IbnAlAawam
Junior Member
:salam2:
Fasting During Sha'ban
Sha'ban is a month of good that introduces the great month of Ramadan. The Prophet, peace upon him, used to fast voluntarily during this month more so than in any other month. One of the motivations for that, as we will mention below, is that Sha'ban is the month during which the deeds performed by the servant ascend to God. What follows is a discussion around fasting during the month of Sha'ban.
Usama b. Zayd relates: "The Prophet, peace and mercy of God upon him, used to fast so many days in succession that we said, 'He will never break his fast.' At other times he would go without fasting for so long until we said, 'He will never again fast;' except for two days, which he would fast even if they occurred during the times he was not fasting consecutive days. Furthermore, he would not fast in any month as many days as he fasted during Sha'ban. I said: 'O Messenger of God! Sometimes you fast so much it is as if you will never break your fast, at other times you leave fasting for such a long stint it is as if you will never again fast [voluntarily]; except for two days that you always fast.' He asked: 'Which two days are those?' I replied: 'Monday and Thursday.' The Prophet, peace upon him, said: 'Those are two days in which the deeds are presented to the Lord of the Worlds. I love that my deeds are presented while I am fasting.' I said: 'I do not see you fasting in any month like you fast during Sha'ban.' The Prophet, peace and mercy of God upon him, said: "That is a month occurring between Rajab and Ramadan that many people neglect. It is a month in which the deeds ascend to the Lord of the Worlds, be He Mighty and Majesty, and I love for my deeds to ascend while I am fasting." Related by Imam Ahmad and Imam Al-Nasa'i
The narrations conveying this meaning are numerous. Among the important points conveyed by the tradition narrated by Usama b. Zayd, may God be pleased with him, is that the Prophet, peace upon him, frequently fasted during Sha'ban, as is supported by a tradition mentioned by A'isha, may God be pleased with her. She said: "I did not see the Messenger of God fast any month in its entirety except Ramadan, and I did not see him fast as frequently in any other month as he did during Sha'ban." Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim
Among the reasons for that, as mentioned in the initial tradition, is that Sha'ban is the month in which the deeds done throughout the year ascend to God. The Prophet, peace upon him, wished for his deeds to ascend while he was fasting.
