New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was left embarrassed after it was pointed out that he was late by a day to extend his Shab-e-Barat greetings.
On 9 April, Thursday, Khan took to twitter to “request Muslims all over the world to offer prayers”.
“I would request Muslims all over the world to offer tonight, on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat special nuafil prayers to Allah and seek his blessings and forgiveness,” he had tweeted.
While Shab-e-Barat was celebrated on the night of 9 April in some parts of the world, it was celebrated in Pakistan on 8 April itself.
Some users trolled Khan for being “late as usual”, while others accused him of “having no knowledge of Islam”.
Shab-e-Baraat was last night, requests for prayers the next night. Inka sirf sabun he slow nahin, chand bhi slow hai. pic.twitter.com/j0xAYrTWYe
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) April 9, 2020
Trump hacked ur acct ,right??
Shab e barat was yesterday night..— Serial Chiller (@_serialchilller) April 9, 2020
Pakistan Prime Minister requesting Muslims to pray for an event today that already took place last night. This is the Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan who has no knowledge of Islam or even normal festivals and rituals. Either no knowledge or it’s good quality weed. pic.twitter.com/VdY0ZsDdsd
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) April 9, 2020
And he is again late.
Business as-usual.
May ALLAH Pak have mercy on us. https://t.co/NXGX0ZU3Jh— Alinaa (@AlinaaPK) April 9, 2020
After being heavily trolled for his gaffe, Khan deleted his tweet just hours after posting it.
Also read: ‘First quiet Shab-e-Barat, but for right reasons’: Delhi Muslims mark prayer night indoors
A largely sombre Shab-e-Barat
Shab-e-Barat or ‘the night of forgiveness’ is observed on the night between day 14 and 15 of Sha’ban — the eighth month of the Islamic calendar, which was on 8 April this year.
Muslims observe the occasion by going to mosques and graveyards to pray for the departed loved ones. At several places, streets and homes are illuminated to mark the occasion.
However, this time around, owing to the lockdown and social distancing rules in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, Muslims across the world spent the night praying inside their homes. In India too, Muslims celebrated a largely sombre Shab-e-Barat by not stepping out of their homes.
In Pakistan too, the police and the government imposed restrictions on gatherings at graveyards for Shab-e-Barat.
Also read: Shab-e-Barat, the night of forgiveness Muslims will be celebrating indoors this year