on Monday (or on any other day if missed) during this week? Moreover, did you eat bread made from barley at least once this week?’

Routine of Blessed Sahabah upon the arrival of Sha’ban

Dear Islamic brothers! Along with keeping Siyam in the blessed month of Sha’ban-ul-Mu’azzam, we should also perform worship in abundance. It was the routine of the blessed Sahabah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم that they would spend            most of their time in praying and worshipping as soon as this blessed month would arrive.

Sayyiduna Anas Bin Maalik رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has stated, ‘As soon as the          crescent moon of Sha’ban-ul-Mu’azzam was sighted, the blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم would engage themselves in reciting the Holy Quran and paying Zakah of their wealth so that the weak and the poor may also make preparations for observing Siyam of the month of Ramadan. Rulers would summon the prisoners to enforce sentence upon the deserving ones (sentenced by Shari’ah) and set the rest free. Businessmen would pay their debts and collect their dues. (In this way, they would free themselves before the appearance of the moon of Ramadan), and as soon as the moon of Ramadan appeared, they would perform Ghusl and [some] would take part in I’tikaf [for the whole month].’ (Ghunya-tut-Talibeen, vol. 1, pp. 246)

Shab-e-Bara`at, the night of worship!

The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would also worship abundantly in the night of Shab-e-Bara`at. Sayyidah ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا has narrated: (Once) on the 15^th night of Sha’ban, the Noble Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said to me, ‘Give me the permission to worship in this night’. I humbly said, ‘Yes, may my parents be sacrificed upon you.’ Then the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed Qiyam. When he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went into Sajdah [prostration], he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed very long Sajdah [prostration]. I presumed that the blessed soul of the Beloved and Blessed Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has been seized. I touched the blessed foot of the Noblest Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and was overjoyed to feel the movement. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 3, pp. 384, Hadees 3837)