The month of Shaban in 2023 happens to start on the 21st of February 2023 and will end on 22nd of March 2023. Muslims all over the world will observe the month and honor its days and nights.
Here we will learn the following:
What is the Month of Shaban in Islam?
The month of Shaban in Islam is the eighth month of the Lunar based Islamic calendar. Shaban comes after the sacred month of Rajab and just before Ramadan; the month of Fasting “Sawm”.
The month of Shaban in Islam is honored as it comes after the sacred month of Rajab and right before the month of Sawm/Ramadan.
Shaban is a month when deeds are elevated to The Lord and Muslims should show devotion and submission; especially by Sawm; to gain the Pleasure and rewards of The Lord Creator and Judge of all the worlds. Following the leading perfect example of Muhammad PBUH is the way to gain the Pleasure and rewards of Allah.
What is the importance of Shaban month in Islam?
There are many reasons why Muslims honor the month of Shaban:
1. Shaban is the month Where the Deeds are Registered
Shaban is the month of the year when deeds of people are taken up to be registered in the books of deeds.
Usamah bin Zaid reported:
“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.”‘
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 “
2. The changing of the Qiblah happened in The month of Shaban
Some scholars place the time of changing Qiblah of the Islamic Prayer/“Salaht” during the month of Shaban, even the mid night of Shaban, during the second year after “Hijrah”/ migration from Makkah to Madinah. This is when Qiblah was changed from facing Baitul-Maqdis at Jerusalem to facing Ka’bah at Makkah.
The Ayah shows how Allah SWT pleased His Messenger by granting his wish. Allah revealed Quran of it:
“Indeed, We see you ˹O Prophet˺ turning your face towards heaven. Now We will make you turn towards a direction ˹of prayer˺ that will please you. So turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque ˹in Mecca˺—wherever you are, turn your faces towards it. Those who were given the Scripture certainly know this to be the truth from their Lord. And Allah is never unaware of what they do.” 2:144
“قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةًۭ تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ “
3. Shaban is the month of Fasting:
Shaban of the second year after Hijrah is the month when Fasting was ordained by a direct command in Quran: “O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you1—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺.” 2:183
“يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ “
Imam An-Nawawi said:
The Messenger PBUH fasted Ramadan of nine years, because Sawm was ordained during Shaban of the second year after Hijrah. The Messenger PBUH passed away during Rabi Al-Awal of the eleventh year after Hijrah.
4. Great Reward for Worship acts in the Month of Shaban
Worship acts done by a Muslim while others are busy or distracted away are greatly rewarded. This is why the Messenger PBUH said he loved to be fasting during Shaban because people are distracted away of it by their focus on Rajab; the sacred month; and Ramadan; the fasting month (As mentioned in point no. 1).
Fasting in the month of Shaban
Fasting days in the month of Shaban is a confirmed Sunnah/deed to be followed of the Messenger PBUH. In fact he PBUH fasted most of the Month of Shaban; nearly all of it except that he PBUH never completed Sawm of any month except for Ramadan.
Hadith on fasting in the month of Shaban
It was narrated that Abu Salamah said: “I asked ‘Aishah about the fasting of the Prophet (ﷺ). 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 fast more in any month than in Sha’ban. He used to fast all of Sha’ban; he used to fast all of Sha’ban except a little.’” Sahih
عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ عَنْ صِيَامِ النَّبِيِّ، ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَتْ: “كَانَ يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ قَدْ صَامَ . وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ: قَدْ أَفْطَرَ. وَلَمْ أَرَهُ صَامَ مِنْ شَهْرٍ قَطُّ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ صِيَامِهِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ. كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ كُلَّهُ. كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً “.
Benefits and virtues of fasting in the month of Shaban:
- It is a confirmed Sunnah of the Messenger PBUH to be followed by Muslims in pursuit of Allah’s pleasure and rewards as already explained.
- It is a virtue of fasting in the month of Shaban being a mean of the physical, mental and psychological ways in getting ready for the month of Ramadan; next to Shaban.
- Any worship act or good deed done by a Muslim while others are busy or distracted away is greatly rewarded especially Sawm.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said that your Lord said, “Every (sinful) deed can be expiated; and the fast is for Me, so I will give the reward for it….
عن أَبَو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَرْوِيهِ عَنْ رَبِّكُمْ، قَالَ “ لِكُلِّ عَمَلٍ كَفَّارَةٌ، وَالصَّوْمُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ …..
Any worship act or good deed is recommended and greatly rewarded not only Sawm e.g. voluntary Salah especially night ones, charity “Sadaqah”, mention of Allah “Thikr”, Supplication “Du’aa”, and whatever a Muslim can and may do.
Du’aa for the month of Shaban
There are several weak Hadiths on special Du’aa for the month of Shaban in circulation but none of them is authentic so, none can be reliable. But it is an obligation to ask Allah all the time for all things. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Supplication is the essence of worship.”
حَدِيثِ أَنَسٍ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: { اَلدُّعَاءُ مُخُّ اَلْعِبَادَةِ }
So, it is valid to ask Allah to accept deeds and to make us reach Ramadan, the very next month, so one may do what pleases Allah and gain immense rewards for all acts of obedience that will be offered in submission to The Lord.
Imam Al-Hafiz Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Ma‘alla ibn al-Fadl said: They used to pray to Allah for six months, may He be exalted, asking Him to cause them to reach Ramadan, and they used to call upon Him for six months asking Him to accept it from them.”
Yahya ibn Abi Kathir said: One of their du‘as was: “O Allah, keep me safe until Ramadan, keep Ramadan safe for me, and accept it from me.”
Read: What are the 4 sacred months of Islam
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