الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
Brothers and sisters! The month of Rajab has passed away and we have entered into the month of Sha’ban. In sha’Allah, after a few days, we will be entering into the month of Ramadan. My topic for tonight’s talk is: Month of Sha’ban – Time for Preparation for a Productive Ramadan.
We learn through many Prophetic traditions and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that Sha’ban is one of the most meritorious months. It is reported in authentic ahadith that the Prophet (SAW) used to fast most of the month in Sha’ban. These fasts were not obligatory on him but he was keen on fasting in this month more than any other month.
It is reported by Anas (RA) that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was asked, “Which fast is the most meritorious after the fasts of Ramadan?” He replied, “Fasts of Sha’ban in honor of Ramadan.”
‘Aishah (RA) said, “I never saw the Messenger of Allah (SAW) fasting in a month as much as he did in the month of Sha’ban. He used to fast in that month leaving only a few days, rather, he used to fast almost the whole of the month.”
It is reported from Usama ibn Zaid (RA) that he said, “O Messenger of Allah! I do not see you fasting in any month as you do in the month of Sha’ban”. The Prophet (SAW) replied: “People neglect this month which is between Rajab and Ramadan. In this month the deeds of the people are presented to Allah; so I like my deeds to be presented while I am fasting.” This hadith explains the wisdom of fasting in the month of Sha’ban—the fact that deeds or actions are presented to Allah in this month. Also, by fasting in the month of Sha’ban, a person prepares himself for Ramadan. It is like a rehearsal or warm-up exercise before the actual event.
These reports indicate that fasting in the month of Sha’ban, though not obligatory, is so meritorious that the Prophet (SAW) did not like to miss it. This is how he welcomed and dealt with this month. Indeed, the companions of the Prophet (SAW) and those that followed them used to prepare for Ramadan, by fasting during the month of Sha’ban whatever Allah had willed for them.
The month of Sha’ban is like an introduction or precursor to Ramadan. Observing the Sunnah of fasting in it helps us to welcome and begin Ramadan with a good attitude. However, it should be kept in mind that the fasts of Sha’ban are for those persons only who are capable of keeping them without causing deficiency in the obligatory fasts of Ramadan. Therefore, if one fears that after fasting in Sha’ban, he will lose strength or freshness for the fasts of Ramadan, he should not fast in Sha’ban, because the fasts of Ramadan, being obligatory, are more important than the optional fasts of Sha’ban.
Imam Baihaqi reported on the authority of Salman Al-Farsi (RA) that Prophet (SAW) delivered a sermon on the last day of the month of Sha’ban in which he (SAW) said,
“O People! The month of Allah (i.e. Ramadan) has come with its mercies, blessings and forgiveness. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. The days of this month are the best among the days and the nights are the best among the nights and the hours during Ramadan are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him. Allah has honored you in it. In every breath you take is a reward of Allah, your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations are answered. Therefore, you must invoke your Lord in all earnestness with hearts free from sin and evil, and pray that Allah may help you to keep fast, and to recite the Holy Qur’an.” Indeed, miserable is the one who is deprived of Allah’s forgiveness in this great month. While fasting, remember the hunger and thirst on the Day of Judgment. Give alms to the poor and needy. Pay respect to your elders, have sympathy for your youngsters and be kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your tongue against unworthy words, and your eyes from scenes that are not worth seeing and your ears from sounds that should not be heard.”
And the Prophet (SAW) continued to give other gems of advice. It is reported that ‘Ali ibn Talib (RA) said: “I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what are the best deeds during this month’?” ‘He replied: ‘O Abu-Hassan, the best of deeds during this month is to be far from what Allah has forbidden’.”
Ramadan can be one of the most dramatic, life-changing 29 to 30 days of a Muslim’s life, if we know what to do with it. It is worth preparing for, as early as possible! It can be the most rewarding time of the year, if we know how to maximize it. Ramadan is synonymous with change. In fact, the word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root “Ramada”, which means intense heat. Intense heat can be used to bend and shape the strongest of metals. How is this related to Ramadan in our deen? It is a time for us every year to reshape our lives into whatever shape we like. No matter how set we are in our bad habits, the heat of Ramadan can change us for the better in sha’Allah.
The first step to change is to believe that we can change, and Allah makes that clear during Ramadan, the preparation for which should begin with Sha’ban or even before. There is a well-known Prophetic du’a which says,
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا في رَجَبٍ وَ شَعْبَانَ وَ بَلِّغْنا رَمَضَانَ
“O Allah, bless us in the months of Rajab and Sha`ban and make us reach Ramadan.”
Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Allah (SWT), the month of Ramadan is once again knocking on our doors. Allah says in the Qur’an that the purpose of fasting is to achieve taqwa:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain taqwa.” (al-Baqarah, 2:183)
The proper definition of taqwa can be understood from its verbal root ‘waqa’ which means to protect oneself from displeasing Allah by doing what He has commanded and avoiding what He has prohibited. It is no coincidence that Allah made Ramadan one month long. Psychologists, neuroscientists and personal development experts agree that the minimum time required to make or break a habit is between 21-28 days; about one lunar month. Allah has given us an annual free pass to create change in our lives.
How Exactly Can We Do This? Practice—begin executing the plan during a period prior to the real thing. It may seem unlikely that this will apply to Ramadan, but the fact is that the Messenger of Allah did not fast in any month of the year more than he did in Sha’ban. It’s like weightlifting: Fasting in Sha’ban and other months is like lifting much heavier weight. But when Ramadan comes, the devils are chained and the burden is lightened, making it much easier to lift the same weight. Starting this process as early as possible will give ample time to plan, prepare and practice, making our Ramadan experience a most rewarding one.
The blessed and most beautiful month is near and what better time to prepare for it than right now. Some of us deceive ourselves into thinking that when Ramadan comes we will suddenly change and worship Allah night and day but we are only deceiving ourselves in thinking like this.
Some of the tips to follow in order to seize the blessings of Sha`ban, as is learned from the observations of as-salaf as-salih or the pious ancestors are:
1. Fasting is highly recommended in this month, especially in the first half of Sha`ban. However, we should stop fasting as we get closer to Ramadan. In this way, we stay away from joining the fasting of Sha`ban with that of Ramadan.
2. Reading of the Qur’an is another great virtue to practice. Some of the salaf called this month as the month of recitations.
3. Engaging in dhikr and establishing consistency in it is highly rewarding.
4. We may do well to use the time to brush up on our knowledge of Ramadan and the rules and teachings of fasting of Ramadan.
5. Preparing oneself mentally and spiritually to reap the rich spiritual harvest of Ramadan.
May Allah (SWT) give us the tawfiq to prepare ourselves during Sha’ban so that we may welcome and reap the maximum benefit from the month of Ramadan.
أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ المُسْلِمينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتْ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهْ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
وَصَلَّ اللهُ عَلَى خيرِ خَلقِهِ مُحمَّدٍ وعَلَى آلِه وأصْحَابِه أجْمَعِين- بِرَحْمَتِكَ يا أرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِين
