The Month of Sha‘ban – Preparation for Ramadan

Sha‘ban is the 8th month of the Islamic calendar and serves as a spiritual preparation for Ramadan. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave this month special attention through fasting, worship, and spiritual readiness.

Arabic:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

English:

“O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain taqwa.” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:183)

Arabic:

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ:

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ مَا لَا يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ، ثُمَّ يَصُومُ لِرُؤْيَةِ رَمَضَانَ

English:

Aishah (رضي الله عنها) said:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to be more careful in observing the days of Sha‘ban than in any other month, then he would fast upon sighting Ramadan.” (Sunan Abu Dawud 2323)

Arabic:

عَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، لِمَ أَرَاكَ تَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ مَا لَا تَصُومُ مِنْ شَهْرٍ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ؟

فَقَالَ: ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبٍ وَرَمَضَانَ، وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الْأَعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ

English:

Usamah ibn Zayd (رضي الله عنهما) said:

“I asked, O Messenger of Allah, why do I see you fasting in Sha‘ban more than in other months?”

He replied:

“That is a month people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which deeds are raised to the Lord of the worlds, and I love that my deeds be raised while I am fasting.” (Sunan al-Nasa’i 2357)

Arabic:

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ:

مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ اسْتَكْمَلَ صِيَامَ شَهْرٍ إِلَّا رَمَضَانَ، وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ أَكْثَرَ صِيَامًا مِنْهُ فِي شَعْبَانَ

English:

Aishah (رضي الله عنها) said:

“I never saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ complete fasting in any month except Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more in any month than he did in Sha‘ban.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1969, Sahih Muslim 1156)

Arabic:

عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ:

يَطَّلِعُ اللَّهُ إِلَى جَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ لَيْلَةَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ، فَيَغْفِرُ لِجَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ إِلَّا لِمُشْرِكٍ أَوْ مُشَاحِنٍ

English:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Allah looks upon all of His creation on the night of the middle of Sha‘ban and forgives all of them except one who associates partners with Him or one who harbors hatred.” (Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Hibban)

This night should be spent in individual worship such as salah, tilawah, dhikr, and du‘a, without specifying fixed forms or practices not established from the Sunnah.

Arabic:

إِذَا انْتَصَفَ شَعْبَانُ فَلَا تَصُومُوا

English:

“When Sha‘ban is halfway through, do not fast.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 738)

Hanafi scholars explain this applies to one who begins fasting without a prior habit, not to those who regularly fast or are making up obligatory fasts.

Arabic:

فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ

English:

“And whoever among you is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days.” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:184)

Making up obligatory fasts takes precedence over voluntary fasting.

Sha‘ban is a time to cleanse the heart by:

Removing hatred and grudges

Reconciling with others

Seeking forgiveness from Allah and His creation

Those deprived of forgiveness unless they repent include:

One who associates partners with Allah

One who harbors enmity

One who consumes alcohol

One who disobeys parents

One who severs family ties

A murderer

A man who drags his garment below the ankles out of pride

Sha‘ban is a month of preparation, purification, and increased devotion, so that Ramadan is entered with sincerity, strength, and a sound heart, following the guidance of the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Allah Ta’aala Knows Best.