World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkey celebrated the Night of Forgiveness (Berat Kandili/Leylet-ul-Bara’at) on the night between the 14th and 15th days of Sha’ban -- the eighth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

Muslims gathered at grand mosques across Turkey, reciting the Quran and performing special prayers as well as visiting the graves of deceased relatives.

Issuing a message in connection with Berat Kandili, Religious Affairs Directorate President Ali Bardakoglu said Berat Kandili is a door of opportunity opened by God for people who have become down and depressed, to seek the forgiveness of God for past bad deeds and to get rid of the dirt left on their hearts by those sins.

Pointing out the fraternity among Muslims uniting many different cultures, Bardakoglu said that “We have came to these days with these richness. We have to love and cherish each other, regardless of who we are ethnically, how we are devout, where our region is, what our culture is, regardless of what we wear. We have to know each other as a human being.”

Muslim traditions affirm that this night is indeed a very special night, one on which Allah opens the doors of forgiveness and mercy, sealing the destinies of all souls, including those who will die in the coming year. The devout commence praying from the time of sunset of the 14th and continue till sunrise next morning.

He said Prophet Muhammad had stated that God will forgive all who seek to be forgiven on this night. “This night, which heralds the approach of the holy month of Ramadan, reminds people that they should avoid wrongdoing, be purified from their sins and appeal to the endless mercy of the great creator. These holy nights also remind us all of our responsibilities to God, to ourselves and to humanity,” he said.

The Bara’at Night is also the usher of the upcoming holy Ramadan month.