Importance of ‘Sha’ban’ as the month for preps for Ramadan

‘Sha’ban’ is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. Its considered as the gate of the holy Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims. Every year, believers eagerly wait for the holy Ramadan to observe fasting around the world. Before the beginning of fasting month, we must practice some preparatory fastings from the previous months to build up capacity for a long month of fasting in Ramadan. Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), the last Messenger of Allah, used to practice fasting two months before Ramadan began; Rajab and Sha`ban. Shaan is a very close preceding month of Ramadan. This sacred month acts as a bridge between the month of Rajab and Ramadan.

In the Rajab and the Sha`ban, Prophet Muhammad (pbup) used to make this supplication with full concentration as mentioned in a Hadith. "Oh, Allah! grant us blessings in the month of Rajab and Shaan and allow us to reach the month of Ramadan." (Shu`abul-Imaan & Ibnus Sunni)

Sha`ban is one of the significant months for our spiritual work. Its placed next to the Rajab and before Ramadan. The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself claimed Sha`ban as his month. He said that Rajab is the month of Allah, Sha`ban is mine, and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah. Another significant festival in Islam takes place in this month, the fifteenth night of this month, is known as the "Lailat-al Barat" or "Shab-e Barat", a night of fortune. This year in our country, this glorious night falls on the night of February 25.
Sha`ban carries the message of the month of mercy and blessing of Ramadan. Every Muslim should start practicing as many spiritual acts as possible from this month as we find some acts practiced by our beloved prophet (pbup). It is prescribed in authentic Hadith that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to fast most of this month. Umm Salamah, (Ra) says: "I have never seen the Messenger of Allah fasting for two months continuously except in the months of Shaban and Ramadan."? (Musnade Ahmad, Hadith ?26022, Abu Daud, Hadith ?2336, Nasayi, Hadith ?2175, Ibne Majah, Hadith ?1648).

In another Hadith, Hazrat Abu Salamah (RA) narrated that I asked Aishah (RA) about the fasting of the Prophet (pbuh). She said: He used to fast until we thought he would always fast. And he used to not fast until we thought he would always not fast. I never saw him fasting more in any month than in Sha`ban. He used to fast all of Sha`ban; he used to fast all of Sh`aban except a little. (Sunan Ibn Majah: 1710)

We have understood from the above Hadiths that Rasulullah (pbuh) used to fast the entire month although these fastings were not compulsory for him. At present, many of us neglect this optional (Nafal) fasting. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) alerted us regarding this fact when he was asked why he was fasting so much in Sha`ban. He replied: "It is a month that people neglect".

The blessed companion Usama Ibn Zaid (Ra), who was considered part of the Prophets household, reports that he asked Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): "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. Prophet Muhammad (phuh) replied, that (Sh`aban) 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." (Narrated by Ahmad and al-Nasai).

Ummul Mumineen Aishah (Ra) further said, "Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to fast the whole of Sha`ban. I said to him, Messenger of Allah, is Sha`ban your favorite month for fasting? 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 fasting." (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1156).

These Hadiths indicate that the prophet Muhammad (pbup) never missed the fasting of Sha`ban although these were optional (Nafal), not mandatory for him. So fasting in Sha`ban gain ability to fast in Ramadan. But another point you should have noticed that if one is not able to keep this type of fasting (Nafal) in terms of physical fitness, he should not fast in Sha`ban, because the fasts of Ramadan, being obligatory, are more important than the optional (Nafal) fasts of Sha`ban.

Thats why! Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself has forbidden Muslims from fasting one or two days immediately before the commencement of Ramadan. The blessed companion Abu Hurairah (Ra) reports that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "Do not fast after the first half of the month of Sh`aban is gone."

According to another hadith, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has said: "Do not precede the month of Ramadan with one or two fasts."

Dear Muslim ummah, Shaan has already knocked the door. We are now very close to Ramadan. So, its the proper time to be prepared for the month of Ramadan. It is time to think about the way of keeping physically fit for a healthy Ramadan. Many of us have health concerns too fast for a long month. Such as, high blood pressure, diabetes, injury issues, pregnancy for women and other diseases. This is the part of the Ramadan preparation where we must talk to the doctor for physical fitness during the fasting period. Besides, changing food habits and sleeping routine is one of the parts of preparation. We can practice early to bed and early to rise through offering Tahazzat prayer, one of the best optional prayers, throughout this month.

As per the above description, we should practice some extra fastings as Shaan month has recently begun. Those who are not used to keeping fasting throughout the year, they can start with two weekly optional fasts, Monday and Thursday, or utilize this as a great opportunity to make up for what we missed from last year.  Besides, we should commit such deeds suggested by the beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and abandon prohibited acts along with making sincere repentance from all previous sins and evil deeds. After a month, we are going to have the month of Rahmat, Magfirat and Najat. Finally, lets welcome an excellent Ramadan.

The writer is Islamic researcher and teacher of Islamic Studies (English Medium) St. Joseph Higher Secondary School