Shaban month is the eighth month in the Islamic calendar. And is considered as one of the worthy months for which we discover specific guidelines in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Prophet Muhammad (SAW) used to quick the more significant part of this month except for the most recent couple of days of the month.
Allah’s Prophet Hazrat Muhammad(SAW) said about this month.
Shaban is my month, Rajab is Allah’s month, and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah.”
Meaning of Shaban
The meaning of the word Shaban is ‘dispersion’ or ‘separation.’ In the past, Arab tribes dispersed and looked out for water and oasis during this month. They did this to prepare for the heat following the month. Shaban gave hope and positives to bear the heat that lasted in Ramadan. In the modern world, Shaban metaphorically continues the traditions of practices, but today, for the long fasting days of Ramadan.
The importance of Shaban
It is among the sacred months in which battle is prohibited. It has many virtues, among which fasting makes the way to reach Allah. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to fast more in Shaban than during Ramadan.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said about this month,
“It is a month where people manage to neglect, between the months of Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the worlds, and I like my deeds to be raised while I am fasting.”
The ayah of Surah Al-Ahzab revealed in this month,
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا
Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.
The surah aims at revealing the blessings and rewards of praying to Allah. In this month, Allah revealed the Prophet to face Masjid Al Haram as the correction during Namaz. The Muslims used to pray towards Qibla located in Masjid Al Aqsa.
Fasting in the month of Shaban
Usamah ibn Zaid correlated to increased fasting of Prophet Muhammad in Shaban, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) 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.”
Hazrat Aisha, the wife of our Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (saw), said:
Allah’s Messenger(SAW) used to fast until we would say he was never going to stop fasting. And he would go so long without fasting that we would say he was never going to fast. But I never saw Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) continue a fast from the beginning to the end of any month except the month of Ramadan. And I never saw them do more fasting in any month than he did in Shaban month.
So I asked him. How is it I always see you fasting in Shaban? And He (peace be upon him) said: “O’ Aisha, it is the month in which the angel of death has to note down the name of anyone whose soul he must take before the year is out. So I would rather he did not record my name except while I am fasting.” So Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “The dearest of months to our Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) was Shaban, which he would link to Ramadan.”
Last Monday in Shaban Month:
Allah’s beloved Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,
“Anyone who fasts on the last Monday of Shaban will be granted forgiveness.”
15th night of Shaban:
The 15th of Shaban or Shab-e-Barat is when Qibla was changed from Mosque Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem to the Mosque Al-Haram in Makkah. People use the significant night to seek forgiveness for the deceased.
Various Islamic scholars suggest special prayers during the night of the 15th of this month. Based on (Hadith) of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the meaning of which is that during the night of 15th of Shaban month,
Allah will say,
“Is there any person repenting so that I forgive him? And any person seeking provision. So that I provide for him, and any person with distress so that I relieve him, and so on until dawn.”
Reported by Ibn Majah.
It is the night between the 14th and 15th days of this month. Traditions of Prophet Muhammad demonstrate that it is a good night in which the people of the earth are gone by uncommon Divine Mercy.
Abu Musa al-Ashari says that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told:
“Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven on the night of the middle of Shaban and forgives the occupants of the Earth except for the one who associates partners with Allah and one who harbors hatred.”
Dua and Supplication in Shaban:
Shaban is known as the month of Magfirah, means to seek forgiveness. Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) advised His companion to seek forgiveness in this month as much as he could.
أسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ رَبي مِنْ كُلِ ذَنبٍ وَأتُوبُ إلَيهِ
I ask forgiveness of my sins from Allah, my Lord, and I turn towards Him.
Recite the following Prayer,
لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ ٱللَّهُ وَلاَ نَعْبُدُ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُشْرِكُون
There is no god save Allah. We do not worship save “He” alone, making religion pure for Him (only); However, the disbelievers are averse.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWW) said
“If a person recites four units (Rak’ats) Namaz in the month of Sha’ban. In each unit (Rak’at) after Surah-al-Hamd recites 50 times Surah-at-Tawheed. Death will remove his spirit with ease. And his grave will become spacious, and on the day of Qiyamat when he comes out of his grave; his face will be shining bright like a full moon, and ‘Kalmae Shahadat’ will be on his lips.”
In this way, a practicing Muslim must esteem this month as explained in the hadiths of the Prophet (PBUH). So, that the Shaban month is unique, and conferring great deeds in this month carries exceptional value. And can help a Muslim increase countless favors from Allah Almighty in addition to receiving pardon and forgiveness..”
