Brothers and sisters! The month of Rajab has passed and we have entered into the month of Sha’ban. Sha’ban is the name of the eighth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. InshaAllah, we will soon be entering into the month of Ramadan. My khutba today is on the merits of the month of Sha’ban. We learn through many authentic prophetic traditions and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S) that Sha’ban is one of the most meritorious months.
Scholars say that the linguistic root of the word Sha’ban refers to a branch, because the month of Sha’ban branches off and leads to many good things. Sha’ban acts as a bridge between the two blessed months of Rajab and Ramadan. In spite of this, we learn from a hadith that the month of Sha’ban is often neglected by people.
Usama ibn Zaid (RA) reports that he asked the Prophet Muhammad (S), “O Messenger of Allah, I have seen you fasting in the month of Sha’ban so frequently that I have never seen you fasting in any other month.” The Prophet (S) replied: “That is a month between Rajab and Ramadan which is neglected by many people. And it is the month in which people’s deeds are raised to the Lord of the universe; so I wish that my deeds be raised at a time when I am in a state of fasting.”
What is meant by “deeds being raised”? The scholars say it is a symbolic presentation of our deeds to Allah (SWT). Allah is All-Seeing and All-Knowing, and does not need our deeds to be presented to Him as He is constantly aware of them. However if someone is not aware of Allah’s constant vigilance then he should at least strive to do good deeds at times when his deeds are presented to the Lord of the worlds.
There is a daily presentation of deeds after Fajr and Asr prayers. Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Prophet (S) said: “Angels come to you in succession by night and day and all of them get together at the time of the Fajr and Asr prayers. Those who have passed the night with you ascend (to the Heaven) and Allah asks them, though He knows everything about you, ‘In what state did you leave my slaves?’ The angels reply: ‘When we left them they were praying, and when we reached them they were praying.’”
Musnad Ahmad and Sunan al-Nasa’i, among other books of hadith speak about actions of people being presented on Mondays, Thursdays, and during Sha’ban, and the desirability of fasting during these times. It is reported in authentic ahadith that the Prophet (S) used to fast most of the month in Sha’ban. These fasts were not obligatory on him but he was keen on fasting in this month more than any other month.
Anas (RA) reports that the Prophet (S) was asked, “Which fast is the most meritorious after the fasts of Ramadan?” He replied, “Fasts of Sha’ban in honor of Ramadan.” The mother of the believers—‘Aishah (RA) said, “I never saw the Messenger of Allah fasting in a month as much as he did in the month of Sha’ban. He used to fast in that month leaving only a few days, rather, he used to fast almost the whole of the month.”
This is how the Prophet (S) welcomed and dealt with this month. These reports indicate that fasting in the month of Sha’ban, though not obligatory, is so meritorious that the Prophet (S) did not like to miss it. Indeed, the companions of the Prophet (S) and those that followed them used to prepare for Ramadan, by fasting during the month of Sha’ban whatever Allah had willed for them.
The month of Sha’ban is like an introduction to Ramadan. Observing the Sunnah of fasting in it helps us to welcome and begin Ramadan with a good attitude. However, 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 freshness; he should not fast in Sha’ban, because the fasts of Ramadan, being obligatory, are more important than the optional fasts of Sha’ban.
One of the wisdoms behind the Prophet (S) fasting abundantly in Sha’ban is mentioned by ‘Aishah (RA), who said that in Sha’ban he would make up any voluntary fasts that he had missed during the course of the year. At this time she would also fast with him to make up any of the fasts that she had missed in Ramadan. From this we learn the necessity of making up any days of Ramadan which we have missed before Ramadan comes again and also the importance of making up supererogatory actions (nawafil), which we are accustomed to performing.
The scholars also mention that fasting in Sha’ban before Ramadan resembles praying the nawafil prayers, which come before the obligatory prayer, while fasting in Shawwal after Ramadan resembles praying the nawafil, which come after the obligatory prayer. Performing supererogatory actions makes up for any deficiencies in the obligatory actions that we have performed.
In spite of all this the Prophet (S) also said: “When the first half of Sha’ban is finished do not fast.” The scholars of the Shafi`i school understood that this hadith prohibits voluntary fasting in the second half of Sha’ban, except in certain circumstances. The other schools, however, say that there is no prohibition on fasting in the second half of the month but say that it is disliked to fast a day or two before Ramadan.
Other than fasting, it is recommended to bestow abundant blessings and peace upon the best of creation; the beloved of Allah – Muhammad (S). It was in this month that Allah revealed the ayah:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَـتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِيِّ يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْتَسْلِيماً
“Allah and His angels bestow their blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe bestow blessings and peace upon him in abundance.” (al-Ahzab, 33:56)
Bestowing blessings upon the Prophet (S) is one of the greatest means of strengthening our connection with him in this life and the next, as informed by him in a hadith which says, “The closest people to me on the Day of Rising will be those who bestow the most blessings upon me.”
It was also the habit of some of the early Muslims to recite the Qur’an in abundance during Sha’ban. This along with fasting gives us the best preparation for Ramadan, as it takes time for the soul (nafs) to become accustomed to doing these things in abundance. Imam Abu Bakr al-Warraq said, “In Rajab you sow the seeds, in Sha’ban you irrigate them and in Ramadan you reap the harvest.”
The Prophet (S) used to make a dua to Allah (SWT):
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا في رَجَبٍ وَ شَعْبَانَ وَ بَلِّغْنا رَمَضَانَ
“O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Sha’ban and enable us to reach Ramadan!” May Allah make us too reach the holy month of Ramadan, ameen.
أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ المُسْلِمينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتْ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهْ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
Brothers and sisters! Two momentous events occurred in Sha’ban. The scholars of Sirah say that it was in Sha’ban when the miraculous incident of splitting of the moon in half by the Prophet (S) took place. It was also the month in which the Qiblah (the direction of prayer) was changed from Bayt al-Maqdis in Jerusalem to the Ka`bah in Makkah.
It is also reported by Imam Baihaqi on the authority of Salman Al-Farsi (RA) that the Prophet (S) delivered a sermon on the last day of the month of Sha’ban in which he said: “O People! A great and blessed month (i.e. Ramadan) has arrived for you with its mercies, blessings and forgiveness. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. The days of this month are the best among the days and the nights are the best among the nights and the hours during Ramadan are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him (to fast and pray). Allah has honored you in it. In every breath you take is a reward of Allah, your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations are answered.”
“Therefore, you must invoke your Lord in all earnestness with hearts free from sin and evil, and pray that Allah may help you to keep fast, and to recite the Holy Qur’an. Indeed, miserable is the one who is deprived of Allah’s forgiveness in this great month. While fasting, remember the hunger and thirst on the Day of Judgment. Give alms to the poor and needy. Pay respect to your elders, have sympathy for your youngsters and be kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your tongue against unworthy words, and your eyes from scenes that are not worth seeing (forbidden) and your ears from sounds that should not be heard.”
“O people! You have made your conscience the slave of your desires. Make it free by invoking Allah for forgiveness. Your back may break from the heavy load of your sins, so prostrate yourself before Allah for long intervals, and make this load lighter. Understand fully that Allah has promised in His Honor and Majesty that, people who perform salat and sajda (prostration) will be guarded from Hell-fire on the Day of Judgment.” “O people! The gates of Paradise remain open during this month. Pray to your Lord that they may not be closed for you. The gates of Hell are closed, so pray to your Lord that they never open for you. Satan has been chained; so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you.”
And the Prophet (S) continued to give other gems of advice. It is reported that Ali ibn Talib (RA) said: “I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what are the best deeds during this month’?” ‘He replied: ‘O Abu-Hassan, the best of deeds during this month is to be far from what Allah has forbidden’.” May Allah (SWT) give us the tawfiq to prepare ourselves during Sha’ban so that we may welcome Ramadan and reap maximum benefit out of it. Allahumma ameen.
