Is it recommended to fast frequently in the month of Sha’ban?

The month of Sha’ban is one of the months to which Allah Almighty has given special distinction. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast frequently during this month, as it is during Sha’ban that deeds are raised to Allah Almighty. Accordingly, it is recommended for Muslims to observe frequent fasts during this month, in emulation of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). There is no limit to the number of days on which one may fast during the month; whoever wishes to fast throughout the entire month may do so without blame.

 

The virtue and status of the month of Sha’ban

Allah Almighty created time and place, and He bestowed greater distinction upon some than others throughout the ages and eras. Among the months, Allah Almighty gave precedence to Ramadan; and among the days, He favored the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah and the six days from Shawwal; and among the nights, He gave particular distinction to Laylut al-Qadr, the Night of Power, and the eve of mid-Sha’ban.

Islamic law encourages Muslims to give special attention to these months and days, and to observe them through various acts of worship due to the great virtue, benevolence, divine favor, and honor they contain. Allah Almighty has called attention to their significance saying, “… and remind them of the days of Allah” (Quran, 14:5). The command to seek the blessings of those times is present in the hadith of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) who quotes the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying, “Seek out the blessings of Allah throughout the days of your life, for Allah has occasions of grace and mercy. Perhaps one of them may reach you, and you will never be afflicted with hardship  after that” (recorded by Imam al-Dulabi in Al-Kuna wal Asamaa’).

 

Sha’ban is among the months that Allah Almighty has honored with an elevated rank and distinguished status. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) would devote many of its days to fasting, as deeds are raised during this month. Usamah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with them both) said, “O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as you fast during Shaʿban.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “It is a month people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the worlds, and I like for my deeds to be raised while I am fasting” (recorded by Imams Ahmad and al-Nasaʾi).

 

Fasting in abundance during Sha’ban

The majority of scholars from among the Hanafis, Malikis, Shafi’is and some Hanbalis are of the view that it is recommended to fast frequently in the month of Sha’ban. However, according to the Shafi’is, a person who has neither a habitual practice of fasting nor a reason to do so should not fast after the middle of the month. Those who habitually fast, who began fasting before the middle of the month and continued afterward, or who fast after the middle of the month for a valid reason, such as to make up a missed fast or to fulfill a vow, are not subject to this restriction.

The recommendation to increase fasting in the month of Sha’ban stems from the aforementioned hadith and from the hadith of Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) who said, “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would fast to the point that we would say he will never break his fast, and he would refrain from fasting to the point that we would say he will never fast. I did not see the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) complete an entire month of fasting except for Ramadan, and I did not see him fast more voluntary fasts than in the month of Sha’ban” (recorded by Bukhari with this wording, and by Muslim). She also narrated, “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would fast more during Shaʿban than in any other month, he would fast the entire month” (recorded by Bukhari). What is meant by “he would fast the entire month [of Sha’ban]” is that he would fast most of it. Imam al-Damiri explains in Al-Najm al-Wahhaj (3:365) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) never fasted an entire month other than Ramadan. This is further supported by the narration recorded by Imam Muslim that states, “He would fast Shaʿban except for a few days.”

 

Fasting the entire month of Sha’ban

There is no limit to the number of days on which one may fast during Sha’ban. Accordingly, there is no harm if one wishes to fast for the entire month due to the generality of the evidence on the recommendation to increase fasting during Sha’ban for those who are able to.[1] This does not contradict the reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not complete an entire month of fasting except for Ramadan and that he would fast Sha’ban except for a few days. The narrations mentioned here may be reconciled by understanding that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes fast the entire month and sometimes fast most of it so that it would not be assumed that fasting the entire month was obligatory, as is the case with Ramadan.[2]

Similarly, fasting the entire month of Sha’ban does not conflict with the hadith of Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “When Sha’ban reaches the middle of the month, refrain from fasting” (recorded by Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, and al-Baihaqi). This is because the prohibition against fasting after the middle of Sha’ban, according to the scholars who hold this view, is applicable to those who begin fasting after the middle of the month without having observed fasting before it and without continuing an existing fast. However, fasting is permissible, and even recommended, for those who began fasting before the middle of the month for a valid reason, such as to make up a missed fast, fulfill a vow, or follow a regular practice of fasting, whether or not the fast is connected to one observed before the middle of the month.[3]

And Allah Almighty knows best.