Virtues of the month of Sha’ban
Sha’ban is the eighth month of the Muslim lunar calendar and is considered one of the months especially noted in the Sunna of the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). It is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast for most of the month of Sha’ban, except for its last days.
In a hadith narrated from the mother of the faithful, Aisha (may God be pleased with her) it is said that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) fasted so much that it seemed that he would not stop fasting, and, conversely, sometimes he refrained from fasting for so long that it seemed that he would no longer fast. “And I never saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fast in any month more than in the month of Sha’ban, except Ramadan, fasting the whole month.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
With the advent of the month of Sha’ban, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Purify yourself and improve your intentions and thoughts.”
Many believers find it difficult to maintain the kind of spiritual state that Ramadan requires and in the last ten days of Ramadan they complain that the holy month has been wasted for them. The reason for such disappointments is that such people did not have time to prepare themselves spiritually. Many righteous people, understanding the importance of the entire month of Ramadan, prepared themselves for it during two other months, observing fasting in the months of Rajab and Sha’ban.
Abu Bakr al-Balkhi said, “The month of Rajab is the month of planting, Sha’ban is the month of irrigation and Ramadan is the month of harvest. If a person did not sow anything in the month of Rajab and did not water in Sha’ban, what will he reap in Ramadan?
The most beloved (desirable) worship for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was an act performed regularly, even if it were small. Whenever the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) performed (desirable) prayers, he tried to do them regularly.
So let us use the month of Sha’ban to fast as much as possible, pray and read the Koran, so as to approach Ramadan spiritually enriched, as if this were the last Ramadan of our life.
It is also narrated from Aisha (may God be pleased with her): “Indeed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to me and found a woman with me. He asked me, ‘Who is she?’ I replied, ‘So-and-so (calling her by name), she talks about her prayer (that she performs many prayers).’ The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Do not tire yourself out like that, it will be better for you to do what you can do. By Allah, the Almighty will not tire (give you recompense) until you tire of worshipping Him. The most beloved for the Almighty in the observance of religion by His slave is the worship in which he is constant.’” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
It should be remembered that during Sha’ban the recompense for all good deeds increases, but also, accordingly, the punishment for sins committed in this month may also increase.
May the Almighty make us among those who show obedience and express gratitude to Him for the bestowed blessings. Amen.
