Don’t be from the heedless in Sha’ban

For the majority of us, Sha’ban is simply the month marked as our countdown to Ramadan. A month that some people can plan to go on vacation just before Ramadan starts, or just a month like any other month where many go on with their normal activities.

Unfortunately, what many don’t realize is that Sha’ban is more than just that, it’s one of the most important months of the year, so important that the Prophet (ﷺ) talked about its virtues and brought our attention to special events that take place during this month.

In an authentic hadith, Osama ibn Zayd told the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he doesn’t see him fasting in any other month as much as he does in Sha’ban. In response, the Prophet (peace be upon) told him two reasons why he fasts so much in this month. The first, “it’s a month that people neglect between the months of Rajab and Ramadan”.

Neglect? Let’s ponder on this for a moment. When we neglect something, then surely this indicates that we have failed to acknowledge and give attention to something of importance. In the above hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) refers to Sha’ban as a month which is neglected. Therefore, there must be something special about this month which many become heedless to .There’s something in this month which is important and people are ignoring.

So what is it? The Prophet (ﷺ) continues on and says : “It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the worlds and I like for my deeds to be raised while I am fasting.” (Al-Nasā’ī 2357)

According to authentic hadiths, deeds are raised to Allah on three occasions :

1. Daily – Every single day during the Fajr and Asr prayers our deeds are being raised.

2. Weekly – Every Mondays & Thursdays our deeds are also being presented to Allah (That’s why the Prophet would fast them)

3. Yearly – In the Month of Sha’ban.

One year of our life will be raised. That’s 365 days. We should ask ourselves. How many days of them did we fast ? Allah came down in each night, how many nights of them did we wake up to pray, make Dhikr and Dua ? How many days did we read Quran ? Give charity, feed the poor ?

Every small and great deed we have done has been recorded and all will be raised up to the Lord of the Worlds, whether we were aware of our deeds or not, everything will be accounted for. Every word, every glance, every harm we inflicted on others, every good we did will be presented to Allah. These are not easy days, these are one of the most crucial days of the year. The question is will Allah accept our deeds ? Will Allah be pleased with our deeds and will our deeds earn us Paradise ?

We need to perform as many good deeds as possible with the hope that our deeds for the year will be lifted while we are in a state of obedience and servitude to Allah. Allah in the Quran warns us about heedlessness: ” ….and do not be among the heedless (Ghafaleen) ” (7:205)

Why ? Because heedlessness is not a characteristic of a true believer. A true Mu’min is always awake, always aware and alert. When something is given weight by Allah or the Prophet (ﷺ) then we must seek the opportunity to capitalize and benefit from it as much as possible.

Since Sha’ban is a month which is neglected by many, it’s highly encouraged to increase in the worship of Allah in this month, especially fasting. That’s why the Prophet(ﷺ) would fast much. He liked that his deeds be taken up to Allah in a state of fasting. As reported by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) the Prophet (peace be upon him) “.. he used to fast all of Sha’ban except a little” (An-Nasa’i 2179)

We need to push ourselves in this month to fast, the reward is great. If we can’t fast the majority, at least Mondays & Thursdays. If not, then at least the three white days. It’s not a sign of proper iman for those who are able to, to just let this month go by without fasting anything of it. It’s a sign of heedlessness which the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned us not to be from among. And fasting gives our deeds a much better chance of being accepted when they are being presented to Allah.

In the well known hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said how “Islam began as a something strange and it will return to being strange, so blessed are the strangers.” Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 145

At the end of times, when there’s so much evil, corruption, distractions and fitnah, only a few people would take worship seriously. Only a few people will be from the grateful, from those who remember Allah with constant Dhikr and follow strictly to the Quran and Sunnah. Only a few people will wake up in the depths of the night to engage in worship of Allah. “… Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope..” (32:16)

Only a few will give importance to acts of worships. And so, only a few would recognize the importance of Sha’ban and commit to making the best out of it. So keep yourself busy with Quran recitation, Dhikr, Tawbah and seeking forgiveness. Begin with night prayers and charity. Don’t wait for Ramadan to start your good deeds, especially fasting.

Sha’ban is a month when the Salaf would commit so much to the Quran. They would call it the month of reciting the Quran to the point that one would close down his shop to focus only on the Quran. Today, it’s unfortunate that Muslims give excuses that they don’t have time to read the Quran or pray at night. But then they spent hours on FB, Youtube, Instagram, snapshot, tiktok….. and spend too much time on useless activities which do not benefit them. Then they claim they had no time for the Quran. So we need to learn not to be stingy with Allah. Be generous with your time with Allah. Allah gave us time and it’s a blessing we must cherish before it’s to late.

May Allah make us from those who take advantage Sha’ban and let us reach Ramadan in good health and well being.

May Allah accept from us Ramadan. Ameen