Ramadan and the Month Before
Presented hereunder are a few selected traditions of the Prophet wherein he has dwelt upon the importance of the months of Sha’ban and Ramadan in the Islamic calendar.
1. Aishah (ra) said: “The Messenger (saws) used to fast until we thought he would never break his fast, and he would not fast until we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allah (saws) fasting for an entire month except in Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more than he did in Sha’baan.”
– Sahih Bukhari
2. When Allah’s Messenger (saws) was asked, why he fasted so abundantly in the month of Sha’baan, he said: ‘(Sha’baan) is a month to which people do not pay attention, between Rajab and Ramadan, and it is a month in which deeds are lifted up to the Lord of the worlds. I like for my deeds to be lifted up when I am fasting.’
– an-Nisa’ee, see Saheeh al-Targheebwa’l-Tarheeb, p. 425
3. Allah’s Messenger (saws) said: “On the 15th night of Sha’baan, Allah, the Exalted, looks upon His slaves (with Mercy) and forgives everybody except the disbeliever and he, who holds malice for anybody.”
– Bayhaqee, IbnHibban and Tabaranee
4. Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Start fasting on seeing the crescent (of Ramadan), and give up fasting on seeing the crescent (of Shawwal), and if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see it), complete thirty days of Sha’ban.”
– Sahih Bukhari
5. Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: “The Prophet was the most generous amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel visited him, and Gabriel used to meet him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month. The Prophet used to recite the Holy Qur’an to Gabriel, and when Gabriel met him, he used to be more generous than a fast wind (which causes rain and welfare).”
– Sahih Bukhari
6. Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah (swt) is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)”
– Sahih Bukhari
7. Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “Allah said, ‘All the deeds of Adam’s sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.’ Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, ‘I am fasting.’ By Him in Whose Hands my soul is’ The unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah (swt) than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting.”
– Sahih Bukhari
