There is a beautiful month—the eighth month of the Islamic calendar, lovingly placed between a Sacred Month, Rajab, and Ramadan—that is forgotten. Sha’ban is this beautiful month, and translated from Arabic, it means the month of separation.
Excitement for Ramadan rises, and hurried preparations swallow our time during this month. Amid our mass shopping and planning, the importance, blessings, and rewards of Sha’ban slip away from us. This neglected month is one in which we need to wake up and give it its importance, remembering it as true spiritual preparation for Ramadan. Not only is it preparation for what is to come, but Sha’ban holds its own significance. It is a month that consists of historic events, blessings of a powerful night of forgiveness second to Laylat-ul-Qadr, an invitation to purify our hearts with salawat on Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and a call to increase in fasting and Quran recitation.
Historic Events of Sha’ban
There are many significant historic events that occurred during Sha’ban. The changing of the Qibla from Jerusalem to Makkah was one of these events. Allah ﷻ says in Surah Al Baqarah, verse 144:
“We have been seeing you turning your face to the heavens. So, We will certainly assign to you a Qiblah that you would like. Now, turn your face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid-ul-Harām), and (O Muslims), wherever you are, turn your faces in its direction. Even those who have been given the Book know well that it is the truth from their Lord, and Allah is not unaware of what they do.”
Allah ﷻ knew His most Beloved creation, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, longed to face Makkah for the qibla (direction of prayer). Allah ﷻ revealed this verse, in a masjid in Madina during dhuhr prayer, earning the masjid its name of Qiblatayn (two qiblas). The qibla changed from Masjid Al Aqsa to the Ka’aba, signifying the connection of the two and the sacredness of both. This linked all faiths to the final faith, Islam, the religion of truth. Fasting and Zakat were made fardh (obligatory) in this beautiful month. The miracle of the splitting of the moon occurred in this blessed month. The people asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to split the moon, and he ﷺ, by Allah’s will, split it, one half over one side of the mountain, and the other half over the other side of the mountain. This was witnessed outside of Makkah, and accounts were given about it occurring.
On the authority of Anas bin Malik (rA): “The people of Makkah asked Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) to show them a miracle. So he showed them the moon split in two halves between which they saw the Hira’ mountain.” (Bukhari)
A Night of Forgiveness
In the heart of Sha’ban, is the night of the 15th, a white night with a full moon. In a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he says,
“Allah Almighty looks upon all those created by Him in the Middle Night of Sha’ban and forgives all, except the one who associates partners with Him or the one who has malice in his heart (against a Muslim).” (Sunan ibn Majah)
This is a beautiful night to seek forgiveness from Allah ﷻ, to make sure our hearts are firm on tawhid, the oneness of Allah ﷻ, and that our hearts are free from grudges and anger towards others. We would love to be counted amongst the forgiven, so how can we withhold forgiveness from others and maintain grudges of past pains, when the Owner and Creator of all gives it out freely? We should also use this time to ask others for forgiveness so that there is no malice in anyone’s heart against us. We will then be more prepared to receive the blessings of Ramadan.
The Month of the Prophet
The Prophet ﷺ said that Rajab is Allah’s ﷻ month, Sha’ban is his month, and Ramadan is the month of the believers. Sha’ban is the month of sending abundant salawat on the Prophet ﷺ. In Surah Ahzab ayah 56, Allah ﷻ says that He and His ﷻ angels send peace and blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, so believers send peace and blessings on the Prophet ﷺ.
There are so many blessings and gifts when sending salawat. Allah ﷻ sends ten salawat on us, erases ten of our bad deeds, elevates our rank by ten degrees, and we are forgiven for our sins. We join the continuous salawat of Allah and the angels on the Prophet ﷺ, when we do salawat. We develop an increase in love for the Prophet ﷺ, and we gain Allah’s love, by loving His ﷻ most beloved creation. It purifies the heart, softens it, and prepares it to receive all the blessings of Ramadan.
In Sha’ban, the Prophet ﷺ spiritually prepared for Ramadan by increasing in his worship with fasting and reciting Quran.
Increase in Fasting
Aisha (rA) said that she didn’t see the Prophet ﷺ fast more than she saw him fast in Sha’ban. He ﷺ was preparing for Ramadan, and showing us how to prepare for Ramadan. The white nights of Sha’ban are a beautiful time to fast, which also includes the fifteenth of Sha’ban. Our fasting muscles get stronger and ready for Ramadan, so that on the first days of Ramadan our nafs isn’t protesting, and it will feel like the last ten nights.
Usamah b. Zaid (rA) reported, “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting in any other month like you fast in Sha’ban.’ He (ﷺ) said: ‘That 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. I like for my actions to be raised whilst I am fasting.’” (An-Nasa’i)
The Month of the Reciters
Sha’ban is also the month to increase in reciting the Quran, so our hearts are familiar with the words, and they will flow more easily on our tongues. We don’t want a slow start to Ramadan, where our tongues are tripping and stumbling on the words of the Quran. With the increased practice in Sha’ban, we will easily complete a khatam (cover-to-cover reading) in Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ increased his Quran recitation in Sha’ban, and encouraged us to do the same. Imam al-Suyuti, in his book Al-Itqan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran, noted that the Prophet (ﷺ) would spend more time reciting the Quran in Sha’ban, ensuring that he was spiritually prepared for the intensified recitation during Ramadan. These connections lovingly earned Sha’ban the title of The Month of the Reciters.
Preparing for Ramadan
Sha’ban signals to us that the breezes of Ramadan are on their way, and for us to prepare for this long-awaited guest. This guest isn’t looking for food or a bed to sleep in, but days filled with prayer, recitation of the Quran, and nights with standing in prayer and calling out in dua. Sha’ban is the time to prepare extensive dua lists, and set goals in our prayer, dhikr, and Quran recitation.
This forgotten blessed month is a beautiful time to roll up our sleeves and prepare for Ramadan with increased fasting, Quran recitation, and worship. It has historical significance which also invites us to increase salawat on the Prophet ﷺ. The heart of this month has a powerful night of forgiveness, and an opportunity to release grudges. It ends with the arrival of the most anticipated guest of Ramadan. Let’s not forget this month and try to maximize the rewards and opportunities that lie within it.
Anse Dr. Farhana Yunus, Instructor at Ribaat Academic Institute, Rabata Halaqa teacher
