Sha’baan: the annual closing of our action accounts

Our mission during this life is to fill our days and nights with good actions. Allah Ta`ala has prescribed us to perform good actions because He Himself will take account of our actions. Allah Ta`ala says: ‘’And say: Do good deeds. As Allah will see your actions, and also His prophet and the faithful ones.’’(9:105)

Allah Ta`ala will definitely verify our actions, to the least details: ‘’So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it.’’(99:7-8)

Definitely the account taking on the Day of Judgement will be final. But because our conditions in this world depends upon our actions, then Allah Ta`ala take into account our actions also.

Allah Ta`ala verify our actions twice weekly and also one main annual account taking.

*Reported in Muslim Shareef that the beloved prophet SAW said: ‘’Actions are presented every Mondays and Thurdays. And I prefer to be fasting while my actions are presented.’’(Muslim)*So it is sunnah to be fasting while actions are presented to Allah Ta`ala.

عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ تُعْرَضُ أَعْمَالُ النَّاسِ فِي كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ مَرَّتَيْنِ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ فَيُغْفَرُ لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُؤْمِنٍ إِلَّا عَبْدًا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ أَخِيهِ شَحْنَاءُ فَيُقَالُ اتْرُكُوا أَوْ ارْكُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَفِيئَا مسلم

And we have also actions being presented to Allah Ta`ala annually: Reported in Nassai that once Usamah bin Zaid r.a. asked the beloved prophète SAW *the reason of his excessive fasting during the month of Sha`baan compared to other months. The beloved prophet SAW answered: ‘’This month of Sha`baan between Rajab and Ramadhaan is a month that people neglect. And yet (Sha`baan) is the month when the actions are presented in front of the Lord of the universe. And I prefer that my actions are presented while I am fasting.’’(Nassai)*

حدثني أسامة بن زيد قال قلت يا رسول الله لم أرك تصوم من شهر من الشهور ما تصوم من شعبان قال ذلك شهر يغفل الناس عنه بين رجب ورمضان وهو شهر ترفع فيه الاعمال إلى رب العالمين فأحب أن يرفع عملي وأنا صائم سنن النسائي

This is the reason why the beloved prophet SAW fasted almost the whole month of Sha`baan and also Mondays and Thurdays.

*The fasting of Sha`baan:*

Hazrat Aisha r.a. says : “ I had some fasts due on my account(from last Ramadhaan) and I had to be at the service of the prophet SAW whole year, that I could only replace them during the month of Sha`baan.” (Bukhari).

So those girls and ladies that have fasts on their account due to their menses, then do replace your fasts before your accounts close, that is during the month of Sha`baan, before the coming Ramadhaan.

Umme Salmah r.a. says that the beloved prophet SAW did not fast any month wholly except Sha`baan….’’(Abu Dawood)

عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا حَدَّثَتْهُ قَالَتْ لَمْ يَكُنْ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ شَهْرًا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ كُلَّهُ

Hazrat Aisha r.a. says that I have not seen the beloved prophet SAW fasting a month more than he used to fast during the month of Sha`baan. For he used to fast during the whole month.’’ Bukhari

Still hazrat Aisha r.a. says that I have not seen the beloved prophet SAW completing a full month of fasting except Ramadhaan and I have not seen him fast so much as in the month of Sha`baan.’’(Bukhari)

So every day of the month of Sha`baan is a fasting day except 2 days before Ramadhaan.(Muslim; Ibn Majah)

However if you would feel tired before Ramadhaan fasts, then fast only until mid of Sha`baan(Ibn Majah).
And fast maximum according to your capacity and health. And know that fasts of Sha`baan are sunnah. Leaving them is not a sin. But the coming Ramadhaan fasts are Farz and obligatory and leaving them without a valid reason is a very grave sinful act.

Finally be in istighfaar and concern as our actions are presented during the month of Sha`baan.

Mufti Mackoojee