Shaban is one of the Islamic months, it’s the eighth month that follows Rajab and precedes Ramadan. It is one of the months that most people neglect, however, it’s one of the most loved months to the holy prophet (peace and blessing be upon him).
It’s not one of the four sacred months, however, the Shaban month importance is in doing all kinds of Ibadah to prepare ourselves for Ramadan.
What is Shaban month importance? We can clearly see the importance of Shaban in the following hadith: Usamah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said, ‘Oh Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting in any other month like you fast in Shabaan.’ He said, ‘That is a month to which people do not pay attention, between Rajab and Ramadan, 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.’” (Narrated by al-Nasaai)
Now, let’s learn more about the Shaban Islamic month, its benefits, and its importance.
What happens in the month of Shaban?
One of the benefits of Shaban is to prepare for the great upcoming month, which is Ramadan. Some people thing that Ramadan is just for fasting, but that’s not true, it’s the month of worshipping Allah, reciting Quran, making Dua, giving out Zakat, becoming better versions of ourselves, and coming closer to Allah.
Trying to do all kinds of Ibadah and fasting suddenly is not easy, and it’s better to be prepared for it. So, what happens in Shaban is simply preparing for the month of Ramadan. People fast on Mondays and Thursdays, and the 13, 14, and 15 of the month to get ready for fasting an entire month.
Also many choose to celebrate by giving Sadaqah and Zakat. Shaban is the month of the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) and we should celebrate it by following his lead and honoring him. And helping the poor was one of the most loved acts of the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him).
Allah says in the holy Quran: “Yet you shall duly establish the Prayer. And you shall give the Zakat-Charity, and therewith lend God a most goodly loan. For whatever good you advance for your souls, you shall find its reward with God in the Hereafter; yet it shall be far better and much greater in reward” (Surat Al-Muzzammil, 73:20).
The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said, ‘Rajab is the month of Allah, Sha’ban is my month and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah’. [Suyuti].
During the month of Shaban, we should make Dua, sending peace and blessings upon the prophet and following his sunnah.
The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said, “The person closest to me on the Day of Judgement is the one who sent the most Blessings [Salawat] upon me”. [Tirmidhi]
It’s said that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) used to recite the following Dua: “O Allah bless us in Rajab and Shaban and enable us to reach Ramadan’, showing the importance of Sha’ban in helping us to prepare for Ramadan.”
Shaban month importance can be seen in how the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) insisted to fast on it.
Aishah (ra) said, “The Messenger of Allah (saw) used to fast (so continuously) that we said that he would not break it, and he did not fast at all until we said that he would not fast. And I did not see the Messenger of Allah (saw) completing the fast of a month, but that of Ramadan, and I did not see him fasting more in any other month than that of Shaban”. [Muslim]
To please Allah and prepare for Ramadan we should take advantage of the month of Shaban and follow the prophet’s sunnah.
The prophet said: “And whoever loves my Sunnah has loved me, and whoever loves me will be with me in Paradise.” [Tirmidhi]
Shaban month importance
The importance of Shaban can be seen in how the prophet used to fast most of it. It’s the month that all our deeds are raised to Allah, and it’s better to happen while we are fasting.
Usamah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said, ‘Oh Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting in any other month like you fast in Shabaan.’ He said, ‘That is a month to which people do not pay attention, between Rajab and Ramadan, 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.’” (Narrated by al-Nasaai)
Another importance of Shaban is to prepare ourselves for all kinds of Ibadah such as reciting the Quran, Azkar, and Dua, giving Zakat and doing charity works, praying night prayers and sunnah prayers, and more.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) used to fast on Monday and Thursday. When he was asked why Monday and Thursday he said: “The deeds of people are presented to Allah every Monday and Thursday. Allah forgives every Muslim except for those who are deserting each other.”
Abu Tharr Al-Ghefari said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) said, ‘Oh Abu Dharr! If you fast three days of every month, then fast the 13th, 14th, and 15th (these are called Al-Ayaam Al-Beedh, the White Days).’” (Sahih)
The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) also said, “(Allah said), ‘Every good deed of Adam’s son is for him except fasting; it is for Me, and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.’ Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk.” (Bukhari)
“The Messenger (SAW) used to fast until we thought he would never break his fast, and not fast until we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allah fasting for an entire month except in Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more than he did in Sha’ban.” [Aisha R.A- Bukhari]
15 Shaban importance in Islam
What happens on the night of the 15th Shaban?
The prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban, spend its night in prayer and observe a fast on that day. For Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest heaven and says: ‘Is there no one who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there no one who will ask Me for provision so that I may provide for him? Is there no one who is afflicted by trouble, that I may relieve him?’ And so on, until dawn comes.’” [Ibn Majah]
But there’re differences of opinion regarding the authenticity of the narration.
Shaban month’s importance can be seen in how it is one of the beloved months of the holy prophet. it is the month we spend preparing ourselves for Ramadan. Plus, the 15th Shaban is one of the sacred nights of the year according to scholars because it’s the night when all our deeds are raised to Allah. The 15th, is known as Shab-e-baraat or Nisf Sha’ban.
That’s it for today’s article, I hope you found it useful. For more information or if you have any questions visit our website StudioArabiyainegypt.com
Learn More
The Significance of the Islamic Golden Age
What are the mandatory pillars of prayer?
