The Virtues of the Month of Sha’ban

The Virtues of the Month of Sha’ban

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, when his companions were discussing the virtues of Sha’ban: “It is a noble month, it is my month, and the bearers of the Throne glorify it and recognize its importance. It is a month in which the provisions of the believers are increased for Ramadan, and the gardens are adorned. It is called Sha’ban because the provisions of the believers are distributed in it for the coming of Ramadan. It is the month of deeds, where the reward of a good deed is multiplied seventyfold, the sin is forgiven, and the good deeds are accepted. Allah, the Almighty, boasts about His servants during this month. He looks at the fasting and praying ones from above His Throne and boasts of them to the bearers of the Throne.”

The Reward for Fasting in Sha’ban

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Sha’ban is my month, and Ramadan is the month of Allah, the Exalted. Whoever fasts a day of my month will have me as an intercessor for him on the Day of Judgment.”

Imam Al-Sadiq (AS) said: “Fasting in Sha’ban is a treasure for the servant on the Day of Judgment. No servant fasts abundantly in Sha’ban except that Allah will rectify his livelihood, protect him from the harm of his enemy, and the least reward for one who fasts a day in Sha’ban is that Paradise becomes obligatory for him.”

General Acts of Worship in Sha’ban

1. Seeking Forgiveness (Istighfar):

Imam Al-Sadiq (AS) was asked: “What is the best supplication in this month?” He said: “The best is seeking forgiveness. Whoever seeks forgiveness in Sha’ban seventy times every day will be as though he has sought forgiveness seventy thousand times in other months.” When asked how to say it, he replied: “Say: ‘I seek forgiveness from Allah and ask Him for repentance.'”

Imam Al-Ridha (AS) said: “Whoever says ‘I seek forgiveness from Allah seventy times’ every day of Sha’ban, ‘I seek forgiveness from Allah and ask Him for repentance,’ Allah will write for him freedom from the Hellfire, a pass over the Sirat, and will enter him into the abode of peace.”

2. Charity (Sadaqah):

Imam Ja’far Al-Sadiq (AS) was asked about the virtues of Sha’ban and said: “Charity and seeking forgiveness. Whoever gives charity in Sha’ban, Allah will increase it just as one of you raises his newborn camel, and it will grow until it becomes as large as Mount Uhud on the Day of Judgment.”

3. Supplication at Noon (Dua at Zawal):

Imam Ali bin Al-Husayn (AS) would supplicate at noon on each day of Sha’ban and on the night of the middle of Sha’ban. He would pray upon the Prophet (PBUH) with this supplication:

“O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the tree of prophethood, the place of the message, the place where angels descend, the source of knowledge, and the family of the revelation. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the Ark that sails in the deep waters, safety is for those who board it and drowning is for those who abandon it. Whoever precedes them has deviated, and whoever lags behind them has perished, and the one who remains attached to them is saved. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the strong fortress, the aid for the distressed, the refuge for the fleeing, and the protection for the seekers of salvation. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, a prayer that will make them pleased, and will fulfill the rights of Muhammad and his family with Your power and strength, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the pure, the righteous, the chosen ones, to whom You have made their rights obligatory, and whom You have commanded obedience and allegiance to. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and fill my heart with obedience to You, and do not disgrace me with disobedience to You. Grant me to support those whom You have given little provision, and provide me with the vastness of Your grace, and spread Your justice over me. I live under Your protection. This is the month of Your Prophet, the master of the messengers, Sha’ban, the month You have filled with mercy and approval. The Prophet (PBUH) would strive in fasting and praying in its nights and days, showing gratitude to You for honoring him and magnifying him to the utmost. O Allah, assist us in following his Sunnah in this month and obtaining his intercession. O Allah, make him my intercessor and my guide to You, and make me follow him until I meet You on the Day of Judgment, with You pleased with me, and my sins forgiven, for You have made mercy and approval from You obligatory for me, and You have granted me entrance into the abode of peace and the place of the righteous.”

The Sha’ban Supplication (Munaajat Sha’baniyyah)

This translation preserves the original message of the text, highlighting the importance of the month of Sha’ban, its virtues, acts of worship, and supplications that are recommended during this month. Let me know if you’d like more details or further clarification!