Bismi llāh, wa l-ḥamdu lillāh, wa ṣ-ṣalātu wa s-salāmu ‘alā rasuli llāh, wa ‘alā ālihī wa ṣaḥbihī wa man wālāh
The month of Sha‘bān is a month during which fasting (ṣawm) is recommended. The Prophet ﷺ was reported to have fasted most of this month.
Imām al-Nasā’ī and Imām Abū Dāwūd narrate that Usāmah ibn Zayd (raḍiya llāhu ‘anhu) said: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allāh, I do not see you fasting in any month more than in Sha‘bān.’ He said, ‘That is a month concerning which many people are heedless, between Rajab and Ramaḍān. It is the month in which people's deeds are taken up to the Lord of the Worlds, and I would like my deeds to be taken up whilst I am fasting.’”
Imām Muslim narrates that ‘Ā’ishah (raḍiya llāhu ‘anhā) said: “He ﷺ used to fast all of Sha‘bān; he used to fast Sha‘bān except a few days.”
Imām al-Nawawī said regarding this ḥadīth: “In the words, 'He used to fast all of Sha‘bān; he used to fast Sha‘bān except a few days', the second phrase explains the first, and indicates that the word 'all' means 'most of'.”
If one cannot fast most of the month, one should fast at least three days of the month, preferably the 13th, 14th and 15th days of the month. This applies to every lunar month.
‘Abdu llāh ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Āṣ (raḍiya llāhu ‘anhu) said: “The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said to me: ‘It is sufficient for you to fast three days every month, because for every good deed you will have [the reward of] ten like it, so that will be like fasting for a lifetime.‘” (Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim)
This is as fasting three days is equivalent in reward to fasting 30 days, so if one were to fast three days of each month and do so for every month, it would be like fasting for a lifetime.
The scholars mention that fasting in Sha‘bān before Ramaḍān resembles praying the supererogatory prayers before the obligatory prayer, while fasting in Shawwāl after Ramaḍān resembles praying the supererogatory prayers after the obligatory prayer. Performing supererogatory actions makes up for any deficiencies in the obligatory actions that we have performed.
And Allāh Knows Best. And With Him is Ultimate Success.
The month of Sha‘bān is a month during which fasting (ṣawm) is recommended. The Prophet ﷺ was reported to have fasted most of this month.
Imām al-Nasā’ī and Imām Abū Dāwūd narrate that Usāmah ibn Zayd (raḍiya llāhu ‘anhu) said: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allāh, I do not see you fasting in any month more than in Sha‘bān.’ He said, ‘That is a month concerning which many people are heedless, between Rajab and Ramaḍān. It is the month in which people's deeds are taken up to the Lord of the Worlds, and I would like my deeds to be taken up whilst I am fasting.’”
Imām Muslim narrates that ‘Ā’ishah (raḍiya llāhu ‘anhā) said: “He ﷺ used to fast all of Sha‘bān; he used to fast Sha‘bān except a few days.”
Imām al-Nawawī said regarding this ḥadīth: “In the words, 'He used to fast all of Sha‘bān; he used to fast Sha‘bān except a few days', the second phrase explains the first, and indicates that the word 'all' means 'most of'.”
If one cannot fast most of the month, one should fast at least three days of the month, preferably the 13th, 14th and 15th days of the month. This applies to every lunar month.
‘Abdu llāh ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Āṣ (raḍiya llāhu ‘anhu) said: “The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said to me: ‘It is sufficient for you to fast three days every month, because for every good deed you will have [the reward of] ten like it, so that will be like fasting for a lifetime.‘” (Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim)
This is as fasting three days is equivalent in reward to fasting 30 days, so if one were to fast three days of each month and do so for every month, it would be like fasting for a lifetime.
The scholars mention that fasting in Sha‘bān before Ramaḍān resembles praying the supererogatory prayers before the obligatory prayer, while fasting in Shawwāl after Ramaḍān resembles praying the supererogatory prayers after the obligatory prayer. Performing supererogatory actions makes up for any deficiencies in the obligatory actions that we have performed.
And Allāh Knows Best. And With Him is Ultimate Success.
Asalam wa alaikom, why the 13th 14th and 15th?
ReplyDeleteWa `alaykumu s-salamu wa rahmatu Llahi wa barakatuh
ReplyDeleteThe 13th, 14th and 15th are known as "The White Days" (ayyâm al-bîD), so-called because the moon is the brightest on the nights of these days. As for fasting them, `Â'ishah was once asked on which three days the Prophet ﷺ would fast. She replied that he did not mind which three days of the month he fasted on (Muslim). However, there are several sound narrations indicating that the Prophet ﷺ preferred fasting on the Bright Days. E.g. Ibn `Abbas reported: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ never used to break his [practice of] fasting on the White Days, whether at home or on a journey" (an-Nasa'i). And it was narrated that Abu Dharr said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: 'If you fast any part of the month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth'" (at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasa'i).
And Allah knows best.