Reminder about Fasting the Month of Sha'ban - (30/4/17)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

4-8-1438

Fasting the month of Sha'ban is a stressed Sunnah, because the Prophet ﷺ used to fast it before Ramadan. It is considered a Raatibah for Ramadan, like the Raatibah we have for prayer. 

Ramadan has Raatibah before it (i.e. Sha'ban) and after it (i.e. The 6 days of Shawwal).

Ibn Othaimeen رحمه الله said to at least fast more than your usual days of fasting. If you fast only Mondays and Thursdays, then fast more in this month. The Prophet ﷺ fasted most of Sha'ban except for a few days. Those who are married have to take their husbands permission first, because it is a voluntary fast.

Whoever did not fast the beginning of Sha'ban until the 15th, should not fast after the 15th of Sha'ban. But whoever fasted in the beginning can fast until the end. [Refer to https://islamqa.info/en/13726 ]

The Prophet ﷺ said,

لاَ يَصُومُ عَبْدٌ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ بَاعَدَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى بِذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ النَّارَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا 

There is no worshipper who fasts a day in the cause of Allah, but Allah, the most high, will separate (a distance of) seventy autumns between his face and the fire in return for that day. [An-Nasaa'i]

أَبُو أُمَامَةَ الْبَاهِلِيُّ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مُرْنِي بِأَمْرٍ يَنْفَعُنِي اللَّهُ بِهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏ "‏ عَلَيْكَ بِالصِّيَامِ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ مِثْلَ لَهُ ‏

Narrated Abu Umama رضي الله عنه: 'I said: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, tell me of something by which Allah will benefit me." He said: "Take to fasting, for there is nothing like it."' [An-Nasaa'i]

The Prophet ﷺ said,

من صام يوما ابتغاء وجه الله خُتم له به دخل الجنّة 

Whoever fasts a day seeking the pleasure of Allaah and then dies [i.e. that is the last thing he does] will enter Paradise.” [Reported by Ahmad, 5/391; see also Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/412]

Al-Manawi explained this Hadith, saying that whoevers life ended while he is fasting or after he breaks his fast will enter Paradise.

The Prophet ﷺ said,

الصِّيَامُ وَالْقُرْآنُ يَشْفَعَانِ لِلْعَبْدِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَقُولُ الصِّيَامُ أَيْ رَبِّ مَنَعْتُهُ الطَّعَامَ وَالشَّهَوَاتِ بِالنَّهَارِ فَشَفِّعْنِي فِيهِ وَيَقُولُ الْقُرْآنُ مَنَعْتُهُ النَّوْمَ بِاللَّيْلِ فَشَفِّعْنِي فِيهِ قَالَ فَيُشَفَّعَانِ

Fasting and the Quran will intercede for the servant on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: O Lord, I prevented him from food and drink during the day, so allow me to intercede for him. The Quran will say: O Lord, I prevented him from sleeping during the night, so allow me to intercede for him. Thus, they will both intercede for him. [Musnad Ahmed #6958]