Sha’ban

Fasting During Sha’ban by Imam Zaid

 Usama b. Zayd relates:  “The Prophet, peace and mercy of God upon him, used to fast so many days in succession that we said, ‘He will never break his fast.’ At other times he would go without fasting for so long until we said, ‘He will never again fast;’ except for two days, which he would fast even if they occurred during the times he was not fasting consecutive days. Furthermore, he would not fast in any month as many days as he fasted during Sha’ban. I said: ‘O Messenger of God! Sometimes you fast so much it is as if you will never break your fast, at other times you leave fasting for such a long stint it is as if you will never again fast [voluntarily]; except for two days that you always fast.’ He asked: ‘Which two days are those?’ I replied: ‘Monday and Thursday.’ The Prophet, peace upon him, said: ‘Those are two days in which the deeds are presented to the Lord of the Worlds. I love that my deeds are presented while I am fasting.’ I said: ‘I do not see you fasting in any month like you fast during Sha’ban.’ The Prophet, peace and mercy of God upon him, said: “That is a month occurring between Rajab and Ramadan that many people neglect. It is a month in which the deeds ascend to the Lord of the Worlds, be He Mighty and Majesty, and I love for my deeds to ascend while I am fasting.” Related by Imam Ahmad and Imam Al-Nasa’i

The Night of the 15th of Sha’ban

It is reported from Sayyiduna `Ali (Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “Let all of you spend the night of mid-Sha`ban in worship (i.e. partly) and its day in fasting. Allah descends to the nearest heaven during this night, beginning with sunset, and says: Is there no one asking forgiveness that I may forgive them? Is there no one asking sustenance that I may grant them sustenance? Is there no one under trial that I may relieve them? Is there not such-and-such, is there not such-and-such, and so forth until until dawn rises. [Narrated by Ibn Majah with a weak chain.]

There are many other narrations from the Companions and early Muslims confirming this matter, as mentioned by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali in his Lataif al-Ma`arif, and others.

There is general consensus that weak hadiths may be acted upon for virtuous acts, such as voluntary fasting and prayer, as long as the hadith is not excessively weak, returns to a general basis in the Shariah, and one is not convinced that the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) specifically prescribed it.

It’s almost Rajab…

…which means that it’s just 2 months to Ramadan!  *breaks out the Ramadan happy dance*

However, I shouldn’t get ahead of myself.  These next two months of Rajab and Shaban are special in their own right, and we shouldn’t forget the blessings that come from them.  Rajab is the month of Allah (swt), so don’t forget to turn to Him with increasing frequency.

Fasting During Rajab by Imam Zaid

Historically, one of the virtuous religious practices of Muslims is voluntary fasting during the month of Rajab. Unfortunately, there are a growing number of Muslims that consider this practice a blameworthy innovation. The following discussion, taken from Lata’if al Ma’rif fi ma li Mawasim al-‘Amm min al-Wadha’if (The Subtleties of Knowledge Concerning the Religious Duties Associated with Each Month of the Year), by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, helps to shed light on this increasingly contentious issue.

Farewell to Rajab by Imam Zaid

The month of Rajab is the key to the months of goodness and blessings that follow it. Abu Bakr b. al-Warraq al-Balkhi said: “Rajab is the month to sow the seeds; Sha’ban is the month to irrigate the crop; and Ramadan is the month to reap the harvest.” It has similarly been related from him: “Rajab is like the wind; Sha’ban is like the water-laden clouds; and Ramadan is like the rain.” Someone else mentioned: “The year in its entirety is like a tree: during Rajab its buds sprout; during Sha’ban it sends forth its branches; during Ramadan its fruit ripens; and the believers are the farmhands who harvest that fruit.”

On the Month of Rajab by Shaykh Ilyas Patel

It has bee mentioned by Abu’l Fath ibn Abi l-Fawaris in his Amali (dictations and transmissions) and Allama Suyuti has also mentioned in his Jami Saghir from Hasan Basri that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

Rajab is the month of Allah. Shaban is my month. Ramadhan is the month of my ummah (followers).

From the above hadith, it shows that it is preferable to make dua, to remain in the coming and following months, in order to perform good actions in them, because a true believer increases in his age with goodness. The best of people is the one who lives long and performs good actions.

Summary of Religious Duties during the Month of Rajab summarized from Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali

Salatul Raghaib

Isra wa Miraj

Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things).

Subhana allathee asrabiAAabdihi laylan mina almasjidi alharami ilaalmasjidi al-aqsa allathee barakna hawlahulinuriyahu min ayatina innahu huwa alssameeAAualbaseeru (17:1)

We’re currently in the month of Rajab, the 7th month in the Islamic year. Friday is the 27th of Rajab, aka Isra wa Miraj. This is the night that our beloved Prophet (saws) traveled from Mecca to Jerusalem and then rose through the heavens with Gabriel (as). There, he met a variety of Prophets (may peace be on all of them), and received the command from Allah (swt) for muslims to make salat 5 times a day.

Readings on the subject:

Muhammad Asad’s discussion on the physical vs. spiritual nature of the journey.
Reflections on the Farthest Mosque: Isra’ wa’l Mi’raj by Sunni Sister
Parts I, II and III relating the story by Sunni Sister

To listen to on the subetc:

Before Ramadan there is…

…Rajab and Sha’ban. Looks like Rajab will start this weekend.

It has been mentioned by Abu’ Nu’aim in ‘Hilya’ from Anas Ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) he said, that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to make the following dua, when the month of Rajab came in:

‘Allahuma Barik lana fi Rajaba wa Sha’bana wa ballighna Ramadhan’

Oh Allah, bless us in Rajab and Shaban, and allow us to reach Ramadan