Shab e Barat 2027 is expected in the UK on the night of Friday 22 January 2027, beginning after Maghrib and lasting until Fajr on Saturday 23 January. It is the night of the 15th of Sha’ban, the month before Ramadan, and it is known as a night of forgiveness. An authentic hadith teaches that Allah looks upon His creation on this night and forgives everyone except a person who associates partners with Him and a person who holds hatred in their heart. If your mosque starts Sha’ban a day later, Shab e Barat will fall on the night of Saturday 23 January.
For Muslims across the UK, this night is a reminder that Ramadan 2027 is just over two weeks away. It is a time to seek forgiveness, mend broken relationships, pray for loved ones who have passed away and give Sadaqah. This guide from Human Concern International UK explains the date of Shab e Barat 2027 in the UK, what the authentic sources say, how scholars view the night, and simple ways to make the most of it.
Shab e Barat 2027 in the UK is expected after Maghrib on Friday 22 January 2027. Islamic nights begin at sunset, so the night of the 15th of Sha’ban starts on the evening of the 14th. Sha’ban 1448 is expected to begin on Saturday 9 January 2027, subject to moon sighting.
| Event | Expected date in the UK | Hijri date |
|---|---|---|
| Sha’ban begins | Saturday 9 January 2027 | 1 Sha’ban 1448 |
| White days (Ayyam al-Bid) fasting | Thursday 21 to Saturday 23 January 2027 | 13 to 15 Sha’ban |
| Shab e Barat night begins | After Maghrib, Friday 22 January 2027 | Eve of 15 Sha’ban |
| 15th of Sha’ban (day) | Saturday 23 January 2027 | 15 Sha’ban 1448 |
| Ramadan 2027 begins | Monday 8 February 2027 | 1 Ramadan 1448 |
UK mosques do not all follow the same moon sighting. Some follow a local or regional sighting and others follow Saudi Arabia or another country. This is why some UK families mark Shab e Barat one night later than others. Both approaches rest on scholarly positions, so follow the announcement from your local mosque.
The night of Shab e Barat 2027 in the UK runs from about 4:30pm to about 6am, which gives more than 13 hours of night for prayer, dua and rest. This is one of the longest Shab e Barat nights British Muslims will see, because it falls in deep winter.
Human Concern International UK calculated these times using an 18 degree Fajr angle:
| City | Maghrib, Friday 22 January | Fajr, Saturday 23 January | Length of the night |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | 4:31pm | 5:53am | 13h 22m |
| Birmingham | 4:34pm | 6:01am | 13h 27m |
| Manchester | 4:31pm | 6:03am | 13h 32m |
| Bradford | 4:28pm | 6:02am | 13h 34m |
| Glasgow | 4:28pm | 6:14am | 13h 46m |
If your mosque uses a 15 degree timetable, Fajr will be around 20 minutes later. Always check your local timetable.
Shab e Barat is the night of the 15th of Sha’ban, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. The name is Persian and Urdu, and it is often translated as the night of freedom or the night of acquittal, meaning freedom from sins through Allah’s forgiveness. In Arabic it is called Laylat al-Nisf min Sha’ban, the night of the middle of Sha’ban, and sometimes Laylat al-Bara’ah.
In the UK, the night is widely marked by British Muslims of Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian heritage, and by Turkish communities, who call it Berat Kandili. Many UK mosques, especially in areas with large South Asian communities, hold talks and extended prayers on this night. Others do not hold special programmes. These differences come from a real scholarly discussion, which is explained below
The strongest narration about this night teaches that it is a night of forgiveness. Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allah looks upon His creation on the night of the middle of Sha’ban and forgives all of His creation, except for one who associates partners with Him and one who harbours hatred.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, graded hasan by al-Albani due to its supporting chains)
This hadith gives the night its meaning. Forgiveness is offered to everyone, but two things block it: shirk, and hatred towards other people. That is why many Muslims use this night to make peace with family members and friends before Ramadan begins.
Some narrations about this night are commonly shared but are weak, and it is important to know them. The hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) finding the Prophet ﷺ at the Baqi graveyard on this night is recorded in Jami at-Tirmidhi, but at-Tirmidhi himself reported that Imam al-Bukhari judged it weak. A narration telling people to stand in prayer on this night and fast its day, recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, is graded very weak by hadith scholars. Narrations that describe a fixed number of rakats with special surahs for this night have no reliable basis.
Human Concern International UK shares only what is authentic, so that your worship rests on firm ground.
No. The Quran does not name the night of the 15th of Sha’ban. Some people link it to the verse “Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night” (Ad-Dukhan 44:3). However, most scholars of tafsir, including Ibn Kathir, explain that this blessed night is Laylat al-Qadr, because the Quran was revealed in Ramadan (Al-Baqarah 2:185) on the Night of Decree (Al-Qadr 97:1).
Scholars agree that the night has a general virtue because of the authentic hadith of forgiveness. They differ on whether it should be marked with special acts of worship. Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, in his book on the Islamic seasons, Lata’if al-Ma’arif, records both views from the early generations.
Many scholars, including the Hanafi scholars of the Indian subcontinent and some of the early tabi’in of Syria, held that worshipping on this night as an individual is good and rewarded. Other scholars, including some from the early scholars of Makkah and Madinah, disliked special gatherings for it and said the night has no unique rituals.
The common ground is wide and useful:
As Shab-e-Barat comes shortly before Ramadan, many people view it as a natural moment for spiritual preparation. This may include reflecting on habits, setting intentions, and thinking about how to approach fasting and worship in the coming weeks.
For those living in the UK, where daily life can be fast-paced, this pause before Ramadan can feel especially meaningful.
You can mark Shab e Barat with simple, authentic acts of worship that suit a long UK winter night:
Fasting on Saturday 23 January 2027 is a good deed if you fast it as one of the white days, the 13th, 14th and 15th of the Islamic month. The Prophet ﷺ advised Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) to fast these three days each month (Sunan an-Nasa’i, graded hasan). In the UK, that fast lasts only about 10 and a half hours in January.
Fasting in Sha’ban in general is a strong sunnah. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said she never saw the Prophet ﷺ fast more in any month, other than Ramadan, than in Sha’ban (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). He explained that Sha’ban is a month people neglect, between Rajab and Ramadan, and it is a month when deeds are raised to Allah, and he loved his deeds to be raised while he was fasting (Sunan an-Nasa’i, graded hasan).
Do not fast the last day or two before Ramadan as a precaution, unless it is a fast you normally keep. The Prophet ﷺ said not to go ahead of Ramadan by fasting a day or two before it (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
Yes. Any fasts you missed in Ramadan 2026 must be made up before Ramadan 2027 begins on Monday 8 February. Sha’ban is the last chance. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said she would make up her missed Ramadan fasts in Sha’ban (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Our guide to Ramadan fasting rules in the UK explains who must make up fasts and when Fidya applies.
Shab e Barat is the night of the 15th of Sha’ban, while Laylat al-Qadr is a night in the last ten nights of Ramadan. Laylat al-Qadr is named in the Quran and is better than a thousand months. Shab e Barat is known from the hadith as a night of forgiveness.
| Shab e Barat | Laylat al-Qadr | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Night of 15 Sha’ban | An odd night in the last ten nights of Ramadan |
| Expected UK date in 2027 | Night of Friday 22 January | Last ten nights begin the evening of Saturday 27 February |
| Mentioned in the Quran | No | Yes, Surah Al-Qadr (97) |
| Main source | Hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah | Quran and Sahih al-Bukhari |
| Virtue | Allah’s forgiveness for all except two | Better than a thousand months (Al-Qadr 97:3) |
Read our full guide to Laylatul Qadr 2027 to plan for the greatest night of the year.
Use Shab e Barat as a checkpoint. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin just 16 days later, so this is the moment to set your intentions and your plans.
Our 30 day checklist to prepare for Ramadan and our Ramadan 2027 UK dates guide will help you plan every step.
Most UK mosques are expected to mark it on the night of Friday 22 January 2027. Mosques that begin Sha’ban a day later will mark it on the night of Saturday 23 January. Follow your local mosque.
No. There is no authentic special prayer for this night. You can pray voluntary prayers in sets of two rakats, as on any night.
There is no authentic dua specific to this night. Ask Allah for forgiveness, guidance and good for your family, and recite Sayyid al-Istighfar.
Scholars agree that the night has a general virtue of forgiveness. They differ on marking it with special gatherings. Worshipping quietly as an individual, without invented rituals, is accepted by many scholars.
Yes. They can make dua, dhikr and istighfar, listen to the Quran and give Sadaqah. Only the formal prayer and touching the Quran are set aside during menstruation, according to most scholars.
Shab e Barat is a gentle reminder that Allah’s forgiveness is close, and that Ramadan is near. A clean heart, a mended relationship and a small act of charity can carry you into Ramadan 2027 ready to make the most of it.
Human Concern International UK is a registered charity (number 1206222) based in Manchester. Your Sadaqah provides food, clean water and medical care to families facing hardship, through field teams and trusted local partners who verify need. Give Sadaqah this Shab e Barat, or give Sadaqah Jariyah on behalf of a loved one who has passed away. If you are a UK taxpayer, tick Gift Aid to add 25% at no extra cost.
Give a little extra
