Sha’ban is a highly auspicious and blessed month. Sha’ban’s significance lies in the fact that it precedes Ramadan which is the holiest of all Islamic months and hence unsurpassed in terms of blessings and spiritual graces.
Sha’ban is meant to be a preparation for reaping the optimal blessings of Ramadan. You may compare it to starting a vigorous exercise program; to gain optimal benefits, you ought to engage in warm-up exercises. Sha’ban is a preparation for the faithful to do optional acts of virtue such as fasting, prayers, recitation of the Qur’an, dhikr, and acts of charity.
- Fasting is highly recommended in the month of Sha’ban; however, one should stop fasting closer to Ramadan: Aishah reports: I never saw the Prophet fasting more number of days in any month other than Sha’ab except Ramadan.” However, she says that he would stop fasting as he got closer to Ramadan.
- When Usamah asked the Prophet, peace be upon him, about why was doing extra fasts in Sha’ban, he told him: “This is a month between the two great months (Rajab and Ramadan) that people often neglect. It is a month when good deeds ascend to the Lord of the worlds; so I wanted my good deeds to be raised to Allah while fasting.”
It is clear from the above, that even as we are told to fast, we are encouraged to engage in all sorts of good deeds to the best of our ability.
- Good deeds in Islam come in many shapes and forms; it includes all virtuous acts including volunteering in the community; visiting the sick, charitable works, helping the weak and destitute, taking care of parents, relatives and others who need help.
- Optional prayers are also recommended throughout the month, although there are no prescribed rituals of worship to be performed on the 15th of Sha’ban. If there had been any such rituals to be performed, then it would have been stated clearly in the authentic traditions.
Having said this, we cannot stop people from performing Nawafil any time; for Nawafil are simply voluntary prayers; no one can prevent anyone from doing them any time except those times when prayers are forbidden.
I pray to Allah to inspire us to make the optimal use of the blessed month of Sha’ban and to invigorate us and boost our spirits for gaining the maximum blessings of the month of Ramadan.
Almighty Allah knows best.
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