Shaban is the eighth lunar month of the Islamic lunar year or Hijri. It comes after the holy month of Rajab and before Ramadan when Muslims have to fast. That doesn’t make Shaban a religious break; it makes it a very important time for getting ready. Spiritually, mentally, and financially, one must get ready for Ramadan to be at one’s best and ready to receive all of its one-time benefits.

If You Do Good Things This Month, Allah (SWT) Will Reward You

An angel is always writing down what we do, and Allah already knows everything we say and do. Nevertheless, the Prophet (saw) pointed out certain times when Allah would judge our actions and remind us to take responsibility for them and focus on our worship:

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ‘Angels take turns among you by night and by day, and they all assemble at the dawn and afternoon prayers. Those (of the angels) who spend the night among you, then, ascend, and their Lord asks them, though He is the best informed about them, “How did you leave My servants?“. They say, “We left them while they were praying and we came to them while they were praying”’. [Muslim].

Why Is It Significant That Shaban Falls Between Rajab And Ramadan?

Anything in the middle of two other things that are known to be important will probably not get done. This brings up two important points:

• God rewards people who do good things when other people aren’t likely to—for instance, praying the traditional prayer (salah) late at night when most people are asleep. Another example is giving charity (sadaqah) when people are in need, like sharing food during a famine or giving up money when you need it.
• People are less likely to fast and pray after the holy month of Rajab and before Ramadan. Most of the time, this is because people know that a more spiritually strict month is coming up, followed by a hard month of fasting and standing in prayer.
• Fasting adds a beautiful seal or ribbon, so to speak, to the good things that people do in Shaban that they bring to their Creator.
• The Prophet, peace be upon him, told Usamah ibn Zayd, who was young then, these two things about Shaban. The Prophet, peace be upon him, treated Usamah ibn Zayd like a member of his own family. The young Companion tells the story:

The Night Of Forgiveness Is The 15th Of Shaban

Muslims believe that the 15th of Shaban is one of the most holy nights of the year. People call Shab-e-Barat “the night of forgiveness.”

Here is a quote from the 15th of Shaban Hadith that shows how important Shaban and this holy night are:

The Prophet (S.A.W) said, ′Allah gazes at His creation on the fifteenth night of Sha’ban and then forgives all His slaves except for two types of people: those who attribute partners to Allah and those who have rancour for their fellow Muslims’. [Ahmad]

In another reference, the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said:

“On the 15th of Shaban, from sunset until dawn, Allah (SWT) asks His servants, ′Is there anyone seeking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him? Is there anyone seeking provision from Me so I may provide for him? Is there anyone suffering so I may relieve his suffering? ′” [Ibn Majah].

In What Ways Does Shaban Get Your Body Ready For Ramadan?

We can get our bodies ready for Ramadan by following the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) model and increasing the number of days we fast during this preparatory month. The day-long fast will be over by the time the crescent of Ramadan shows up. We’ll also have gotten used to the unique mental and physical habits of Ramadan.

The body flags when we start fasting again after not doing it for a while, especially if we do it for more than one day in a row. We might feel thirsty, hungry, or tired, get headaches, and become more easily irritable and sidetracked. When we start fasting all of a sudden during Ramadan, we’ll spend the first few days to a week going through some or all of these physical withdrawal symptoms just to get to sunset. Many of us will lie down on the couch or bed to sleep off the fast if we get some extra time during the day.

What did we lose, though? Let’s hear an extended reading of the Quran, at least one-thirtieth of it. We can read one juz of the Quran every night and finish it on our own before the end of the month.

And on normal days, the benefit we get from Allah is ten times greater for every letter of the Quran we say out loud. If you can speak Arabic very well, you’ll be high up with the stars and always do what’s right. If you find it hard to read and say its signs, you’ll get twice as much as that prize. Then what about during Ramadan? When does 700 times the normal divine prize become the standard good deeds payment? There’s a lot more in store.

Conclusion

The month of Shaban is a time for Muslims to prepare themselves spiritually, mentally, and physically for Ramadan. It’s a month filled with opportunities for increased worship, fasting, and reflection. Shaban, especially its 15th night, offers significant blessings and forgiveness from Allah.

By following the Prophet’s example and fasting more during this month, Muslims can ease into Ramadan and maximize their spiritual benefits during the holy month.