Significance of the month of Shaban

7-11-2001 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the significance of the month of Shaban, and can we fast on 15th of Sha’baan? Is standing for night prayers legislated? Kindly give evidence with authentic Hadith.
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The actions of people are presented to Allah in the month of Sha’baan so the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) used to fast repeatedly during this month. ‘Aa’ishah may Allaah be pleased with her said: "I never saw the Messenger of Allah fast for a complete month except for Ramadan, and I never saw him do more fasting in any month other than he did in Sha’baan." [Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Usamah ibn Zaid may Allaah be pleased with him narrated "I said to the Prophet, O Messenger of Allah! I did not see you fasting in any month as you do in the month of Sha’baan." The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "People neglect this month which is between Rajab and Ramadan; in this month the actions of the people are presented to Allah, so I like my deeds to be presented while I am fasting." [Abu Dawood and an-Nasaa’i]

As for fasting particularly on the fifteenth of Sha’baan, then this is not proved through any sound evidence.

Nonetheless, there are some sayings of the companions of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and their immediate followers which indicate the virtue of this night. But this does not mean that there is any special significance to that day or that night. So, there is no evidence proving that fasting such a day is Sunnah nor is there any evidence proving that there are some specific prayers to be performed on the night of the 15th of Sha’baan.

Allah knows best.

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