Virtues and Rulings of the Month of Sha‘ban
The month of Sha‘ban is the eighth month of the Islamic (Hijri) year. The meaning of “Sha‘ban” is “to disperse” or “to spread.”
Regarding the reason for this name, Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) said:
وسمي شعبان لتشعبهم في طلب المياه أو في الغارات بعد أن يخرج شهر رجب الحرام
This month was named Sha‘ban because the Arabs would disperse during this month in search of water, or they would spread out for fighting after the sacred month of Rajab.
(Fath al-Bari, 4/213)
Virtue of the Month of Sha‘ban
Sha‘ban is a month distinguished by its virtue due to fasting. Numerous authentic hadiths have been reported regarding the practice of frequent fasting in this month, including narrations found in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
In Sahih al-Bukhari, there is a narration from Sayyidah Aisha (رضي الله عنها):
حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ فَضَالَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ حَدَّثَتْهُ قَالَتْ، لَمْ يَكُنِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُ شَهْرًا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ، فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ كُلَّهُ، وَكَانَ يَقُولُ “ خُذُوا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا، وَأَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا دُووِمَ عَلَيْهِ، وَإِنْ قَلَّتْ ” وَكَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلاَةً دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهَا.
Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) never fasted in any month more than in the month of Sha’ban. He used to say, “Do those deeds which you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) till you get bored and tired (of performing religious deeds).” The most beloved prayer to the Prophet (ﷺ) was the one that was done regularly (throughout the life) even if it were little. And whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) offered a prayer he used to offer it regularly . (Sahih al-Bukhari)
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ، – قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، – عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَبِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ – رضى الله عنها – عَنْ صِيَامِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ كَانَ يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ قَدْ صَامَ . وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ قَدْ أَفْطَرَ . وَلَمْ أَرَهُ صَائِمًا مِنْ شَهْرٍ قَطُّ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ صِيَامِهِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ كُلَّهُ كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً .
Abu Salama reported: I asked ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) about the fasting of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said: He used to observe fast (at times so continuously) that we said: He has fasted (never to break), and he did not observe fast till we said: He has given up perhaps never to fast, and I never saw him observing (voluntary fasts) more in any other month than that of Sha’ban. (lt appeared as if) he observed fast throughout the whole of Sha’ban except a few (days). (Sahih Muslim)
وَعَن أم سَلمَة قَالَتْ: مَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ إِلَّا شَعْبَانَ وَرَمَضَانَ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ
Umm Salama said she never saw the Prophet fasting two consecutive months, except Sha’ban and Ramadan.
Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it. (Mishkat al-Masabih)
From all these hadiths, it is established only that fasting should be observed, meaning that one should fast for most of the month of Sha‘ban. Even those narrations which mention fasting for the entire month of Sha‘ban actually refer to fasting for most of the month.
Fasting After the Fifteenth of Sha‘ban
From the previously mentioned hadiths, it is understood that fasting for most of Sha‘ban is Sunnah. However, there are some narrations in which prohibition of fasting after the fifteenth of Sha‘ban has been mentioned. Accordingly, Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” إِذَا بَقِيَ نِصْفٌ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَلاَ تَصُومُوا ” . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ عَلَى هَذَا اللَّفْظِ . وَمَعْنَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ عِنْدَ بَعْضِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ أَنْ يَكُونَ الرَّجُلُ مُفْطِرًا فَإِذَا بَقِيَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ شَيْءٌ أَخَذَ فِي الصَّوْمِ لِحَالِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ . وَقَدْ رُوِيَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا يُشْبِهُ قَوْلَهُمْ حَيْثُ قَالَ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” لاَ تَقَدَّمُوا شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ بِصِيَامٍ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُوَافِقَ ذَلِكَ صَوْمًا كَانَ يَصُومُهُ أَحَدُكُمْ ” . وَقَدْ دَلَّ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَنَّمَا الْكَرَاهِيَةُ عَلَى مَنْ يَتَعَمَّدُ الصِّيَامَ لِحَالِ رَمَضَانَ .
Abu Hurairah narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “When a half of Sha’ban remains then do not fast.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi)
Although there is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding the authority of this narration, even if it is accepted as authentic, there are still certain exceptions:
A person who has a regular habit of fasting, such as someone who habitually fasts on Mondays and Thursdays, may continue fasting even after the fifteenth of Sha‘ban.
A person who started fasting before the fifteenth of Sha‘ban and continued it without interruption into the latter half.
A person making up missed fasts of Ramadan (Qada) or fulfilling a vowed fast (Nadhr) is also exempt.
A person who wishes to follow the practice of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) by fasting most of Sha‘ban may do so, as long as it does not weaken him for the obligatory fasts of Ramadan.
Make Up Missed Fasts
Many of us, especially women, have some missed fasts. Therefore, one should try to make up those missed fasts during these days, as Sayyidah Aisha (رضي الله عنها) said:
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي، سَلَمَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ، – رضى الله عنها – تَقُولُ كَانَ يَكُونُ عَلَىَّ الصَّوْمُ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَمَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقْضِيَهُ إِلاَّ فِي شَعْبَانَ الشُّغُلُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَوْ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Abu Salama reported: I heard ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) as saying: I had to complete some of the fasts of Ramadan, but I could not do it but during the month of Sha’ban due to my duties to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) or with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). (Sahih Muslim)
Fasting on the Fifteenth of Sha‘ban
There is no authentic hadith that provides evidence for specifically fasting on the fifteenth of Sha‘ban. Authentic hadiths only establish fasting for most of the month of Sha‘ban, as mentioned earlier. Those who specifically fix the fifteenth of Sha‘ban for fasting are committing an innovation (Bid‘ah), and innovation leads to the Hellfire.
If someone claims that there is a hadith regarding fasting on the fifteenth of Sha‘ban, then it should be said that such a narration is fabricated and invented. Whoever attributes a fabricated narration to the Prophet (ﷺ), his abode is Hell.
Standing in Prayer on the Night of the Fifteenth of Sha‘ban
Based on false and fabricated narrations, various specific forms of worship are performed on the night of the fifteenth of Sha‘ban. It is reported in Ibn Majah:
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْخَلاَّلُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي سَبْرَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ “ إِذَا كَانَتْ لَيْلَةُ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَقُومُوا لَيْلَهَا وَصُومُوا يَوْمَهَا . فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَنْزِلُ فِيهَا لِغُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى سَمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَقُولُ أَلاَ مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ أَلاَ مُسْتَرْزِقٌ فَأَرْزُقَهُ أَلاَ مُبْتَلًى فَأُعَافِيَهُ أَلاَ كَذَا أَلاَ كَذَا حَتَّى يَطْلُعَ الْفَجْرُ ” .
It was narrated that ‘Ali bin Abu Talib said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban, spend its night in prayer and observe a fast on that day. For Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest heaven and says: ‘Is there no one who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there no one who will ask Me for provision, that I may provide for him? Is there no one who is afflicted by trouble, that I may relieve him?’ And so on, until dawn comes.’” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
On this night, a specific type of prayer known as Salat al-Alfiyyah (a thousand rak‘ahs) is performed. Some people offer one hundred rak‘ahs, others fourteen, and some twelve rak‘ahs. However, no such specific form of worship has been reported from the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) or his Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
Similarly, there is no evidence for collective remembrance (dhikr), collective supplications, collective recitation of the Qur’an, or any collective acts of worship on this night.
Some Actions to Perform in the Month of Sha‘ban
Preparing for Ramadan in Sha‘ban
The first way to prepare for an honored guest (Ramadan) is to begin fasting in the month of Sha‘ban itself. It is mentioned in narrations regarding the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) that although he used to fast in every month, he would fast abundantly in Sha‘ban. In fact, sometimes it appeared as if he fasted the entire month.
حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ فَضَالَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ حَدَّثَتْهُ قَالَتْ، لَمْ يَكُنِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُ شَهْرًا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ، فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ كُلَّهُ، وَكَانَ يَقُولُ “ خُذُوا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا، وَأَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا دُووِمَ عَلَيْهِ، وَإِنْ قَلَّتْ ” وَكَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلاَةً دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهَا.
Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) never fasted in any month more than in the month of Sha’ban. He used to say, “Do those deeds which you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) till you get bored and tired (of performing religious deeds).” The most beloved prayer to the Prophet (ﷺ) was the one that was done regularly (throughout the life) even if it were little. And whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) offered a prayer he used to offer it regularly . (Sahih al-Bukhari)
We should develop enthusiasm for voluntary fasts just as we have for voluntary prayers. At the very least, one should fast on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of every month. This was also the practice of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), so it is recommended to observe three fasts every month. These fasts also make it easier to observe the fasts of Ramadan.
The Month of Sha‘ban: A Prelude to Ramadan
The month of Sha‘ban is like a prelude to the month of Ramadan. Therefore, in this month one should engage in those acts which are increased in Ramadan, namely fasting and recitation of the Noble Qur’an.
Allama Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (رحمه الله) writes in Lata’if al-Ma‘arif:
“In the month of Sha‘ban, fasting and recitation of the Qur’an are increased so that one becomes fully prepared to attain the blessings of Ramadan, and the النفس becomes content and pleased with obedience to the Most Merciful, with ease and satisfaction.”
Expressing Love for Ramadan and Making Du‘a
The month of Ramadan is a great blessing from Allah, Lord of Majesty. Those upon whom Allah opens the doors of His فضل, lights, and blessings—such people love this month, recognize its value, and not only witness but also gather the blessings and نور revealed in it.
It was the practice of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) that before the arrival of Ramadan, he would supplicate to Allah in the following manner:
وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ رَجَبٌ قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي رَجَبٍ وَشَعْبَانَ وَبَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَانَ» قَالَ: وَكَانَ يَقُولُ: «لَيْلَةُ الْجُمُعَةِ لَيْلَةٌ أَغَرُّ وَيَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ يَوْمٌ أَزْهَرُ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي الدَّعَوَاتِ الْكَبِيرِ
Anas said that when Rajab came God’s Messenger said, “O God, bless us in Rajab and Sha’ban and bring us to Ramadan.” He also quoted him as saying, “Thursday night is a very bright night and Friday is a shining day.” (Mishkat al-Masabih)
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