Merits of Sha’ban

Many traditions have been reported about the merits of the month of Sha’ban and the great rewards obtained from practicing devotional acts during it. The Holy Prophet (S), to whom this month is attributed, used to fast during this month and encourage others to imitate him by connecting the fasting of this month with the obligatory fasting of Ramadhan.

Shaykh al-Qummi has referred, yet briefly, to some of these traditions.

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said:

Imam ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-’Abidin (‘a) used to gather all his companions at the beginning of Sha’ban and say to them, “O my companions, do you know what this month is? It is Sha’ban. The Holy Prophet (S) used to say, ‘Sha’ban is my month.’ You should thus fast during this month as a sign of your love for your Prophet (S) and as a sign of seeking nearness to your Lord. I swear by Him, Who grasps my soul in His Hand, that I heard my father Husayn (‘a), saying that he heard Imam ‘Ali, the Commander of the Faithful (‘a), saying: ‘Any one who fasts during Sha’ban for the love of the Messenger of Allah (S) to seek nearness to Almighty Allah, Almighty Allah will love him, and draw him nearer to Himself on the Day of Resurrection, and definitely reward him with Paradise.’”

Shaykh al-Tusi has narrated on the authority of Safwan al-Jammal that Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) instructed him to urge all people that he knew to fast during Sha’ban.

“May Allah accept me as ransom for you! There is a reason for this instruction. Is there not?” asked Safwan al-Jammal.

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) answered:

Yes, there is. When his eyes fell on the new moon of Sha’ban, the Messenger of Allah (S) ordered somebody to declare the following to the people of al-Madinah:

“O people of Yathrib, I bring the message of Allah’s Messenger (S) to you all. Verily, Sha’ban is my month; therefore, may Allah have mercy upon him who helps me undertake my month.”

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) then added:

The Commander of the Faithful (Imam ‘Ali) used to say, ‘I never missed fasting during Sha’ban since I heard the call of the Messenger of Allah (S) about this month. Furthermore, I shall never miss it as long as I am alive, Allah willing.’

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) further said:

To fast for two consecutive months is considered as Almighty Allah’s acceptance of one’s repentance.

Isma’il ibn ‘Abd al-Khaliq narrated that when the subject of fasting during Sha’ban was once discussed in the presence of him, Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (‘a) said:

The merits of fasting during Sha’ban are so great that even one who sheds inviolable blood is expected to be forgiven.

Through a valid chain of authority, Shaykh al-Kulayni has reported that al-Halabi, once, asked Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) whether any of his fathers fasted during Sha’ban.

He was thus answered as follows:

The best of all my fathers did. That is, the Holy Messenger (S).

According to another tradition also reported by Shaykh al-Kulayni through a valid chain of authority, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) has said:

When they had some days to fast, the wives of the Holy Prophet (S) would postpone them to the month of Sha’ban so that they would not prevent him from getting what he might want from them. In Sha’ban, they and the Holy Prophet (S) would fast. The Holy Prophet (S) used to say, “Sha’ban is my month.”

In man-la-yahdhuruhu’l-faqih, Shaykh al-Saduq has reported through a valid chain of authority from some scholars—and others from other chains of authority—that Imam al-Baqir (‘a) said:

Whoever fasts during the month of Sha’ban, his fasting will purify him of all oaths and vows made to commit disobedience including oaths uttered in anger. When a person regrets such oaths, this acts as an apology for them.

In Thawab al-A’mal, Shaykh al-Saduq has also reported, through a valid chain of authority on the authority of Isma’il ibn Ziyad on the authority of Imam al-Sadiq (‘a), that the Holy Prophet (S) said:

شَعْبَانُ شَهْرِي، وَرَمَضَانُ شَهْرُ اللهِ وَهُوَ رَبِيعُ الْفُقَرَاءِ. وَإِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الأَضْحَى لِيَشْبَعَ مَسَاكِينُكُمْ مِنَ اللَّحْمِ فَأَطْعِمُوهُمْ.

Sha’ban is my month and Ramadhan is the month of Allah. It is also the springtime of the poor. The ‘«d al-Adhha Feast has been established so that the indigent among you may eat their fill of meat; therefore, you should serve them with meat.

It has been also narrated that fasting during the month of Sha’ban is one of the means of gaining the Holy Prophet’s intercession on the Day of Resurrection and to fast during as many days as possible of this month improves one’s livelihood, protects against the evil of enemies, and allows entrance to Paradise.

Rites of Sha’ban

As usual, Shaykh al-Qummi has divided the rites of Sha’ban into two sections: The first section involves the general rites that are practiced each day in the month without distinction, while the second section involves the particular rites that are dedicated to certain days and nights of the month.

The rites of the earlier section can be summarized thus:

Fasting

The most important and highlighted rite in the month of Sha’ban is fasting, which is the distinctive feature of this month, as understood by the abovementioned traditions.

Litanies

On every day of Sha’ban, it is highly recommended to say certain litanies, especially implorations seeking forgiveness. According to several traditions, it is greatly encouraged to implore Almighty Allah for forgiveness seventy times a day. One who practices it regularly will be included in the Holy Prophet’s group on the Day of Resurrection and gain the nearness of Almighty Allah. He will be granted remission of Hellfire and permission to pass the Discriminating Bridge (sirat) into Paradise and the Abode of Settlement and have all his sins forgiven by Almighty Allah, even if they be as many as the stars in the sky.

Other traditions have confirmed that to repeat the prayer seeking forgiveness seventy times a day in Sha’ban is equal to repeating it seventy thousand times during other months. The formula of this prayer may be one of the following:

I seek the forgiveness of Allah and I pray to Him for approval of my repentance.

ا سْتَغْفِرُ ٱللّهَ وَا سْا لُهُ ٱلتَّوْبَةَ.

ا سْتَغْفِرُ ٱللّهَ ٱلَّذِي لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ ٱلرَحْمٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٱلْحَيُّ ٱلْقَيُّوْمُ وَا تُوبُ إِلَيْهِ.

I seek forgiveness of Allah, there is no god save Whom, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful, the Ever-living, the Everlasting, and to Him I turn repentant.

Another litany that is reported directly from the Holy Prophet (S) in Sayyid Ibn Tawus’s Iqbal al-A’mal is recommended to be repeated one thousand times every day during the month of Sha’ban for great reward:

لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ ٱللّهُ وَلاَ نَعْبُدُ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُشْرِكُونَ.

There is no god save Allah; and we serve none save Him, being sincere to Him in obedience, though the unbelievers are averse.

Almsgiving

Because Sha’ban is described by some traditions as the springtime of the poor, it is highly recommended to give as many alms as possible during this month. Other traditions describe almsgiving in Sha’ban as follows:

Verily, if any one of you gives alms in Sha’ban, Almighty Allah will breed and multiply those alms in the very same way you breed your camels. Hence, these alms will be as huge as Mount Uhud on the Day of Resurrection.

Moreover, to give alms in this month, even if they be as small as a half date, brings about release from Hellfire.

Invocations of Blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household

During the month of Sha’ban, it is highly recommended to invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household as much as possible. In this respect, Ahmad ibn ‘«sa, in his book of al-Nawadir, has reported through a valid chain of authority that Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) quoted the Holy Prophet (S) as saying:

رَجَبٌ شَهْرُ الإسْتِغْفَارِ لأُِمَّتِي. أَكْثِرُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الإسْتِغْفَارِ، فَإِنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ… وَأَكْثِرُوا فِي شَعْبَانَ مِنَ الصَّلَوَاتِ عَلَى نَبِيِّكُمْ… وَإِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ شَعْبَانُ شَهْرَ الشَّفَاعَةِ لأَِنَّ رَسُولَكُمْ يَشْفَعُ لِكُلِّ مَنْ يُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِ فِيهِ.

For my people, Rajab is the month of praying for forgiveness; therefore, implore Almighty Allah for forgiveness in this month as frequently as possible. In Sha’ban, invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon your Prophet as many times as possible. The month of Sha’ban is called the month of intercession, because your Messenger will intercede for every one who invokes Almighty Allah’s blessing upon him in this month.

Some traditions carry a wonderful formula of invoking Almighty Allah’s blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household in the month of Sha’ban along with a magnificent supplication through which the suppliant seeks the mediation of the Holy Prophet (S).

Supplications and Whispered Prayers (Munajat)

There are special supplications and whispered prayers to be said on every day of Sha’ban. Although traditions have not referred to certain supplications in this respect, the Whispered Prayer (Munajat) that is reported by Ibn Khalawayh who ascribes it to Imam ‘Ali (‘a) and the Holy Imams (‘a) is familiarly known. This piece of whispered prayer, known as al-Munajat al-Sha’baniyyah, contains highly regarded Gnostic statements.

The second section involves the rites to be done on special nights and days of Sha’ban. Books of ziyarah and recommended acts, as well as some traditions, reveal that there are five times in which special interest should be taken. These times are as follows:

First: The first night and day of Sha’ban

Much emphasis has been laid on fasting on the first day of Sha’ban. Sayyid Ibn Tawus has mentioned a prayer to be offered on the first three nights of this month.

Second: Thursdays of Sha’ban

There is a special two-unit prayer, in each unit of which Surah al-Fatihah is recited once and Surah al-Tawhid repeated one hundred times to be offered on the Thursdays of Sha’ban. Upon completion, the invocation of Almighty Allah’s blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household is repeated one hundred times. Once this prayer is offered, all the requests of this world and the Next World will be granted.

Third: The Third of Sha’ban

Shaykh al-Tusi, in Misbah al-Mutahajjid, has reported on the authority of Imam al-Hasan al-’Askari (‘a) the recommendation of fasting on the third of Sha’ban, which is the birth anniversary of Imam Husayn (‘a). On this day too, there is a special supplication to be said. In fact, this supplication involves statements of beseeching Almighty Allah in the name of Imam Husayn (‘a) and the Holy Imams (‘a). It also holds highly regarded contents that express loyalty to Imam Husayn (‘a) and the Holy Imams (‘a) and commitment to their course.

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to recommend saying the supplication that Imam Husayn (‘a) said on ‘Ashura' after he had been surrounded by the enemies.

Fourth: The mid-Sha’ban Night

Previous references given in the section regarding specific nights and days confirm the merits and rites of this night.

Fifth: The Last Days and the Last Night of Sha’ban

About these days, Imam al-Ridha (‘a) is reported to have said: If one fasts during the last three days of Sha’ban in order to attach it to the obligatory fasting of Ramadhan, Almighty Allah will determine that he has fasted for two consecutive months.

Abu’l-Salt al-Harawi has narrated that when he visited Imam al-Ridha (‘a) on the last Friday of Sha’ban, the Imam said to him:

O Abu’l-Salt, the majority of the days of Sha’ban have passed. This is its last Friday. You should thus make up for what you have missed in this month by working hard in the rest. You may supplicate, implore forgiveness of Almighty Allah, recite the Holy Qur'an, and repent to Almighty Allah for your sins so that you arrive at the month of Ramadhan with pure sincerity to Him. You must fulfill all the trusts that you are responsible for settling, you must not bear malice against any of your brethren-in-faith, and you must give up any sin that you commit. Fear Almighty Allah and trust Him secretly and openly, for ‘If any one puts his trust in Allah, then Allah shall be a sufficient protector for him. Allah will surely accomplish his purpose. Verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion.’(65:3)

In the rest of the days of Sha’ban, you may repeat much the following supplication, for Almighty Allah saves many people from Hellfire on account of the sanctity of this month:

O Allah, If You have not forgiven us in the past days of Sha’ban, (please do) forgive us in the rest of it.

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ غَفَرْتَ لَنَا فِيمَا مَضَىٰ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا فِيمَا بَقِيَ مِنْهُ.

Likewise, a supplication to be said on the last night of Sha’ban and the first night of Ramadhan is reported from Imam al-Sadiq (‘a).