The Merits of Sha’ban
We are now in the blessed first day of Sha’ban. We pray that Allah accepts our repentance and all our worship in Rajab and continue to bless us in Sha’ban, and grant us long lives to meet Ramadan.
Here are some merits of this holy month:
“It is a month that people neglect, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which actions are raised to the Lord of the Worlds and I love for my actions to be raised while I am fasting.” – Prophet Muhammad (S)
What is meant by actions being raised? The scholars say it is a symbolic displaying of our actions to Allah. Of course Allah is All‐Seeing, All‐Knowing and does not need for our actions to be displayed to Him as He is constantly aware of them. However if the slave is not aware of Allah’s constant vigilance then he should at least strive to do good actions at times when his actions are displayed to Allah.
If he is able to gain Allah’s pleasure at these times then he hopes that Allah will overlook his wrongdoings and shortcomings at other times. There is a daily display after Fajr and `Asr, and a weekly display on Monday and Thursday, and a yearly display, which takes place in the month of Sha`ban.
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was keen to do good works at all these times and was keen for his Ummah to do the same.
One of the greatest works we can do in Sha`ban is fasting, and this is what the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) loved to be doing when his actions were raised, on Monday and Thursday and also during Sha`ban. Sayyidah `A’ishah said of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): “I did not see him fasting in any month more than Sha`ban.”
She also said: “The month which he loved to fast the most was Sha`ban.” Both hadith of course refer to voluntary fasting outside of Ramadan. Some hadith suggest that he would fast the whole of Sha`ban, although there is perhaps more evidence to suggest that he would fast most of the month and leave a few days. In another hadith he said (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), in response once again to a question about his fasting in Sha`ban:
“In this month those who are destined to die are recorded for the Angel of Death. I love for my name to be recorded when I am fasting.”
Reading Salawat
Other than fasting, it is recommended to send abundant blessings and peace upon the Beloved of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). It was in this month that Allah revealed:
Indeed, Allah sends blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who believe, send blessings and peace upon him in abundance!
For the full merits, please read attached.
1 Comment
Leave your reply.