By Editorial Staff
Shaban is a blessed month in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to perform many kinds of good deeds. In the month of Shaban, the deeds of people, the good and the bad, are lifted up to Allah the Almighty. The specialty of Shaban stems from the fact that it is an introduction to the blessed month of Ramadan, in which one of the pillars of Islam is offered, namely fasting.
Let’s know more about the excellence, virtues, and acts to be done in Shaban from the tongue of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the following selected hadiths.
Excellence of Shaban
- Usamah ibn Zayd narrated: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as in Shaban.’ He said: ‘That is a month to which people do not pay much attention, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I like that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting.”‘ (An-Nasaa’i)
- Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The month which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) most liked to fast was Shaban; indeed he used to join it to Ramadan.” (Abu Dawud)
Merits of the middle of Shaban
- Abu Musa Al-Ashari narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Allah looks down on the night of the middle of Sha’ban and forgives all His creation, apart from the idolater and the quarrelling (ones).” (At-Tirmidhi)
- Abu Thalabah Al-Khushny reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Allah looks down on the night of the middle of Shaban and forgives the believer, prolongs the hope for the disbelievers and leaves away the people of grudge to their grudge until they forsake it.” (At-Tabarani)
Excellence of fasting in Shaban
- Aishah (peace be upon him) narrated, “I never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fast for a complete month except for the month of Ramadan, and I never saw him fast in a month more than he did in the month of Shaban.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
- Aishah (peace be upon him) narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to fast until we would say, ‘he never breaks his fast (i.e. he never stops fasting)’, and he would abandon fasting (at other times) until we would say that he never fasts. I never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fast for a complete month except for the month of Ramadan, and I never saw him fast in a month more than he did in the month of Shaban.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
- Narrated Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), “The Prophet (peace be upon him) never fasted (voluntarily) in any month more than in the month of Shaban. He used to say, “Do those deeds which you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) till you get bored and tired (of performing religious deeds).” The most beloved prayer to the Prophet (peace be upon him) was the one that was done regularly (throughout the life) even if it were little. And whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) offered a prayer he used to offer it regularly. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Fasting in the last half of Shaban
- It was narrated from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) would not fast any month of the year in full except Shaban and he used to join it to Ramadan. (Abu Dawud)
- Abu Hurairah (peace be upon him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “When it is the middle of Shaban do not fast (until it is Ramadan).” (Ibn Majah, At-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and An-Nasai)
Fasting the day of doubt
- Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Do not observe fasting for a day or two days preceding Ramadan. However, if a person is in the habit of observing fasting on a particular day (which may fall on these dates), he may fast on that day.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
- Narrated Abu Hurairah “The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Start fasting on seeing the crescent (of Ramadan), and give up fasting on seeing the crescent (of Shawwal), and if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see it), complete thirty days of Shaban.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
See also:
Beware of These Things in Shaban