Sha’ban

Imam Ali (pbuh) once saw some Muslims arguing among themselves on the subject of decree and destiny, on the first day of Sha’ban. He discouraged them from their preoccupation and instead drew their attention to the merits of the month. He said that the Lord had called it Sha’ban because His favours and bounties were scattered (sha’aba) all over during it. Allah presents His great bounties in this month which are easy to attain.

Imam (pbuh) then enumerated some of the good actions which should not be overlooked in this month. These include salaa, (prayer), zakat (charity), amr bil ma’roof (enjoining of good), nahyi anil munkar (forbidding of evil), goodness to parents, relatives, neighbours, mutual reconciliation and giving charity to the poor and the destitute.

Rasulullah (pbuh) has said: “Sha’ban is my month”.

He used to fast for the whole month of Sha’ban. Imam Ali Zaynul-Abideen (pbuh) has said, “Whosoever loves the Prophet and wishes to seek nearness to Allah receiving His bounties, favours and rewards in this world and in the hereafter, must connect Sha’ban with the month of Ramadhan in the matter of fasting and special prayers”.

One of the most important nights of the year is in month and falls on the 15th of Sha’ban.

Besides being the birth of Imam Mahdi (pbuh), it is also the night when Divinity makes decisions in the matter of sustenance, life, death and the welfare of human beings. Next to the night of Qadr in the month of Ramadhan, it is the most auspicious night (also know as the night of Bara’a – freedom).

EVENTS OF THE MONTH OF SHA’BAN

3rd Birthday of Imam Husayn (pbuh)

4th Birthday of Hazrat Abbas (pbuh)

5th Birthday of Imam Ali Zaynul Abideen (pbuh)

15th Birthday of Imam Muhammad Al-Mahdi (pbuh)