Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ urged us to not neglect this month, which falls between a sacred month, Rajab, and the month of fasting, Ramadan.
Fasting the months of Rajab and Sha`ban as a nafila or supererogatory worship is recommended, with the intention of following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
From Ibn `Abbās (ر): “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe fast so continuously that we thought he would never break it, and at other times he remained without fasting so continuously that we thought he would never fast.”
Sha`ban is the month when deeds are raised to Allah ﷻ.
Our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبٍ وَرَمَضَانَ وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الْأَعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِم
“It is a month where people tend to neglect, between the months of Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the worlds, and I like my deeds to be raised while I am fasting.” [Sunan An-Nasa’i]
The Prophet ﷺ increased his acts of worship by fasting more compared to other months (other than Ramadan).
Sha`ban is the month in which the Prophet (s) Split the Moon with a gesture
Almighty God mentions this miracle in Surat al-Qamar as follows:
ٱقْتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلْقَمَرُ
“The hour (of Judgment) is nigh, and The moon is cleft asunder.
But if they see a Sign, they turn away, and say “This is (but) transient magic.”
They reject (the warning) and follow their (own) lusts but every matter has its appointed time.
There have already come to them Recitals wherein there is (enough) to check (them),
Mature wisdom― but (the preaching of) Warners profits them not.” (Surat al-Qamar, 54:1)
Shaykh Al-Habib Abu Bakr Al-Adniy bin Ali Al-Mashhur reports that the splitting of the moon took place in Sha’ban. The disbelievers amongst the Quraysh wanted the Prophet ﷺ to prove his Prophethood using a miracle. In response, the Prophet split the moon with the permission of Allah. A hadith reported by Anas bin Malik in Sahih Bukhari speaks of this event:
The splitting of the moon was one of the most notable events and impressive miracles in the life of the Prophet ﷺ.
Sha`ban is the month when the verse commanding salawat was revealed:
As cited by Imam Al-Qastallani and Abu Dar Al-Harawi, it is in the month of Sha`ban when verse 56 from Surah Al-Ahzab was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ. Scholars, therefore, have constantly reminded us to further increase in sending salawat and salutations upon our Prophet ﷺ in light of the verse:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَـتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِيِّ يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً
Indeed Allah and His angels bestow their prayers upon the Prophet. O you who believe, bestow prayers and peace upon him in abundance. (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:56)
On the 15th of Sha’ban the direction of Qiblah was changed.
The Qiblah for Muslims in Makka until shortly after the Prophet ﷺ migrated to Madinah was facing Baitul-Maqdis, in Jerusalem. About two months after the Hijrah Allah ﷻ revealed to His beloved Prophet ﷺ:
قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ
“We have certainly seen the turning of your face, (O Muhammad), toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you (believers) are, turn your faces toward it (in prayer).” [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:144]
[Ibn Kathir in Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah]
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