Sha’ban is a month full of opportunities to maximize our good deeds and draw closer to the Prophet (saw) by sending blessings upon him (PBUH) which is often neglected between the month of Rajab and Ramadan.
Abu Huraira (r.a) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Angels take turns among you by night and by day, and they all assemble at the dawn and afternoon prayers. Those (of the angels) who spend the night among you, then, ascend, and their Lord asks them, though He is the best informed about them: How did you leave My servants? -they say: We left them while they were praying and we came to them while they were praying.
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " يَتَعَاقَبُونَ فِيكُمْ مَلاَئِكَةٌ بِاللَّيْلِ وَمَلاَئِكَةٌ بِالنَّهَارِ وَيَجْتَمِعُونَ فِي صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ وَصَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ ثُمَّ يَعْرُجُ الَّذِينَ بَاتُوا فِيكُمْ فَيَسْأَلُهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ كَيْفَ تَرَكْتُمْ عِبَادِي فَيَقُولُونَ تَرَكْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ وَأَتَيْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ ".
Reference : Sahih Muslim 632a; Book 5, Hadith 265; Book 4, Hadith 1320
Our deeds are displayed to Allah on a daily basis after Fajr and ’Asr, on a weekly basis on Mondays and Thursdays, and on a yearly basis during Sha’ban.
Usamah bin Zaid said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as Shaban.' He said: 'That is a month to which people do not pay much attention, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I like that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting."' (Grade: Hasan; Darussalam)
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ أَبُو الْغُصْنِ، - شَيْخٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَمْ أَرَكَ تَصُومُ شَهْرًا مِنَ الشُّهُورِ مَا تَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ . قَالَ " ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبٍ وَرَمَضَانَ وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الأَعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ " .
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2357; Book 22, Hadith 268; Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2359
The Prophet (saw) used to fast more during this month to gain extra reward. This is a reminder to us to pay extra attention to our deeds in Sha’ban and maximise our worship, rather than neglecting this month in favour of Ramadan. By simply reading more Qur’an, praying voluntary prayers, and following the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) by fasting more, you can strengthen your Taqwa (consciousness of Allah) and establish good habits in time for Ramadan.
It was also narrated from Jubair bin Nufair that a man asked Aishah (r.a) about fasting and she said: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to fast all of Shaban, and he made sure to fast on Mondays and Thursdays." ' (Grade: Sahih, Darussalam)
أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ بَقِيَّةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَحِيرٌ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ عَنِ الصِّيَامِ، فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ كُلَّهُ وَيَتَحَرَّى صِيَامَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ .
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2186; Book 22, Hadith 97; Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2188
Few significant events that took place in Sha’ban, often overlooked by many Muslims because incredible miracles took place in Rajab (Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj) and Ramadan (the revelation of the Qur’an):
1. Ayah commanding fasting in Ramadan
’The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind, and as clear signs that show the right way and distinguish between right and wrong. So whoever witnesses (the new moon of) the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days (i.e. he must make up the missed fasts). Allah intends for you ease and does not intent for your hardship, and (He wants) you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that (to) which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful’. [Surah 2:185]
2. Ayah commanding Salat
Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace. (Surah 33:56)
Narrated by Abdullah bin Mas'ud that Allah's Messenger said: "The person closest to me on the Day of Judgement is the one who sent the most Salat upon me." (Grade: Hasan)
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، بُنْدَارٌ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ خَالِدِ ابْنُ عَثْمَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي مُوسَى بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الزَّمْعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ كَيْسَانَ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ شَدَّادٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَكْثَرُهُمْ عَلَىَّ صَلاَةً " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ . وَرُوِيَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَىَّ صَلاَةً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بِهَا عَشْرًا وَكَتَبَ لَهُ بِهَا عَشْرَ حَسَنَاتٍ " .
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 484; Book 3, Hadith 32; Vol. 1, Book 3, Hadith 484
3. Changing of the Qiblah
‘We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Prophet (saw)], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a Qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram…’ (Surah 2:144)
4. Splitting of the moon
Narrated Anas bin Malik: The people of Mecca asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to show them a miracle. So he showed them the moon split in two halves between which they saw the Hira' mountain.
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ الْمُفَضَّلِ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه أَنَّ أَهْلَ، مَكَّةَ سَأَلُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يُرِيَهُمْ آيَةً، فَأَرَاهُمُ الْقَمَرَ شِقَّتَيْنِ، حَتَّى رَأَوْا حِرَاءً بَيْنَهُمَا.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3868; Book 63, Hadith 93; Vol. 5, Book 58, Hadith 208
It was narrated from Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Allah looks down on the night of the middle of Sha’ban and forgives all His creation, apart from the idolater and the Mushahin.” Another chain from Abu Musa, from the Prophet (ﷺ) with similar wording. (Grade: Da’if, Darussalam)
حَدَّثَنَا رَاشِدُ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ الرَّمْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ، عَنِ ابْنِ لَهِيعَةَ، عَنِ الضَّحَّاكِ بْنِ أَيْمَنَ، عَنِ الضَّحَّاكِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَرْزَبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيَطَّلِعُ فِي لَيْلَةِ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَيَغْفِرُ لِجَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ إِلاَّ لِمُشْرِكٍ أَوْ مُشَاحِنٍ " . حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَسْوَدِ النَّضْرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ لَهِيعَةَ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْرِ بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ، عَنِ الضَّحَّاكِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ نَحْوَهُ .
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah Book 5, Hadith 588 Vol. 1; Book 5, Hadith 1390; Book 5, Hadith 1453
Thus, we should make an effort to increase our ’ibadah and ask for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness on this night.
And Allah knows best.
Source: Sunnah, Quran, https://muslimhands.org.uk