Fast in Sha’ban In Honor of Ramadan
How often have we entered upon the month of Ramadan and felt
as though our bodies required a week or so to adjust to the long days of fasting?
Perhaps for the first few days, we feel extremely exhausted and unable to be as
spiritually productive as we would like to be due to feelings of fatigue and
weakness. We feel this way because our bodies are not physically used to
partaking in consistent fasts throughout the year. However, we are blessed with
the beautiful month of Sha’ban in which our Prophet, peace be upon him, advised
us to increase in fasting during the first half of this month in honor of
Ramadan.
Sha’ban is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar,
immediately preceding the month of Ramadan. We tend to overlook the importance
of fasting during this month due to the anticipation of Ramadan. However, it is
the sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him, to engage in nafal fasts during
this blessed month.
A’isha
(Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not observe fast in
any month of the year more than in the month of Sha’ban. [Muslim]
Sha’ban is the ideal time to partake in the nafal fasts, as
well as make up any missed obligatory fasts from the previous Ramadan. However,
we are advised to refrain from fasting during the second half of Sha’ban if we
do not have a regular habit of fasting. This is to ensure that we do not feel
burnt out by the time we enter upon the month of Ramadan.
“Do not anticipate Ramadan
by fasting one or two days before it begins, but if a man habitually fasts,
then let him fast.” [Bukhari]
Additionally, the physical benefits of training our bodies early
on is a method that ensures we will make the most out of our Ramadan, without
wasting any time physically adjusting to the act of fasting.
Many Allah accept our fasts during this blessed month of
Sha’ban and allow us to see the month of Ramadan.
