The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down,
a guidance for the people, and clear verses of guidance and criterion.
[Quran: Chapter 2:183]

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Monday, July 12, 2010

Fasting in Shaban

Preparing for Ramadan 2010: Fasting in Shaban



Sha’baan is the name of the eighth month in the Islamic calendar. The month of Sha'baan in the Islamic calendar begins on July 13, 2010 on the Gregorian calendar.

Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallamhas on Sha'baan

“That 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.”

It is narrated in Abi Dawud that Sha’baan was the month the Prophet loved to fast in the most, outside of the obligatory fasting during the month of Ramadan.

The Prophet sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (SAW) told us to avoid fasting the last one or two days of Sha’bān. This comes to us from a Hadith reported in Bukhari and Muslim. Some say this is to kind of prepare for the month ahead of 30 days of straight fasting.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had said that during the night of 15th Shaaban the Almighty Allah (SWT) takes decisions in the matters of sustenance, life and death and welfare of the people.

Next to the "Night of Qadr" the night of 15th Shaban, Lailatul Barat is the most auspicious night (also known as Shab-e-Barat or Night of Baraat). According to Imam Muhammad bin Ali Al-Baqir (as) and Imam Ja'far bin Muhammad As Sadiq (as), the Almighty Allah (SWT) has promised to fulfill every legitimate desire put forward to Him tonight.

Night of Bara'ah or Lailatul Barat is a night in which special blessings are directed towards the Muslims as mentioned earlier. Therefore, this night should be spent in total submission to Almighty Allah (SWT), and one should refrain from all those activities, which may displease Allah (SWT).

In order to observe the Night of Bara'ah or Shab-e-Barat, one should remain awakened in this night as much as he can. If someone has better opportunities, he should spend the whole night in worship and prayer. However, if one cannot do so for one reason or another, he can select a considerable portion of the night, preferably of the second half of it for this purpose.

Recommended Fasts for the Islamic Lunar month of Sha'ban

1st, 2nd and 3rd of Sha'baan: 13 July, 14 July and 15 July 2010

and/or

1st Thursday, Mid-Wednesday and last Thursday of Sha'baan: 15 July, 28 July, 5 August 2010

and/or

13th, 14th and 15th of Shabaan: 25, 26 and 27 July 2010

or

Any Thursday, Friday and Saturday of Shaban

or

The last three days of Shaban to connect with the Holy month of Ramadan

Islamic Calendar 2010


Recommended: Articles on Preparing for Ramadan

Basic Facts on Ramadan

Setting Goals and Planning

The Importance of the Month of Shaban

Video Series: Preparing for Ramadan

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Special Ramadan Series

Dear Reader, Assalaamu’alaikum.

Ramadan Mubarak. We wish you a blessed and productive Ramadan! Make no mistake about it - keeping the fast and increasing our acts of worship during this blessed month is not an easy task. The physical demands of balancing work or school with fasting all day, feeling fatigued and less effective than you normally are, waking up for Suhoor, praying Teraweeh and Tahajjud prayers, dealing with sleep deficits.

But the last thing we would want is to let Ramadan pass us by without doing all that we aim and desire to. Do not allow yourself to feel guilty or regretful when Ramadan passes.

The Ramadan Series will send you emails with practical tips on how to gain and maintain the physical and spiritual energy necessary to embark on increased religious oligations so that you will reap the benefits from this blessed month. This includes special Ramadan duas to say during the month. Do sign-up today!

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