All praise is for Allah. We praise Him, ask His help and seek His forgiveness. We take refuge in Allah from the evil in ourselves and from our bad deeds. Whoever Allah guides, no one can misguide; whoever Allah allows to go astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god except Allah alone, with no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
Rules and Recommended Acts in Sha‘ban
Sha‘ban has certain rulings and recommended acts of worship. However, some people make mistakes.
1. Fasting in Sha‘ban
It is recommended to fast most of Sha‘ban, as the Prophet ﷺ used to do. Aisha رضي الله عنها said: “I never saw the Messenger of Allah fast an entire month except Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more in any month than he did in Sha‘ban.” [Bukhari & Muslim]
So, it is recommended to fast a lot in Sha‘ban.
- Fasting one or two days before Ramadan is not allowed unless it matches a person’s usual fasting habit, like Mondays or Thursdays.
- Scholars said that if someone vowed to fast the last days of Sha‘ban or owes makeup fasts from last Ramadan, they may fast one or two days before Ramadan.
- The hadith saying “Do not fast after Sha‘ban is halfway” is not authentic, as stated by many early scholars like Imam Ahmad and Yahya ibn Maeen.
- Fasting in Sha‘ban is better than fasting in Muharram, because it is connected to an obligatory act (Ramadan). Voluntary acts connected to obligations are more rewarding. Muslim narrated from Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The best fasting after Ramadan is the month of Allah, Muharram.” This refers to general voluntary fasting, as Ibn Rajab explained.
2. Reading the Quran in Sha‘ban
It is recommended to read the Quran more in Sha‘ban. Ibn Rajab said that the early scholars (Salaf) used to read the Quran a lot in Sha‘ban and called it the month of the reciters. They did this to train themselves so that when Ramadan comes, they are used to reading the Quran and can continue without difficulty.
3. The Night of Mid-Sha‘ban
Some narrations say Allah looks at His creation on the night of mid-Sha‘ban and forgives everyone except the polytheist and the one holding hatred. Scholars disagreed on these narrations.
Even if accepted:
- The Prophet ﷺ did not single out this night for special prayer.
- The Companions did not single it out either.
- So, it is not correct to give this night special prayer or fasting. All goodness is in following the Sunnah, not in innovations.
4. Making Up Missed Ramadan Fasts
Anyone who owes fasts from a previous Ramadan must make them up before the next Ramadan.
If a person delays without a valid excuse:
- They are sinful.
- They must make up the missed fasts.
- They must feed a poor person for each missed day. [Narrated by Al-Daraqutni from Mujahid from Abu Huraira]
If a person had a valid excuse, like illness:
- They must make up the fasts only.
- No feeding is required.
- They are not sinful.
5. Mistakes people make in Sha‘ban.
- Some believe that the night of mid-Sha‘ban is the night of yearly decree. This is wrong, as Ibn al-Qayyim explained in Shifa al-‘Aleel. Allah says: “In it, every wise matter is decided.” [Ad-Dukhan: 4-5] This refers to Laylatul Qadr, not mid-Sha‘ban.
- Some celebrate mid-Sha‘ban with the festival called Qarqiaan, which came from deviant groups and spread to some Muslims. This is forbidden.
- Some people tried to avoid the deviant groups and moved Qarqiaan to mid-Ramadan. This is also forbidden because creating new religious festivals is not allowed in Islam.
Advice to Muslims
- Work hard in Sha‘ban to read the Quran and fast to gain reward and get used to worship before Ramadan.
- This trains the soul so that when Ramadan comes, worship becomes easier and fasting and Quran reading are done without difficulty.
Reminder About Death
- The Angel of Death comes to everyone. We hear of deaths all the time. Soon it will come to us.
- Work hard in obedience to Allah and prepare for the afterlife. Life is short, and the Hereafter is serious.
Allah says:
“Every soul will taste death.” [Aal Imran: 185]
“Do not let your wealth or children distract you from the remembrance of Allah.” [Al-Munafiqun: 9]
“Every promise the devil makes is false.” [An-Nisa: 120]
Final Supplication
O Allah, there is no god except You. Let us reach Ramadan in a good state. Help us fast and pray with faith and sincerity. Make us among the successful and obedient servants.
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