Issue No: 85
8th July 2011
5th Sha'baan 1432 A.H.
Salamun alaykum,
Do you love the Holy Prophet?
On commencement of month of Sh’aban, Imam Ali Zaynul Abidin would gather his companions and address them saying, “O my companions, do you know which month this is? It is the month of Sha'ban about which the Holy Messenger used to say that it is dedicated to him. So keep fasts during this month for the love of your Prophet and to attain closeness to your Creator. By Allah in whose hands is my soul, I have heard from my father, Husayn bin Ali, that he had heard from Amirul Muminin, that whoever keeps fast during Sha’ban for the love of the Holy Prophet and to attain closeness to Allah SWT, will become a friend to Allah and on the Day of Judgment will be close to Allah by His grace and Paradise will be granted to him.”
Public Announcement:
“O people of Yathrib! I am the bearer of news from the Messenger of Allah. Know that Sh’aban is my month. May Allah have mercy upon one who supports me in this month.”
On sighting the crescent of month of Sh’aban, it was the practice of the holy prophet to arrange for this Announcement to be done in Madina.
By this announcement, the holy Prophet wished the people to be aware the month of Sha’ban was a month dedicated to him and Allah bestows His mercy on whosoever associates with him i.e. the prophet.
How can we respond to the call for support by the Holy Prophet?
From the teachings of Ahlul Bayt, one way of responding to this call is by observing fast in the month of Sh’aban.
Imam J’afar Sadiq reported that since hearing the announcement, Amirul Muminin Imam Ali bin Abi Talib never missed any fast during the month of Sh’aban.
It’s benefits:
“Whoever fasts on Mondays and Thursdays of Sh’aban, Allah will fulfill twenty of his worldly wishes and twenty of his wishes of the Hereafter”
Holy prophet s.a.w.w.
Keeping fast on Thursdays of the month of Sh’aban also carries great significance. It has been reported that the heavens are decorated each Thursday in the month of Sh’aban and the angels pray to Allah SWT to forgive all those who fast on that day and their prayers are accepted..
Let us prepare:
After Rajab, Sha'ban is the second month of 'Ibadah (worship) in order for us to make preparations for responding to the Divine banquet in the grand and majestic month of Holy Ramadhan - the month of Allah (SWT).
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat