The month of Sha‘ban is considered one of the blessed months in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar. It is the eighth month, coming between Rajab, the sacred month, and Ramadan, the month of fasting. Sha‘ban holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims due to its great virtue and its important role in spiritual preparation for welcoming the blessed month of Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ used to honor this month and increase his acts of worship during it, which reflects its value and importance in Islam.
One of the most notable virtues of Sha‘ban is that the deeds of people are raised to Allah Almighty during this month, as mentioned in the noble Hadith. For this reason, the Prophet ﷺ was keen to fast during it and said: “That is a month people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan.” This encourages Muslims to make good use of this month by increasing acts of worship and avoiding heedlessness, turning it into a season of obedience and closeness to Allah.
Fasting is considered one of the greatest acts of worship in Sha‘ban, as it has been authentically reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to fast most of it. This serves as training for the soul and preparation of the body for fasting in Ramadan. It is also recommended during this month to increase the recitation of the Noble Qur’an, remembrance of Allah, seeking forgiveness, giving charity, maintaining family ties, and sincere repentance from sins and misdeeds.
Moreover, Sha‘ban is an opportunity for self-reflection and correcting one’s path, abandoning bad habits, and renewing intentions, so that the Muslim enters Ramadan with a pure heart and a tranquil soul. The righteous predecessors used to call it “the Month of the Reciters” because of their intense engagement with Qur’anic recitation and preparation for the month of fasting.
In conclusion, Sha‘ban is not merely a passing stage in the Hijri year; rather, it is a spiritual bridge that connects the Muslim to Ramadan and a station for gathering provisions of worship and renewing faith. Blessed, indeed, is the one who takes advantage of it, invests it well, and makes it a means of drawing closer to Allah and attaining His pleasure.
يُعَدُّ شَهْرُ شَعْبَانَ مِنَ الأَشْهُرِ المُبَارَكَةِ فِي التَّقْوِيمِ الهِجْرِيِّ، وَهُوَ الشَّهْرُ الثَّامِنُ الَّذِي يَأْتِي بَيْنَ شَهْرِ رَجَبٍ المُحَرَّمِ وَرَمَضَانَ شَهْرِ الصِّيَامِ، وَيَحْمِلُ مَكَانَةً خَاصَّةً فِي قُلُوبِ المُسْلِمِينَ لِمَا لَهُ مِنْ فَضْلٍ عَظِيمٍ وَدَوْرٍ مُهِمٍّ فِي التَّهْيِئَةِ الرُّوحِيَّةِ لِاسْتِقْبَالِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ المُبَارَكِ. وَقَدْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعَظِّمُ هَذَا الشَّهْرَ وَيُكْثِرُ فِيهِ مِنَ الطَّاعَاتِ، مِمَّا يَدُلُّ عَلَى قِيمَتِهِ وَأَهَمِّيَّتِهِ فِي الإِسْلَامِ.
وَمِنْ أَبْرَزِ فَضَائِلِ شَهْرِ شَعْبَانَ أَنَّ الأَعْمَالَ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ إِلَى اللهِ تَعَالَى، كَمَا وَرَدَ فِي الحَدِيثِ الشَّرِيفِ، وَلِذَلِكَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَحْرِصُ عَلَى الصِّيَامِ فِيهِ، وَيَقُولُ: «ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبَ وَرَمَضَانَ». وَهَذَا يَدْعُو المُسْلِمَ إِلَى اسْتِثْمَارِ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ بِالإِكْثَارِ مِنَ العِبَادَاتِ، وَعَدَمِ الغَفْلَةِ عَنْهُ، بَلْ جَعْلِهِ مَوْسِمًا لِلطَّاعَةِ وَالقُرْبِ مِنَ اللهِ.
وَيُعَدُّ الصِّيَامُ مِنْ أَعْظَمِ الأَعْمَالِ فِي شَعْبَانَ، فَقَدْ ثَبَتَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ يَصُومُ أَكْثَرَهُ، وَذَلِكَ تَدْرِيبٌ لِلنَّفْسِ وَتَهْيِئَةٌ لِلْجَسَدِ عَلَى صِيَامِ رَمَضَانَ. كَمَا يُسْتَحَبُّ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ الإِكْثَارُ مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ القُرْآنِ الكَرِيمِ، وَالذِّكْرِ، وَالاسْتِغْفَارِ، وَالصَّدَقَةِ، وَصِلَةِ الأَرْحَامِ، وَالتَّوْبَةِ الصَّادِقَةِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ وَالمَعَاصِي.
كَمَا أَنَّ شَهْرَ شَعْبَانَ فُرْصَةٌ لِمُرَاجَعَةِ النَّفْسِ وَتَصْحِيحِ المَسَارِ، وَالتَّخَلُّصِ مِنَ العَادَاتِ السَّيِّئَةِ، وَتَجْدِيدِ النِّيَّةِ، حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ المُسْلِمُ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ بِقَلْبٍ صَافٍ وَنَفْسٍ مُطْمَئِنَّةٍ. وَقَدْ كَانَ السَّلَفُ الصَّالِحُ يُسَمُّونَهُ «شَهْرَ القُرَّاءِ» لِكَثْرَةِ انْشِغَالِهِمْ فِيهِ بِتِلَاوَةِ القُرْآنِ وَالاسْتِعْدَادِ لِشَهْرِ الصِّيَامِ.
خِتَامًا، فَإِنَّ شَهْرَ شَعْبَانَ لَيْسَ مُجَرَّدَ مَرْحَلَةٍ عَابِرَةٍ فِي السَّنَةِ الهِجْرِيَّةِ، بَلْ هُوَ جِسْرٌ إِيمَانِيٌّ يَصِلُ المُسْلِمَ بِرَمَضَانَ، وَمَحَطَّةٌ لِلتَّزَوُّدِ بِالطَّاعَاتِ وَتَجْدِيدِ الإِيمَانِ. فَطُوبَى لِمَنْ اغْتَنَمَهُ، وَأَحْسَنَ اسْتِثْمَارَهُ، وَجَعَلَهُ سَبَبًا لِلقُرْبِ مِنَ اللهِ وَالفَوْزِ بِرِضَاهُ.
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