‘Observing Sawm in Shaban for honouring Ramadan.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 3, pp. 377, Hadees 3819)

1.          Sayyidatuna ‘Ayesha Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا has narrated, ‘The Beloved and Blessed Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would keep Siyam throughout Sha’ban.’ She رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا once asked, ‘Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Do you like it the most to observe Siyam in Sha’ban out of all [other] months?’ He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Yes, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ records [the name of] every living being who will die this year and I like to be in the state of Sawm at the time of my demise.’ (Musnad Abi Ya’la, vol. 4, pp. 277, Hadees 4890)

2.          The Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘This month is between Rajab and Ramadan; people are heedless of it. It is the month in which people’s deeds are lifted towards Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. I wish that my deed be lifted when I am in the state of Sawm.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 3, pp. 377, Hadees 3820)

Dear Islamic brothers! Just ponder! How great acts of worship were performed by our Beloved Rasul صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم who is already forgiven and will get us – the sinners – forgiven. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed a lot of Nafl worship in this sacred month, compared to other months. On the other hand, in our life, we have spent so many Shaban-ul-Mu’azzam in which the Muslims are privileged to be forgiven but unfortunately we failed to repent of our sins and could not yet make a firm intention of refraining from sins in future. Neither we started offering Fard Salahs regularly nor did we give Sadaqah and charity; neither we recited the Holy Quran nor Salat Alan Nabi; neither we made Zikr nor did we observe Siyam; and we failed to perform other Nafl acts of worship in abundance. We do not know whether or not we have so far succeeded in pleasing our Lord. In order to please Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Rasul صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and to get success and salvation in the world as well as in the afterlife, we should perform acts of worship in abundance. We should observe Nafl Siyam in Rajab and Shaban. We should perform worship and seek forgiveness for our sins in abundance throughout Shaban, especially on