration from holy Prophet (peace be upon him & his pure progeny)’s fifth infallible descendant Hazrat Imam Al-Baqer (peace be upon him) about the status of this night, that: “This is the best night after the Night of Qadr. In this night, Allah grants the servants His favor and forgives them with His blessing.”

Imam (peace be upon him) further advised, “Spare no effort in nearing Allah therein. This is a night wherein Allah has made obligatory for Him He would not send one, who asks him, empty handed… and this is the night which Allah has made for Us - the Prophet's progeny (Ahlul Bayt) - as He made the Night of Qadr for our Prophet (peace be upon him & his pure progeny) ...”

At the dawn of the same night, the last infallible descendant of holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him & his pure progeny), Savior of Humanity, Last Proof of Allah on earth Hazrat Imam Muhammad bin Hasan Al-Mahdi Al-Muntazar (May Allah hasten his reappearance) made the world refulgent with his birth in the year 255 AH in the holy city of Samara, Iraq.

Devotees and followers of Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them), mosques, hussainiyaat, Azakhanas, Imambaras, Imabargahs, Imambadas, different organizations, foundations, centers and offices of Grand Maraje have made arrangements for special celebrations - mahafil, festivals, festive gatherings, poetic sittings, cake-cutting ceremonies, conferences, seminars and symposiums - in different parts of the world including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, China, United States, Australia, Britain, Canada, Belgium, France, Denmark, Russia, Germany, Malaysia, Indonesia, Austria, South Africa, Tanzania, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Philippines, Sweden, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan.

Holy Shrines, streets, hussainiyaat, mosques and buildings are beautifully bedecked with colorful buntings, ribbons and lightning.

The programs, that kick off on the eve of 15 Shaban (the night between Shaban 14 and 15) with a’maal of 15 Shaban, culminate with consigning to water in rivers and lakes at fajr (dawn) time the Ara’iz-e-hajaat (letters of needs and wishes) addressed to the Imam of Era Imam Al-Mahdi (May Allah hasten his reappearance).

END