Sha'ban Fasting

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

In about 3 weeks we will say farewell to Sha'ban, the 8th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and welcome the blessed month of Ramadhan. Before we do that, we should try to pick up a few days of fasting this month.

Fasting in Sha'ban provides the best preparation for Ramadhan fasting because not only it allows our nafs to become accustom to doing things in abundance, it also makes it easier for those who reside in parts of the world where days are long, to transition fasting for 18+ hours everyday.

The Prophet ﷺ used to fast most of the month in Sha'ban.

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to fast the whole of Sha'ban. I said to him, 'Messenger of Allah, is Sha'ban your most favorite month for fasting?' He said, 'In this month Allah prescribes the list of the persons dying this year. Therefore, I like that my death comes when I am in a state of fasting."

Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "I have never seen the Messenger of Allah fasting for two months continuously except in the months of Sha'ban and Ramadhan."

These reports indicate that fasting in the month of Sha'ban, though not obligatory, is so meritorious that Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not like to miss it.

May Allah bless us in the remaining days of Sha'ban and enable us to prepare our hearts for His merciful gaze on the first night of Ramadhan. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Ameen.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam