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Sha'baan - its Significance and Virtues

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

'Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s), his blessed descendents and noble companions.'

Aameen.

Shabaan - its Significance and Virtues

Shabaan is the eighth Islamic month that comes between Rajab and Ramadhan. The word Shabaan means 'consecutively escalating'.

Saaiduna Usama Radiallahu Anhu reports that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said "There is a month between Rajab and Ramadhan called Shabaan, people are very ignorant towards this month, even though the reward of each deed is greater within it and the deeds are presented to Allah".

-(Sunan Nasaai)

The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam used to increase his Ibadha (worship) in the month of Shabaan.

Saaidah Aaisha Radiallahu Anha narrates, "The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam fasted for so long we thought that he would never break his fast. Then he would do Iftaar (for so many days) we thought he will never fast. I have never seen the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam fast for a whole month besides the month of Ramadhan and keep more fasts (outside of Ramadhan) than in the month of Shabaan.(Sahih Bukhari p.264 v.1)

Saaiduna Abu Hurairah RadiallahuAnhu relates that Saaidah Aaisha Radiallahu Anha narrated to them the hadith that the Blessed Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam fasted the whole month of Shabaan.She said"I asked the Blessed Prophet: O Blessed Prophet Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam, is Shabaan your most favourite month to fast? He replied: Allah (SWA) assigns the year of death for each person (in the month of Shabaan) thus; I wish my death came when I am fasting.(Musnad Abi Yala p.311 v.8)

From this, we can deduce that the month of Shabaan is a very important month and we should increase our Ibadah in this month, in particular try to keep as many optional fasts as possible as the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam used to fast most of the month of Shabaan.

The blessed companion Anas Radi-Allahu anhu, reports that Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, was asked, "Which fast is the most meritorious after the fasts of Ramadan?" He replied, "Fasts of Shaban in honor of Ramadan."

In another report Saaidah Aaisha Radiallahu Anha narrates, "I never saw the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam fast in any month more that the month of Shabaan. He would fast the whole month except for some days; in fact he used to fast the whole month (of Shabaan). (Sunan Nisaai p.306 v.1)

Ummul-Mu'mineen Umm Salamah, Radi-Allahu anha, says: "I have never seen the Messenger of Allah fasting for two months continuously except in the months of Sha'ban and Ramadan."

These reports indicate that fasting in the month of Sha'ban, though not obligatory, is so meritorious that Prophet Muhammad Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, did not like to miss it.

But it should be kept in mind that the fasts of Sha'ban are for those persons only who are capable of keeping them without causing deficiency in the obligatory fasts of Ramadan. Therefore, if one fears that after fasting in Sha'ban, he will lose strength or freshness for the fasts of Ramadan and will not be able to fast in it with vitality or energy, he should not fast in Sha'ban; because the fasts of Ramadan, being obligatory, are more important than the optional fasts of Sha'ban.