Fasting in the month of Shabaan

 Fasting in Sha’abaan is loved by the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The Hadith prohibit us against fasting on 29th or 30th of Sha’abaan for welcoming Ramadhan.  There is a Hadith in Jame’ Tirmidhi:

 

Translation: Don’t fast 1 or 2 days before Ramadhan, but if anybody fasts on a particular day and that day falls on these days, there is no harm.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Hadith No: 620, Pg No: 167)

 

The author of Majma Ul Bihar writes about the wisdom behind this prohibition:

 

Translation:…… so as to have some comfort before Ramadhan and liveliness lasts in Ramadhan as well and it is also said to separate the Nafl (optional) from the Fardh (Obligatory). 

 

When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was asked about the most superior fasts, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: The fasts of Sha’abaan for respect (preparation) of Ramadhan are the best.  (Ghuniya Lit Talibi Tariqil Haqqi, Vol. 1, Pg No: 187).

 

Hadhrat Ghawth ul A’adham (May Allah be well pleased with him) also says in his Ghuniya Lit Talibi Tariqil Haqqi Vol. 1, Pg No: 187:

 

Translation:  All the sins of that person are forgiven of that person who fasts on the last Monday of Sha’abaan.

 

Under this Hadith, Hadhrat Ghawth ul A’adham (May Allah be well pleased with him) writes in the same book on the same page:

 

Translation: Which means the last Monday of Ramadhan, not the last day as welcoming Ramadhan by fasting on the last 1 or 2 days of Ramadhan is prohibited.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would fast a lot in this month.  Ummul Momineen Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqa (May Allah be well pleased with her) says:

 

Translation:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would fast so much in Sha’abaan that we would think, He would not have Iftaar (break the fast) at all.  Sometimes, He would not fast so much that we would start thinking that He had stopped fasting for now.  I have never seen the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) fasting for the whole month except in Ramadhan and I have never seen the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) fasting so much in any other month as in Sha’abaan.

 

There is another Hadith:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqa (May Allah be well pleased with her) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would not fast more than Sha’abaan in any other month because in this month, the souls (Ruh) of the living are written among the dead even to the extent that a person marries when his name would taken among those who will die and verily a man would perform Haj, when his name is among the dead.  (Ibn Mardawe, Ibn ‘Asaker, Durre Manthur-Surah Dukhan)

 

There is another Hadith:

 

Translation:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would fast for the whole of Sha’abaan.  When I asked Him, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) writes (the names of) all those who would die in this year in this night.  I desire that my time of passing away should be when I am fasting. 

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: This is that month between Rajab and Ramadhan, which people do not think about and this is the month in which deeds (A’amaal) are presented before Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), so I want that I should be fasting when my deeds are presented before Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).  (Sunan Nasai, Vol. 1, Pg No: 321.   Hadith No: 2317, Musnad Imam Ahmed, Musnad Ul Ansaar, Hadith No: 20758)

 

In one Hadith from the Ummul Momineen Aisha Siddiqa (May Allah be well pleased with her), she says:

 

Translation: O Prophet of Allah! (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), I see you fasting a lot in Sha’abaan?  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: O Aisha! This is the month in which the angel of death writes the name of the person whose soul (Ruh) will be taken in the rest of the year.  I desire that my name should be written when I am fasting.

 

We should remember that the words of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) are: “I desire that my name should be written when I am fasting,” are for the encouragement of the Ummah.  Writing the blessed name of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is an honor for the angel of death and it is a honor for the roll in which His blessed name is written. 

 

The fasting of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is to bless the fast itself.  The remaining hungry of non-Muslims cannot be called fasting.  Even when Muslims remain hungry without the intention of fasting, it cannot be called fasting.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said this because only the blessed actions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) are called worship. 

 

The basic reason for fasting is to break and conquer desires.  The status of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is that even the devil, who is there with every human being and who incites every human being to commit sins became a follower of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  It is against our very faith to even relate the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) to desires. 

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) knows the day, month and date of His passing away into the presence of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) with complete certainty.  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) does not have any fear of death as we do.  Saying this was only to prepare for meeting the Lord and teaching the Ummah. 

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had already indicated to the Sahabah about His passing away.  There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Pg No: 516:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Sae'ed Khudri (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him), he said that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) gave a sermon to the people.  He said that: Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) gave His worshipper a choice between this world (Dunya) and what Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) has (for Him), so that worshipper chose what is with Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala).  Hadhrat Abu Sae'ed Khudri (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) says: Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) started crying.  We were surprised at his crying that the worshipper, with choice, about whom Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was telling us was the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Himself.  

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