Sha’ban, The door to Ramadhan – Some Virtues & Rulings

Bismillahi Ar Rahman Ar Raheem

Sha’baan is the name of the eighth month of the hijira calender. It is between the sacred month of Rajab and the blessed month of Ramadan. It is so called because in this month the Arabs used to disperse (Tasha’aba) in search of water, or it was said that they dispersed to carry out raids and forays. Or it was said that it is so called because it Sha’aba (branches out or emerges) i.e., it appears between the months of Rajab and Ramadhan.

It is reported by Umm Salamah and Aisha (May Allah be pleased with both of them) that: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to fast all of Sha’ban, he would fast all of it except a little.” Reported by al-Bukhari, n°1970 and Muslim, n°1165. This version narrated by Muslim.

Why should we fast a great deal in the month of Sha’baan?

Usamah ibn Zayd, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting in any other month like you fast in Sha’ban.’ He (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: ‘That is a month to which people do not pay attention, between Rajab and Ramadhan, and it is a month in which deeds are lifted up to the Lord of the worlds. I like for my deeds to be lifted up when I am fasting.’” Reported by An-Nasai, see Sahih al-Targhib wat Tarhib, p.425.

The ruling of fasting the end of Sha’baan

It is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When Sha’ban is halfway through, do not fast.” Narrated by Abu Dawud n°3237; Ibn Hibban n°1651; classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Tirmidhi.

The prophet also said: “Do not anticipate Ramadan by fasting one or two days before it, except a man who fasts regularly, who should observe his usual fast.” Reported by al-Bukhari n°1914 and Muslim, n°1082. Meaning, do not fast more days than it should through not making a clear distinction between the two months.

There are some exceptions from this prohibition, as follows:

1- One who has a habit of fasting, such as a man who habitually fasts on Mondays and Thursdays , which he may do even after halfway through Sha’ban.
2- A person who started fasting before halfway through Sha’ban, and connects what comes after the halfway point to what came before. This is not included in the prohibition either.
3- An exception from this prohibition is also made for one who is making up missed Ramadan fasts.

In short, is therefore disliked to observe voluntary fast one or two days before Ramadhan for those who do not habitually fast. This is because the person might end up fasting the day of doubt, which is the day the people usually doubt whether Ramadan has started or not.

Advantage of fasting the month of Sha’ban

– It helps us to get use to fasting before the month of Ramadhan.
– The fasting in the days of Sha’ban (and the fast of the 6 days of Shawwaal) are for the fasting of the Ramadan what the rawatib voluntary prayers are for the obligatory prayers. They come before (and after) these two pillars of Islam.
– Our deeds our presented to Allah while in a state of fasting.

We end this short write up with the statement of Abu Bakr al-Balkhi (رحمه الله) who said: “Rajab is the month of planting (seeds). Sha’baan is the month of watering the crops nd Ramadan is the month of harvesting the crops.” Lataa’iful ma-a’rif, p.121

May Allah allow us to benefit from the month of Sha’ban and allow us to reacht the blessed month of Ramadan. Ameen

Allah praise be to Allah and He surely knows best.