The Prophet (PBUH) said,
“Through out your lives, Allah’s grants are many; so, take as many as
you can and do not away from them.”
Allah has honored certain times by his grants and paved
ways that lead to his incomparable mercy and satisfaction. Sha’ban,
which is a month glorified by Prophet Mohamad
(PBUH) is one of these times. Whenever he used to see the crescent of
Sha’ban, he ordered someone to call in Madinah, “O Ye People of Yathreb!
I am the Messenger of Allah to you. Sha’ban is my month. May Allah have
mercy on those who assist me on my month.” The question then is, how do
we assist The Prophet (PBUH) on his month?
Imam Ali (PBUH), the Prince of
Believers, that the month of Sha’ban was named so due to the
ramifications of good in it and that Allah “…opened the doors of His
paradise in it and offered its palaces and good to you at the cheapest
of prices and the easiest of ways, so buy them”.
From the steps of the Prince of Believers
(PBUH), we understand how we help the Prophet
(PBUH) on the month of Sha’ban and how to receive the month’s
blessings and good. Some of these blessing and good are as follows:
1. Fasting
Imam Ali (PBUH) said, “I have
never missed the fasting of the entire month of Sha’ban ever since I
heard that caller in Sha’ban.”
Imam Jaafar Al Sadek also says, “Fasting in Sha’ban is an
asset for every believer in the Day of Judgment. Any worshiper who fasts
a lot in Sha’ban, Allah shall surely mend his living, pass up the evil
of his enemies, and his minimum reward shall be paradise.”
2. Private Prayers (Du’a)
The communion and soliloquizing in Sha’ban is that great
grace of the blessings of the descendants of Prophet Mohamad
(PBUH) which was underscored to be repeated by Imam Khomeini due
to its numerous graces and meanings. Among the most likely preferable
Du’a in Sha’ban is to say the following at every day’s noon, “Prayers Be
Upon Mohamad and his descendants, the tree of prophecy…”
3. Prayers
Many prayers are likely preferable to be conducted and
it is said that the reward of such prayers is to answer each of their
requests, whether in life or religion.
4. Asking for Forgiveness
Imam Al Rida says, “Anyone who asks Allah for
forgiveness for one time in Sha’ban, Allah shall forgive him his sins
even if they were as abundant as the stars.”
5. Charity (Sadaqah)
The Prophet (PBUH) says,
“Whoever practices charity in Sha’ban, Allah shall raise it as you raise
your children until it is rewarded in the Judgment Day.”
6. Commemorating the Night of Mid
Sha’ban
It is a very noble and honorable night and was said to
be the second holiest after the Night of Power. This night was further
honored by the birth of the Al Imam Al Hoja Ben Al Hassan, the Awaited
Mahdi(PBUH), at its morning.
7. Commemorating Special Occasions
a. Birth of Imam Al
Hussein (PBUH) on the THIRD day of Sha’ban,
which is also the Guard Day.
b. Birth of Aba Al Fadl
Al Abbas (PBUH) on the FOURTH day of Sha’ban,
which is also the Wounded Day.
c. Birth of Imam Zein Al
Abidin (PBUH) in the FIFTH day of Sha’ban,
which is also the Ditainee’s Day.
d. Birth of Al Imam Al
Hoja Ben Al Hassan, the Awaited Mahdi (PBUH),
in the FIFTEENTH day of Sha’ban, which is also the Depressed Day.
In such occasions, ties with Ahl Al Bait (Prophet’s
Descendants (PBUT)) must be strengthened, in
particularly with Al Imam Al Hoja Ben Al Hassan, the Awaited Mahdi
(PBUH), and we must also express and show happiness and joy and
decorations so we can get the grace of their call: “May Allah have mercy
on those who commemorate us”.
Eventually, Praise be to Allah, the
Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds.