In the Name of God, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate. Salaam dear listeners, and heartiest greetings to you all on the start of the blessed month of Sha’ban. It is the month which paves the way for molding our hearts for the advent of the fasting month of Ramadhan. It is the month in which we have the blessed birthday anniversary of the Martyr of Karbala, Imam Husain (AS), who taught human beings to live in dignity as free men. It is also the month on whose 15th the Saviour of mankind, Imam Mahdi (AS), the 12th and Last Successor of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), was born, and whose reappearance the world is eagerly waiting for to see the global government of peace, prosperity and justice. Here is an exclusive feature on this month.
Sha’ban is a month of great merits. It is associated with the Chief of the Messengers, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), who used to fast throughout this month. He used to say, “Sha’ban is my month, and whoever fasts a day of this month of mine will surely be admitted into paradise.” It is narrated from his 6th Infallible Heir, Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS) that with the setting in of the month of Sha’ban, the Prophet’s 4th Infallible Heir, Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS) used to call on his companions, telling them, “Friends, do you know what month this is? This is the month of Sha’ban, and the Prophet of Allah used to say, ‘Sha’ban is my month.’ So keep fasts in this month for the love of your Prophet and for the sake of attaining nearness to your Lord. By God, in whose hand is the life of Ali ibn al-Husain (AS), I have heard my father, Husain ibn Ali (AS), say that he heard the Commander of the Faithful – Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS) – say, “Whoever fasts in the month of Sha'ban for the love of the Prophet of Allah and for the sake of attaining nearness to God, is held dear by God, who brings him closer to Himself with His munificence and will admit him into paradise on Resurrection Day.” In a report cited by Safwan al-Jammaal, the transmitter, says, “Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS) said to me, ‘Urge those who are in your vicinity to fast in Sha’ban.’ I said to him, ‘May I be your ransom, do you have something in view concerning its merit?’ He said, ‘Whenever the Prophet of Allah used to sight the new moon of Sha’ban, he would send a caller to make this announcement around Medina: “O people of Medina! I am a messenger of the Prophet of Allah to you! The Prophet says, 'let it be known to all that Sha’ban is my month. May Allah’s mercy be upon those who help me in my month by fasting during it!” Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS) adds, ‘The Commander of the Faithful – Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS) – used to say, “I have not missed the fasts of Sha’ban from the time that I heard the Prophet’s messenger make the call in the month of Sha’ban, and, God willing, I will not miss them so long as I live!” He further said, “The fasting of the two months of Sha’ban and Ramadhan represents repentance (and forgiveness) from God.”
The observances of this hallowed month are of two kinds – the common observances, and the observances specific to particular days and nights. The best supplication during this month is “isteghfar” or seeking forgiveness in the Divine Court. We should say 70 times every day “Astaghfirullaha, wa as’aluhut-tawbah!” It means “I plead to Allah for forgiveness and beseech Him to accept my repentance!” One should also recite 70 times every day: “Astaghfirullah allazi la ilaha illa huwar-rahmanur raheem, al-hayyul qayyum, wa atubu ilayh!” It means: I plead for forgiveness to Allah, besides whom there is no god, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful, the Living One, the All-Sustainer, and I turn to him penitently!" Another highly recommended act during this month is to offer “sadaqa”, that is, charity, even if it be as little as half a date, so that God Almighty may spare one’s body from the fire of hell. It is reported that Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS) was asked what are the best of works during this month?” He replied: “To give charity and to make “istighfar”. Indeed whoever gives charity during Sha’ban, God Almighty makes it grow, like the way you rare the calf of your camel, and it is restored to its owner on the Day of Resurrection when it has grown to the size of the mountain of Uhud.” Another highly recommended act is to offer a two-rak’ah prayer on every Thursday of this month with Surat at-Tawhid recited 100 times after Surat al-Hamd, once, in each rak’ah, followed by invocation of Salawat 100 times after salaam. The report adds that God Almighty fulfils all needs pertaining to the world and the Hereafter of those who perform this observance. It is also meritorious to fast on this day, and a hadith states that the heavens are adorned every Thursday of the month of Sha’ban and the angels plead with God to forgive those who fast on it and to answer their supplications. It is mentioned in a hadith from the Prophet concerning those who fast on Mondays and Thursdays during the month of Sha’ban that God Almighty fulfils a score of their needs relating to the world and a score relating to the Hereafter. This day’s fast has much merits, and Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS) is reported to have said that someone who fasts on the first day of Sha’ban is certain to be admitted into paradise. Ibn Tawous cites a report from the Prophet of Allah which mentions a great reward for those who fast on the first three days of this month and offer during the nights preceding them, a 2-rak’ah prayer wherein Surat at-Tawhid is recited 11 times in each rak’ah after Surat al-Hamd.
In the book Kalimat at-Tayyibah, according to an authentic narration, once, on the first of Sha’ban, the Commander of the Faithful – Imam Ali (AS) – was passing by a group of people who were sitting in one of the mosques and were engaged in a debate concerning such matters as the problem of pre-destination and similar controversial issues. Their voices were raised as they debated hotly and wrangled in a vehement manner. The Imam stopped and greeted them. They answered his greeting and stood up reverently, asking him to join them. He declined their request, but he said to them: “O people who venture into matters that neither concern them nor are of any benefit to them! Don’t you know that there are servants of God who have been urged to maintain silence, not because they are incapable or dumb, but because of their trepidation? For indeed they are the most eloquent, intelligent and wise, who have knowledge of God. But when they remember the greatness of God, their tongues fail, their hearts cave in, their minds are perplexed, and their intellects are confused in front of God’s might, majesty and glory. When they recover from this state, they approach God by the means of pious deeds, counting themselves among wrongdoers and the erring, even though they are exempt from the faults of laxity and negligence. But they are not satisfied with their little service of God, nor do they regard as plenty the works they have done for the sake of God. They do not flaunt their works before Him, and whenever you see them you will find them overcast with sorrow and awe, fearful and apprehensive. “So where do you stand, O band of mavericks, in relation to them? Don’t you know that the most knowledgeable of people concerning predestination are those who are the most reticent concerning it, and that the most ignorant of people concerning predestination are those who are the most glib about it? O band of mavericks, today is the first day of the month of Sha’ban, named so by our Lord because of the ramification and branching forth of His blessings during it. To be sure, in it your Lord has flung open the gates of His paradise and presented to you the spectacle of its palaces and good things, attainable at the cheapest of prices, in exchange for the easiest of works, and yet you decline them. The accursed Satan too has presented to you the branches of his multifarious evils and afflictions, and you catch hold of the offshoots sent out by Satan, and turn away from the branches of good, whose gates have been laid open for you.
This is the first day of Sha’ban. The branches of its goods are prayer, fasting, zakat, bidding what is right and forbidding what is wrong, kindness towards parents, relatives, and neighbours, resolving conflicts between people, and giving charity to the needy and the poor. You burden yourself with a task of which you have been spared, and venture to probe Divine mysteries, an exercise from which you have been forbidden, as those who try to explore them perish. But if you come to know what our Lord, the Almighty and Glorious, has prepared on this day for His obedient servants, you will cut short what you have been engaged in and start doing what you have been told to do.” They said to him, “O commander of the Faithful, what is it that God has prepared for the obedient on this day?” He replied, “I will not recount for you anything except what I have heard from the Prophet of Allah. Once the Prophet of Allah dispatched a company of troops towards a people who were staunch infidels; the enemy made a sudden attack at night against Muslims. It was a pitch dark night and the Muslims were fast asleep. No one among them was awake that night except four: Zayd bin Harethah, Abdullah bin Rawahah, Qatadah bin Nu’man and Qays bin Asim Minqari. Each of them was engaged in prayer and reciting the Qur’an at one of the sides of the camp. The enemy rained arrows on the Muslims who could not shield themselves from the assailants, as they did not see because of the darkness. Such was their predicament when they suddenly saw lights burst forth from the visages of these four men, which illuminated the battlefield for the Muslim warriors. This gave them strength and morale. Pulling out their swords, they gave a good fight, killing the attackers, wounding some them and taking others captive. “On their return when they related the incident for the Prophet he told them that those lights came from certain acts of their brothers performed on the first day of Sha’ban. Then he described the acts that each one them had performed.
“Thereafter he (the Prophet) said, ‘When the first day of Sha’ban arrives, Satan spreads out his troops throughout the corners of the earth and its horizons, asking them to try to attract some of God’s servants toward themselves. Indeed God Almighty and Glorious also scatters his angels throughout the earth’s quarters and horizons, telling them ‘Guide My servants and show them the right way, whereat all of them will attain felicity through you, except such of them as refuse and are arrogant and rebellious. They join the party of Satan and enter his hosts. “When the first day of Sha’ban comes, God, Almighty and Glorious, commands the gates of paradise, whereat they open, and He commands the Tree of Tuba, whereat it sends forth its branches all over this world. Thereat a herald of our Lord, Almighty and Glorious, calls out: “O servants of God! These are the branches of the Tree of Tuba! So catch hold of them so that they may lift you up toward paradise. And those are the branches of the Tree of Zaqqum! Beware of them! Let them not draw you toward hell!” The Prophet of Allah said, ‘By Him who sent me as a prophet with the truth! Whoever approaches one of the doors of goodness and piety on this day, hangs on to one of the branches of the Tree of Tuba, whereat it takes him up toward paradise. And whoever approaches one of the doors of evil on this day, hangs on to one of the branches of the Tree of Zaqqum, which draw him toward hell.’
“The Prophet of Allah then said, ‘Whoever performs supererogatory prayers on this day for the sake of God catches hold of one of its branches. Whoever fasts on this day, clings to one of the branches. On this day, whoever, makes peace between a husband and wife, father and son, or between two of his relatives or neighbours, or between two strangers is one who clings to one of the branches. Whoever shows lenience toward his debtor in straits or forgoes part of his debt, is one who clings to its one of its branches. Also someone who on reviewing his accounts sees that he owes an old debt to someone who has lost hope of reclaiming it, and repays his debt, is one who clings to one of the branches. Whoever assumes charge of an orphan’s care on this day is one who clings to one of the branches. Whoever restrains a fool from compromising the honour of a faithful person is one who clings to one of the branches. Whoever recites the Qur’an or part of it therein is one who clings to one of the branches. Someone who remembers God and His blessings and gives thanks for them is one who clings to one of the branches. Someone who visits a sick person is one who clings to one of the branches. Someone who accompanies a funeral procession is one who clings to one of the branches. Someone who condoles with the bereaved victim of a tragedy on this day is one who clings to one of the branches. Someone who does an act of kindness for his parents is one who clings to one of the branches. Someone who obtains the satisfaction of his parents after they had been displeased with him earlier is one who clings to one of the branches. Similarly, someone who performs any of the various kinds of good on this day is one who hangs on to one of the branches of Tuba.’
Then the Prophet of Allah added, ‘By Him who sent me as a prophet with the truth! Whoever approaches one of the doors of evil and disobedience to God on this day, hangs on to one of the branches of the Tree of Zaqqqum, whereat it draws him toward hell.” Then he said, ‘By Him who sent me as a prophet with the truth! Whoever is negligent of his obligatory prayers on this day and misses them is one who clings to one of its branches. Whoever misses a fast that was obligatory on him on this day is one who clings to one of its branches. Someone who is approached on this day by a weak and indigent person whose wretched condition he knows and he is able to change it without suffering any harm, and there is no one else who may help him and act in his stead, and were he to leave him to languish and perish and fail to give him a helping hand, then he is one who clings to one of the branches of the Zaqqum Tree. Whoever that does not accept the apology of someone who has done him a wrong and instead of keeping the punishment of the offender within the limits of his offense transgresses those limits, he is one who clings to one of the branches of the Zaqqum Tree. Whoever that creates ill feeling between a husband and wife, a father and son, two brothers, two relatives, two neighbours, two friends or two strangers is one who clings to one of its branches. Whoever presses his demand hardly and harshly against someone in a pinch, knowing his predicament, thus adding to his distress and affliction, is one who clings to one of the branches.
Whoever denies a debt that he owes and transgresses against his creditor forcing him to forgo his claim, such a one clings to one of the branches. Whoever mistreats an orphan, torments him or unjustly appropriates his property, is one who clings to one of the branches; whoever that compromises the honour of his brother-in-faith and prompts other people to do so, is the one who clings to one of the branches of the Tree. Whoever that engages in unlawful singing on this day that prompts sinful actions, is one who clings to one of the branches of the Zaqqum Tree; whoever that sits and recounts his ugly deeds in a confrontation or his wrongful actions against God’s servants and boasts about them, he is one who clings to one of that tree’s branches. Someone who has sick a neighbour and he does not pay him a visit due to making light of his rights, such a person is one who clings to one of the branches of the tree. Whoever that fails to take part in the funeral of his neighbour for not giving significance to him is one who clings to one of the branches. Whoever is undutiful toward his parents or one of them is one who clings to one of the branches. Also someone who has been undutiful toward his parents and in spite of being able to make them pleased with him again on this day, does not do so, in one who has caught hold of one of the branches. Similarly, whoever that commits any of the various kinds of evils on this day is one who clings to one of the branches of the Zaqqum Tree.
source : irib
