Sha’ban is the eighth month in the Islamic calendar and it is the last lunar month preceding the holy month of Ramadan (when fasting is made compulsory for every mature and sane believer). Sha’ban is indeed an avenue to attain proximity to God and a preparatory ground to acquire the superabundant blessings in the month of Ramadan. Meanwhile, it is pertinent to note that the month of Ramadan is like an ocean from whose water everyone gets an amount proportionate to his/her container.
This holy month is ascribed to the Holy Prophet (PBUHH) who used to observe fasting in it and connect it to the obligatory fast of Ramadan. He (PBUHH) used to say, “Sha’ban is my month; hence, Paradise will be incumbently decided for him who observes fasting on one day of my month[1].”
Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s) is also reported to have said that Imam ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-Abidin (a.s) used to gather all his companions at the beginning of Sha’ban and say to them, “O my companions! Do you know what this month is? It is Sha’ban. The Holy Prophet (a.s) used to say, ‘Sha’ban is my month.’ You should thus fast on this month as a sign of your love for your Prophet and as a sign of seeking nearness to your Lord. I swear by Him Who grasps my soul that I heard my father, al-Husayn (a.s) saying that he heard Imam ‘Ali Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) saying, ‘As for one who observes fasting in Sha’ban on account of love for the Messenger of Allah (a.s) and seeking nearness to Almighty Allah, Almighty Allah will love him and will draw him near to His honor on the Resurrection Day and will decide Paradise for him incumbently[2].”
Shaykh al-Ṭūsī has narrated on the authority of Ṣafwān al-Jammāl that Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) instructed him to urge all the people that he knew to observe fasting in Sha’ban. “May Allah accept me as ransom for you! There is a reason for this instruction. Is there not?” asked Ṣafwān al-Jammāl. Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) answered, “Yes, there is. When his eyes fell on the new moon of Sha’ban, the Messenger of Allah (a.s) ordered somebody to declare the following on the people of al-Madinah: O people of Yathrib! I am the Messenger of Allah’s Messenger to you all (carrying this message). Verily, Sha’ban is my month; therefore, may Allah have mercy upon him who helps me undertake my month.” Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) then added, “Amir al-Mu’minin (Imam ‘Ali) used to say, ‘I have never missed the fasting in Sha’ban since I heard the call of the Messenger of Allah in Sha’bān. Furthermore, I shall never miss it so long as I am alive, Allah willing[3].’”
Ismāil ibn ‘Abd al-Khaliq narrated that when the subject of observing fasting in Sha’ban was once discussed in his presence, Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s) said, “The merits of observing fasting in Sha’ban are so great that even one who sheds inviolable blood is expected to be forgiven[4].”
The Most Important A’amāl [Deeds] In Sha’ban
The holy month of Ramadan is indeed a period full of boundless blessings and countless favours of God and they shall be reaped maximally only by those who had made necessary preparations in the preceding months (i.e. Rajab and Sha’ban). In other words, one’s preparation for the month of Ramadan determines the levels of the blessings, bounties and the divine favours to be reaped in this holy month.
The recommended acts of Sha’ban are divided into two parts: general and particular. The general acts are those which are advisedly practiced each day in the month without distinction, while the particular acts are dedicated to certain days and nights in this month. Thus, here are some of the general acts in the month of Sha’ban:
1. Fasting
Fasting is highly recommended for the whole month of Sha’ban or any of its days, preferably on Mondays and Thursdays. Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said, “To fast in two consecutive months is repentance before Almighty Allah.”
It is also recommended to observe fasting on Thursdays in Sha’ban. In this respect, a Ḥadith reads that the Heavens decorate themselves each Thursday in Sha’ban and the angels pray to Almighty Allah, saying, “O our God: (please do) forgive him who observe fasting on this day and respond to his prayers.” The Holy Prophet (a.s) is also reported as saying, “If one observes fasting each Monday and Thursday in Sha’ban, Almighty Allah will settle forty of his needs- twenty appertained to the worldly life and twenty to the Hereafter.”
NOTE: Fasting in this month is highly recommended for those who are capable and those who do not have an obligatory fast [such as previous Ramadan fasts]. Someone who is having a reparatory (i.e. Qada’) or atonement (i.e. Kaffarah) fast of Ramadan should use the period to observe it, rather than observing the supererogatory fast of Sha’ban.
2. It is recommended to recite the following prayer of seeking forgiveness seventy times each day in Sha’ban:
أسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ وَأَسْأَلُهُ التَّوْبَةَ
Astaghfiru-llaha wa as-aluhu al-tawbata
I seek the forgiveness of Allah and I pray to Him for approval of my repentance
3. It is recommended to recite the following prayer of seeking forgiveness seventy times each day in Sha’ban:
اسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ الَّذِي لا إلهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمُ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Astaghfiru-llāha alladhi La ilaha illā huwa ar-Raḥmānu ar-Raḥimu al-Hayyu al-Qayyumu wa atubu ilayhi
I seek forgiveness of Allah, there is no god save Whom, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful, the Ever-living, the Everlasting and to Him I turn
NOTE: According to narrations, the best supplications and invocations that are advisably recited in Sha’ban are the prayers of seeking forgiveness of Almighty Allah (i.e. Istighfār). Hence, to seek Almighty Allah’s forgiveness seventy times a day in Sha’ban is equal to seeking His forgiveness seventy thousand times a day in the other months.
4. It is recommended to give alms [Sadaqah] this month even if it is as small as a half date. Almsgiving in this month brings about rescue from Hellfire. In this respect, it has been narrated that when Imam al-Ṣādiq (a.s) was asked about the merits of observing fasting in Rajab, he answered, “Why do you not ask about the merits of observing fasting in Sha’ban.” “What is then the reward of him who observes fasting on one day in Sha’ban, Son of Allah’s Messenger?” asked the narrator. The Imam (a.s) answered, “The reward will be Paradise. I swear it by Allah.” The narrator then asked again, “What are the best deeds that should be done in Sha’ban.” The Imam (a.s) answered, “Almsgiving and seeking forgiveness are the best deeds in Sha’ban. Verily, if any of you gives alms in Sha’ban, Almighty Allah will breed that alms in the very same way as you breed your small camels. Hence, this alms will be as huge as Mount Uhud on the Resurrection Day.”
5. It is recommended to repeat the following invocation one thousand times in Sha’ban:
لا إلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا تَعْبُدُ إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ
Lā ilaha illä allāhu wa la na’budu illā iyyahu mukhlişina lahu al-ddina wa lao kariha al-mushrikūna
There is no god save Allah; and we serve none save Him, being sincere to Him in obedience, though the unbelievers are averse.
NOTE: This devout act brings about a great reward. The reward of him who practices it is that he is considered to have served (Almighty Allah) for one thousand years.
6. It is recommended to repeat very much the prayer of sending blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household [اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ].
7. It is recommended to utter the following prayer of sending blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household that is reported from Imam ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn al-Sajjad (i.e. Imam Zayn al-Abidin) each mid-day in Sha’ban and at the fifteenth night of Sha’ban:
اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ شَجَرَةِ النُّبُوَّةِ… الأخیَار
NOTE: Check Mafatih al-Jinan for details.
8. It is recommended to recite Munajat Sha’baiya, which is the confidential prayer of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s) and the Holy Imams (a.s).
NOTE: Check Mafatih al-Jinan for details. This supplication is ascribed to the Holy Imams (peace be upon them). It is highly significant since it comprises excellent meanings. It is therefore advisable to recite it with the presence of heart all the time.
9. Recite other recommended supplications [Check Mafatih al-Jinan for details]
10. It is recommended to offer a two Rak’ah prayer each Thursday in Sha’ban. In each Rak’ah, it is recommended to recite Surah al-Fatihah once and repeat Surah al-Tawhid [Qulhuwallah] one hundred times. After accomplishment, one should pray for sending blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household [اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ] one hundred times. This practice achieves the settlement of all worldly and religious needs.
Curled from the book titled “The Rites of Rajab, Sha’ban, Ramadan” by Badr Shahin
Footnotes:
[1] . Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, Zad al-Ma’ād, p. 47.
[2] . Badr Shahin, The Rites of Rajab, Sha’ban, Ramadan, p. 231.
[3] . ibid
[4] . ibid
