Mumbai: Muslims observed Shab-e-Baraat (Night of Forgiveness), a night of mercy and forgiveness, on the evening of Thursday, February 13.

It is believed that on this night, Allah frees his followers from hell, and after a night of prayers, after sunrise, God begins a shower of mercy and forgiveness. Therefore, the faithful are asked to spend the night in worship. The religious observances began after the Maghrib (evening) prayers on Thursday.

The period for the religious observances is on the 14th of the Islamic month of Shaban, corresponding to February 13-14 this year. It is also believed that angels visit the earth at night. People visit the graves of their relatives and friends to pray and ask the angels to intercede with God to fulfill their prayers.

Shuiab Khatib, trustee of the Jama Masjid, the city's most important mosque, said that families will visit the Bada Qabrastan at Marine Lines - at 7.5 acres, it is one of the largest Muslim burial grounds in the city. "The cemetery is nearly 200 years old. People who have left the city come to pray near the graves of their ancestors. The belief is that if you pray during this night, Allah will hand over all the good and bad events in the coming year to the farishtey (angels) and put you in their care," said Khatib.

Warees Ali Sayeed, a resident of Bhendi Bazaar said many people observe a day's fast as part of the religious rituals. "I pray at the mosque, visit Bada Qabrastan, and return home. We do not roam around in the night like a lot of others. I do not think that is part of the prescribed rituals," he said.

Khatib, who issued an advisory earlier during the week, said that young people roaming around the city on noisy bikes and cars have been a nuisance. "We have asked them not to indulge in such behaviour. It creates a misunderstanding among non-Muslims and gives the festival a bad name," said Khatib.