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Sha'ban
The month of Sha'ban is one of the
meritorious months for which we find some peculiar
instructions in the sunnah of the Holy Prophet (SAW). It
is reported in the authentic Ahadith that the Holy
Prophet (SAW) used to fast most of the month in Sha'ban.
These fasts were not obligatory on him but Sha'ban is the
month immediately preceding the month of Ramadan.
Therefore, some preparatory measures are suggested by the
Holy Prophet (SAW) through his oral instructions and his
practice. Some of these are given below:
1. The blessed Companion Anas (RA) reports
that the Holy Prophet (SAW) was asked, "Which fast is the
most meritorious after the fast a of Ramadan?" He
replied, "Fasts of Sha'ban in honour of
Ramadan."
2. The blessed Companion Usama ibn Zaid
(RA) reports that he asked the Holy Prophet (SAW):
"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 Holy Prophet (SAW) replied: "That
(Sha'ban) is a month between Rajab and Ramadan which is
neglected by many people. And it is a month in which an
account of the deeds (of human beings) is presented
before the Lord of the Universe, so. I wish that my deeds
be presented at a time when I am in a state of
fasting."
3. Ummul Mu'mineen 'Aishah (RA) says: "The
Holy Prophet (SAW) used to fast in the whole of Sha'ban.
I said to him, 'Messenger of Allah, is the month of
Sha'ban your most favourite month to fast? He said. In
this month Allah prescribes the list of the persons dying
this year. Therefore, I like that my death comes when I
am in a state of fisting.
4. In another Tradition she says: The Holy
Prophet (SAW) would sometimes begin to fast continuously
until we thought he would not stop fasting, and sometimes
be used to stop fasting until we thought he would never
fast. "I never saw the Messinger of Allah (SAW) fasting a
complete month, except the month of Ramadan, and I have
never seen him fasting in a month more frequently than he
did in Sha'ban."
5. In another report she says: "I never saw
the Messenger of Allah (SAW) fasting in a month so
profusely 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."
6. Ummul-Mu'mmeen Umm Salmah (RA) says: "I
have never seen the Messenger of Allah (SAW) fasting for
two months continously except in the months of Sha'ban
and Ramadan.''
These reports indicate that fasting in the
month of Sha'ban, though not obligatory. is so
meritorious that the Holy Prophet (SAW) did not like to
miss it.
But 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 the
month of Sha'ban, because the fasts of Ramadan, being
obligatory, are more important than the optional fasts of
Sha'ban. That is why the Holy Prophet (SAW) himself has
forbidden the Muslims from fasting one or two days
immediately before the commencement of Ramadan. The
blessed Companion Abu Hurairah (RA) reports the Holy
Prophet (SAW) to have said: "Do not fast after the first
half of the month of Sha'ban bag gone."
According to another report the Holy
Prophet (SAW) has said: "Do not precede the month of
Ramadan with one or two fasts".
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