Sha'baan

August 16, 2007 is Sha'baan 1, 1428 in Mumbai and surrounding areas. The new moon was not sighted due to cloudy skies, and thirty days of the month of Rajab were completed.

Allah , out of His infinite mercy, has created varying seasons throughout the year for people’s benefit. Similarly, Allah has also assigned different seasons for particular worship. These are special times designated by Allah for increased worship.

Of course, a believer is expected to be performing worship continuously throughout his or her life, but these special opportunities exist so that every believer may get a chance to attain closeness to Allah and earn manifold rewards.

One of these blessed opportunities is the month of Sha'baan. It is reported in authentic ahadith that Rasulullah used to particularly increase his worship in this month. It is recorded in Sahih al Bukhari:

Aishah radhiallahu anhaa narrates: I have never seen the Blessed Prophet fast for a whole month besides the month of Ramadaan and keep more fasts [outside of Ramadaan] than in the month of Sha'baan. (Reported in Bukhari, Muslim, Nisai, Abu Dawood)

Usamah bin Zaid narrates that I said: Oh Blessed Prophet! I do not see you fasting any month more than the month of Shabaan. The Blessed Prophet replied: People are ignorant of it, being between the months of Rajab and Ramadaan. All deeds are raised towards the Lord of the Worlds in that month. Thus, I wish that my deeds are raised when I am fasting. (Reported in Nisai, Musnad Ahmad)

Aisha radhiallahu anhaa narrates that I never saw the Blessed Prophet fast in any month more than the month of Sha'baan. He used to fast the whole month except for some days; in fact, he used to fast the whole month (of Sha'baan). (Reported in Tirmidhi, Nisai, Abu Dawood, Musnad Ahmad)

Abu Huraira relates that Aisha radhiallahu anhaa narrated to them the hadith that the Blessed Prophet fasted the whole month of Sha'baan. She said: I asked the Blessed Prophet: Oh Blessed Prophet, is Sha'baan your most favorite month to fast? He replied: Allah assigns the year of death for each person (in the month of Sha'baan), thus, I wish my death comes when I am fasting. (The chain of narration is ranked “Hasan” in al-Targheeb wal Tarheeb and is also related in Musnad Abu Yala)

The following things are very clear from the several ahaadith quoted above:

1. The month of Sha'baan is a very important month and the Shari’ah encourages us to perform optional acts of worship during this month.
2. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to fast most of the month of Sha'baan.
3. In this month, all of the people’s deeds are presented to Allah.
4. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, disliked the people neglecting the importance of the month of Sha'baan.
5. In Sha'baan, the list of all the people that are supposed to die in that year are handed over to the angels.

Here is wishing you a great month ahead, in preparation for Ramadaan!