ding. In the Asar Khana, or house in
which this hair is kept Fatihas, Daruds, &c., are repeated.

The observance of this festival is neither wajib nor sunnat, but mustahab.
It is generally kept, and it is a very rare thing to meet a person who does
not believe in the miraculous growth of the Asar-i-Sharif.

4. SHAB BARAT.--This feast, the name of which signifies the "night of the
record," is held on the fourteenth day of the month Sh'aban. The 'Arfa, or
vigil is kept on the preceding day.[255] It is commonly but erroneously
called Shab-i-Barat.

The word Barat signifies a book or record. It is said that God on this
night registers in the Barat all the actions men are to perform during the
ensuing year. On the thirteenth day food is prepared for the poor and a
Fatiha for the benefit of deceased ancestors and relatives is said over it.
When all in the house are assembled, the Surat-ul-Fatiha is read once, the
Surat-ul-Iklas (112) three times, the Ayat-ul-Kursi once, and then the
Darud. After this a prayer is offered, in which God is asked to transfer
the reward of this Service, and of the charity shown in the gift of food to
the poor, to the souls of deceased relatives and friends of this family.
This petition is offered in the name of the Prophet. The men then go to the
Mosque and after the Namaz-i-'Isha they repeat a number of nafl rak'ats.
This over, the Surat-ul-Ya Sin is read three times. It must be done with
the niyyat, intention. The first time, the intention is that the worshipper
may have a long life; the second time, that his means of subsistence may be
increased; the third time, that he may be protected from evil. {247} The
Sura-i-Dukhan (144) is then read with the same intentions. Any other
portions may then be read. After this those present rise, and go to the
various cemeteries. On the way they purchase flowers which are afterwards
strewn on the graves. A Fatiha is then said. If the worshipper has no
relatives or friends buried there, prayer is offered for the benefit of the
Arwah-i-Qubur, the souls of those there buried. The very pious spend the
whole night in going from one cemetery to another.

These observances are neither farz, nor sunnat, but nawafil, (sing. nafl),
works of supererogation. Still though they are bid'at, yet they are
esteemed good and so are called bid'at-i-Hasana, or "excellent innovation."
The general merry-making of the fourteenth day has no religious
signification. The night of the