DAY 117

New York, NYC August 17, 2008 4:15 pm
A relaxed day. Nothing to compel us to get up and be about. Nothing to be apprehensive of and no awkward mails to answer.
What needs to be answered though are a multitude of questions that are being put up by several readers and the apprehension there of not being given the system by the server to be able to do that in a systematic manner.
What I desire of them is that as I read through the comments I must have a technology in place on my blog which will give me immediate space beneath it to give an immediate response. They have been working at it and did try out a software which could give me this facility. But they were not happy with the result and are still working on it. In a few days they say it will be in place and then.. VIOLA !! I shall be able to give immediate response to a response below the response in a responsible manner !! Ha..ha ha..

Pardon the exuberance !!
I have some great music plugged into my ears and I am well.. exuberant !!
Aishwarys’s cousins who live here took us to Tao, with the great Buddha statue much like Buddha Bar in Paris and the atmosphere and music there was invigorating. So this morning is merely a spill over of the experience.
Then at night to witness one of the most awesome sights on TV – Beijing Olympics. 100m track, Usain Bolt and his record breaking run !! Man. What a sight. What attitude and what confidence. If he hadn’t been so adventurous and thumped his chest 15 meters before the finish, he could have removed some more numbers off the clock !! To me the moment of the Olympics !! Till then it was the 100m freestyle relay won in the last seconds by the Americans, but this was something else !!

My own foray into the world of track and field events had a very limited journey. It began somewhere in the 3rd or 4th Standard in School at Allahabad, Boy’s High School and lasted till the 8th. Several moments of glory were captured in a box camera of those days by my Mother on the victory podium. But after leaving there and joining Sherwood the cups and medals and my own performing standard dropped drastically. Guess it was better, more able and strong competition that did me in. Though I did manage a silver in the high jump.
But fascinating to see these wonderful athletes, the epitome of the human form, breaking record after record as the years go by. It was a historic moment when the 4 minute mile was accomplished, by the British athlete Roger Bannister when I was in School. Look where we are now. And the 10 sec barrier in the 100’s. This 21 year old Jamaican has sailed through to a 9.69 sec record !! I wonder where it will all stop.

There have been some interesting discussions with concerned individuals on the media and maybe next time we can put that up for response and comment. It is always fascinating to talk about such matters and the interesting issues that are brought up. Fascinating because it never ceases to amaze me how informed and conscious the common man is on matters we believe would never be of interest to them.
It shall be a debate I shall be most anxious to present and listen to.

Of that later and till then –
To all my Muslim friends, happy Shabe-Baraat - the moment of the closure of the book of deeds and the opening of new ones on this most auspicious night –

Love and more –

Amitabh Bachchan


My dear friend from South Africa sent me a mail on the significance of this auspicious day. I reproduce it below. It is so wonderful and noble.

Re: The Night of Shabe Baraat

—– Original Message ——
From:Amitabh Bachchan
Sent:Saturday, August 16, 2008 18:53
To:Fatima
Subject:Re: The Night of Shabe Baraat

All my greetings to you and the family and thank you for the kind deeds and words. They are reciprocated double fold with love
amitabh


Hi Mr B….it’s a very religious night for us tonite….it is the night where our books of deeds are closed and the new ones opened…so on this very auspicious night…I pray for you also……and ask forgiveness…

Fatima

The Significance of Shabe Baraat
This night is called Shabe-Baraat ( the night of freedom ) because Allah frees all His sinful servants who were destined for Jahannam.
The Quraan has called it a blessed night.
Nabi has said in a Hadith regarding this month. “Shabaan is my month and Ramadhaan is the month of Allah .”
This month is an introduction to Ramadhaan, like Shawwal hail the end of Ramadhaan.
Allah Ta’ala ’s mercy decends during this night
During this night, beginning at sunset Allah Ta’ala ’s special attention descends upon the first sky. He proclaims
“Is there anyone seeking forgiveness, that I may pardon him?
Is there anyone requesting sustenance that I may provide for him?
Is there anyone afflicted with difficulty (so that he may ask for assistance) that I may help him?
Is there anyone with any other need?
Allah Ta’ala showers His mercy the entire night up until Subah Saadiq (early morning - dawn).
Nabi was so mindful of Sha’baan that he did not give the sighting of the moon of any other
month such thought.
It is also a speciality of this month, that all deeds done during the year shall be presented before Allah Ta’ala in this month.
Nabi stated that the month of Sha’baan which is between Rajab and Ramadhaan, is such a month that the people are negligent of its blessedness. It is during this month that the actions of the servants are presented before Allah Ta’ala .Therefore Nabi loved that his deeds be presented while he was fasting.
During the 15th of Sha’baan Allah Ta’ala shows special attention to all His servants, he pardons those who seek forgiveness and He showers mercy on those who show mercy to others as for those who grudge and have enmity for others, Allah Ta’ala leaves them that very same condition.
It is mentioned by Nabi that the remainder of a person’s life in the coming year and his sustenance and whoever shall be afforded the opportunity to perform Hajj (Pilgrimage) shall be written on this night.
During this night, the names of the souls of all those who are born and of all those who are to depart from this world. Furthermore during this night one’s actions are raised and sustenance sent down.
Nabi has prohibited one from fasting after the 15th of Sha’abaan. This prohibition does not cause the fast to become Haraam. The reason for prohibiting fasting after the 15th of Sha’baan is for one to gain strength for Ramadhaan.
It has been proven, from authentic sources, that the noble Sahaba and the Taabi’een used to remain awake during the entire night and practice upon the Sunnat Aamals. Our noble predecessors also used to honor this night and prepare for well in advance.
Committing sins during this night deprives a person of its blessings.
As the reward of a virtue increases respective to the time and place, so does the degree of sin. When during a significant time any amal is more virtuous so does the the evil and sin committed in that time be more abhorred. The law of place and time falls under the same category, e.g.. one may commit the same wrong in the Musjid and the degree of that sin shall increase. In the same manner this night is so blessed that committing a sin during this night shall be more severe.
Sunnat and Mustahab actions during the 15th of Sha’baan.
One should stay awake and perform Salaah, keep oneself busy with Zikr, recitation of the Holy Quraan and other worship. Do also recite the Masnoon Du’a of this night excessively. ( Dua on item no. 7 ).
To ask Allah Ta’ala for forgiveness, health, happiness and all our needs for this world and the Hereafter.
To busy onself with Ibaadat (worship) during the entire night of Shabe Baraat.
It is Mustahab (preferable) to fast on the 15th of Sha’baan. Our predecessors did so too.
one should visit the Qabarastaan (graveyard) and make Du’a and seek forgiveness on behalf of the deceased.
It is stated in a Hadeeth that Nabi said “One who performs Esha salaat with Jamaat and Fajr Salaah with Jamaat, Allah Ta’ala will grant him the reward of staying the night.” There are glad tidings for the weak and those engaged in business, that if they are not able to stay awake the entire night, they should try to remain awake as much as possible and to perform Fajr and Esha Salaat with Jamaat, so that they may not be completely deprived of the blessings of this night.
Hazrat Ayesh Sidiqah Radiallhu Anha say, ” I heard Nabi reciting the following Du’a whilst prostating in Nafl Salaah:”

Translation: I seek protection in Your forgiveness from Your Wrath, and seek shelter in Your pleasure from Your displeasure, and I seek safety with You from You, I cannot praise You as You are deserving and You are worthy of praise as You have praised Yourself.
Nabi repeated this dua continuously in Sajdah. This Du’a was taught to the Ummat by our beloved Nabi .


The following sins are so severe that due to them one would be deprived of the blessings of this great night:
1. To associate any partners to Allah Ta’ala , regarding His Being and Qualities.
2. To have enmity for one’s fellow brothers.
3. Not fulfilling the rights of our close relatives and treating them unkindly.
4. To allow the trousers and pants to hang below the ankles.
5. To be disobedient to the parents.
6. To drink wine.
7. To oppress and take bribes
8. To be involved in witchcraft.
9. To inform people of the unseen or to cast spells and be involved in fortune telling.
10. To read the palms in order to tell the future.
11. To play the guitar, drum or any other musical instrument.
12. To play any game that requires the use of dice.
After writing the virtues and blessings of this month, regretfully, we will have to include that due to the evil nature of our actions, we have converted all our actions to punishment and our blessings into worldly and hereafter losses. The Muslims were once those who used to draw some good from bad, some virtues from staying away from evil and benefit from troubles we encounter today. As a consequence of the evil nature of our actions, the tables have turned and we have lost out in all places of good and achieve loss in all places of benefit. May Allah Ta’ala grant all the Muslims the ability to practice good deeds and follow the Sunnah of our beloved Nabi .
And Allah Ta’ala is the only one who grants us the ability and divine assistance.
Our Saintly elders used to worship on the night of Shabe Baraat and fast the next day.
Who are we to find fault with these noble practices?

Oh ALLAH we humbly beg of You, Your Forgiveness for any of our shortcomings and we beg of You, Your Divine Help and assistance, Aameen.