wikishia:Featured Article/2022/03

Shaʿbān 15th is the birthday of the Twelfth Imam (a). According to some hadiths, after Laylat al-Qadr, the night before Sha'ban 15th is the most honorable night. Some Shiites stay vigilant at this night and perform religious practices. Some Sunni Muslims, especially Sufis, also respect the night and stay vigilant.

Celebrations of Sha'ban 15th with illuminations and decorations of streets are the biggest Shiite celebrations that are held at the occasion of Imam al-Mahdi (a)'s birthday in Shiite areas. In Iran, many people gather in the Jamkaran Mosque, and in Iraq, people go to Karbala and visit Holy Shrine of Imam al-Husayn (a). Sha'ban 15th is an official holiday in Iran and is called the "World Day of the Impoverished". The night is also known as the night of Barat, Kandili Barat (in Turkish) and Laylat al-Sikk (in Arabic). Read more...