IN the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
FASTING in Sha’ban is a kind of training for Ramadan fast. If a person fasts in Sha’ban, he would have got used to fasting and he would feel strong and energetic when Ramadan comes. Sha’ban is like an introduction to Ramadan and it has some things in common with Ramadan, such as fasting, reciting Qur’an and giving in charity. Salamah ibn Suhayl, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “The month of Sha’ban is the month of reciters (of the Qur’an).” Habib ibn Abu Thabut, may Allah have mercy on him, said, when Sha’ban came: “This is the month of reciters (of the Qur’an).” When Sha’ban came, ‘Amr ibn Qays al-Mala’I, may Allah have mercy on him, used to close his store and devote his time to reading the Qur’an.
Some benefits of Sha’ban
Although, most of the narrations on the virtues of Nisfu-Sha’ban are considered weak in their ‘chain of narration’ (sanad), there are so many that these narrations strengthen one another. Scholars of hadith such as Imam At-Tirmizi, Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Imam Ibn Majah and Imam At-Tabrani have narrated hadiths regarding this blessed night.
The likes of Imam Taqiyuddin As-Subki, the prominent Shafiee scholar, have mentioned various names to signify this blessed night. These names are Laylatul Mubarakah (The Blessed Night), Laylatu Takfeer Zunub (The Night of Expiating Sins), Laylatul Bara’ah (The Night of Freedom from Hellfire) and Laylatul Ghufran (The Night of Forgiveness).
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW said: “Verily, Allah gazes at His creation on the middle of Sha’ban and forgives all His creations except for those who attribute partners to Allah (shirk) and those who have rancour in their hearts towards others.” (Sahih Ibn Hibban)
Surely, this is a glad tiding to those seeking His forgiveness. Imagine that our shortcomings or acts that we are ashamed of are forgiven. It is also important to note that forgiveness is only given to those who clear their hearts of attributing partners to Allah (shirk) and to those who do not have rancour or strong hatred for others.
If one finds it hard to clear his or her heart of rancour, then we are advised to try to forgive others the best we can. Scholars remind us to forgive others by making prayers for them. May Allah grant us clear and calm hearts.
Some of the names that are also mentioned to describe this blessed night are Laylatul Ijabah (The Night of Fulfillment) and Laylatul Rahmah (The Night of Mercy). Ibn Umar, RA said: Five nights when prayers are not rejected therein: The night of Friday (Thursday night), the first night of Rajab, the night of Nisfu Sha’ban, the two nights of Eid – the first nights of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Aidiladha. (Narrated by Imam Al-Bayhaqi)
In another narration, the Prophet SAW has also mentioned how Allah SWT extends His ever limitless and vast mercy on this night to those in dire need: “On the 15th of Sha’ban, wake up to observe the vigil-prayer in the night and fast during the day, for Allah descends to the nearest heavens from dusk to ask: Is there anyone seeking forgiveness so that I may forgive him? Is there anyone seeking provisions so that I may provide him? Is there anyone facing tribulations so that I may protect him? (and it goes on) Is there anyone this and that’ until the sun rises at dawn” (Narrated by Imam Ibn Majah)
In a hadith, the Prophet SAW teaches and encourages us to always strive for Allah’s acceptance and love. In the prophetic tradition, there are best days or times to seek His mercy: Indeed, your Lord bestows gifts that are preserved in your days, and so seek it. It may be that one of you will fate upon it and will, therefore, never again be in misery. (Narrated by Imam At-Tabrani)
These ‘times’ include the month of Ramadan, the day of Arafah, the last third of every night and the blessed time of fulfillment (Waqt al-Istijabah) on a Friday. In this case, it is the month of Sha’ban, where our deeds are raised to Allah SWT, and particularly on the 15th of Sha’ban as mentioned above.
As we look into this Hadith, we will find that there are many blessed days or times and they don’t just come annually; some are even on a daily basis. Bearing in mind our countless shortcomings, indeed, the mercy of Allah is too vast to comprehend.
What is important for us is to never give up on His mercy. Pray to be granted with strength, pay attention to the words of wisdom from the people around us and ask Allah to grant us assistance in observing our obligations.
It is an opportunity to remind ourselves to increase our acts of worship such as repentance in this month of Sha’ban, as shown beautifully by our beloved Prophet SAW, in hopes that we are able to maximise our acts of worship in the month of Ramadan.
Even if this Ramadan does not allow us the broad opportunities to perform our acts of worship like in previous years, there is still hope and other opportunities for us to focus on. Let us not wait for Ramadan to start striving for mercy of Allah SWT.
This is a reminder for all of us, and Allah knows best.
Our current conditions are such that we are in dire need of relief and glad tidings for this world and the hereafter. Prayers or supplications are essentials that express the language and attitude of a humble servant to his Lord.
There was some dispute as to the meaning of the word Sirar. The most well known view is that it refers to the end of the month. The end of the month is called Sirar because the moon is hidden (Istisrar) at that time. Someone may raise the point that it was reported in as-Sahihayn from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Do not pre-empt Ramadan by one or two days, except for those who have the habit of fasting regularly, in which case they may fast.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Circumstances for fasting at the end of Sha’ban
We may say that there are circumstances for fasting at the end of Sha’ban:
The first scenario is when a person fasts at the end of Sha’ban with the intention of being on the safe side and not missing the first day of Ramadan. This is forbidden.
The second scenario is when a person fasts with the intention of fulfilling a vow or of making up a day of Ramadan that he missed or as an act of expiation (Kaffarah), etc. This is permissible according to the majority.
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The third scenario is when this is purely a voluntary fast. This is regarded as Makruh by those who said that we should differentiate between Sha’ban and Ramadan by not fasting for a while. Among those who said this was al-Hasan, may Allah have mercy on him. If it happens to coincide with a day when a person habitually fasts, Malik and those who agreed with him permitted this, but Ash-Shafi’i, al-‘Awza’i, Ahmad and others made a distinction between cases where it is a fast which a person habitually observes or otherwise.
In conclusion, the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, quoted above is what we should follow according to the majority of scholars. It is Makruh to observe a voluntary fast one or two days before Ramadan for those who do not habitually fast on those days and who have not previously fasted until the end of Sha’ban.
