The Month Of Sha'ban

Aaishah said: "I never saw the Messenger of Allaah fast a complete month except for Ramadan, and I have never seen him fast more in a month than he did in Sha`baan." [Bukhaari, Muslim]

Usamah ibn Zaid inquired: "O Messenger of Allaah, I never find you fasting in any month like you do during the month of Sha`baan." The Prophet responded: "That is the month the people neglect. It comes between Rajab and Ramadaan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the Worlds. I love that my deeds be raised while I am fasting." [An-Nasaa'i]

Narrated Abu Hurairah, Allaah's Messenger said: "When the month of Sha`baan is halfway, do not fast." [Agreed upon].

As-San`aanee says in Subul us-Salaam:"One can fast provided he has to observe a compensatory fasting (in lieu of the Fard - obligatory ones) or the other prescribed ones which may be categorised as Waajib (compulsory). However, the volitional fasting is prohibited lest one should be subjected to exhaustion and weakness that may in turn render the Ramadan obligatory fasting difficult for him."

Salamah ibn Suhail also used to say, "The month of Sha'ban is the month of those who recite (the Quran)." and 'Amr ibn Qais al-Mala'i used to close his store on the arrival of Sha'ban and devote his time to reading the generous Quran.

Abu Umaamah reported: "I came to the Messenger of Allaah(SAW) and said: "Order me to do a deed that will allow me to enter Paradise." He then said: 'Stick to faasting, as there is no equivalent to it.' Then I came to him again and he said: 'Stick to fasting.'" [Ahmad]

Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree reported that the Messenger of Allaah(SAW) said: "No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allaah except that Allaah removes the hellfire seventy years further away from his face." [Agreed upon]