Islamic world observes Barat, holy night of fate and forgiveness

Muslims across the globe as well as in Western Thrace on Thursday observed Laylat al-Barat, or the "Night of Barat," Islam’s night of forgiveness and salvation.

Faithful in every corner of the world flocked to mosques to pray and repent.

The Night of Barat is one of the five holy nights in Islam.

These nights are marked as public holidays in Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Minority. All Minority hıgh and primary schools are closed. The minarets of mosques across the region are illuminated and special prayers are recited for the occasion.

These nights are usually known as “kandil geceleri” in Turkish because Muslims used to light oil lamps called “kandils” in mosques on these days.

Laylat al-Barat is the night of the 15th day of Shaban in the Islamic lunar (Hijri) calendar.

The occasion is also known as a time that brings the glad tidings of the approaching advent of the holy month of  Ramadan, the blessed month of fasting during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from predawn to sunset.