Bulan Sya‘ban: Bulan Persiapan Menuju Ramadhan

The month of Sha'ban is one of the sacred months in the Hijri calendar and holds special significance in Islam. This month lies between the two sacred months of Rajab and Ramadan. Because it lies between the two, Sha'ban often receives less attention, yet the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) highly revered this month and considered it a time of spiritual preparation before entering Ramadan.

The virtues of the month of Sha'ban

Rasulullah SAW paid great attention to the month of Sha'ban. In a hadith narrated by Imam an-Nasa'i, 

عَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، لَمْ أَرَكَ تَصُومُ شَهْرًا مِنَ الشُّهُورِ مَا تَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ

فَقَالَ ﷺ: ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبٍ وَرَمَضَانَ، وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الْأَعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ (رواه النسائي)

Usamah bin Zaid, may Allah be pleased with him, asked: "O Messenger of Allah, I have not seen you fast in any month as much as you fast in the month of Sha'ban." He said: "It is a month that is often neglected by humans, between Rajab and Ramadhan. This month is the month when good deeds are given to the Lord of the worlds, and I want my good deeds to be lifted while I am fasting." (HR. An-Nasa'i) This hadith shows that Sha'ban is the month of charity, so it is highly recommended for Muslims to increase their worship and good deeds.

Night of Nisfu Sha'ban

One of the important events in this month is the night of Nisfu Sha'ban (middle of the month of Sha'ban). Many scholars mention the virtues of this night based on hadith, including:

عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ

يَطَّلِعُ اللَّهُ إِلَى جَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ لَيْلَةَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ، فَيَغْفِرُ لِجَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ إِلَّا لِمُشْرِكٍ أَوْ مُشَاحِنٍ

(رواه ابن ماجه)

"Indeed, Allah looked at all His creatures on the night of Nisfu Sha'ban, then He forgave all His creatures except idolatrous people and hostile people.” (HR. Ibn Majah) Scholars such as Imam ash-Syafi'i, Imam al-Auza'i, and some Salaf scholars recommend enlivening the night of Nisfu Sha'ban with worship, such as prayer and istighfar, without believing in the existence of special obligatory worship or sunnah sukakadah in congregation.

Recommended Practices in the Month of Sha'ban

Some practices that are recommended to be increased in the month of Sha'ban include:
1. Sunnah fasting Rasulullah SAW increased his fasting in the month of Sha'ban, except for the few days before Ramadan for those who were worried about weakening themselves
2. Increase Istighfar and Prayer The month of Sha'ban is the right time to cleanse the heart and ask Allah for forgiveness
3. Reading the Quran The early scholars referred to Sha'ban as the month of the Quran readers (syahrul qurra') because they began to increase their recitation of the Quran as preparation for Ramadan
4. Improving Social Relationships because Allah's forgiveness is not given to those who are hostile
Sha'ban is a time to improve relationships and cleanse the heart of envy and hatred. The month of Sha'ban is a month of spiritual preparation before entering the madrasah of Ramadan. By increasing our worship, improving our morals, and purifying our hearts, we hope to welcome Ramadan with a more prepared soul and better deeds. May Allah grant us the guidance to make the most of the month of Sha'ban. And Allah knows best. 

Author: Ust. Burhanuddin