Holly Month Of Shaaban

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said, “Through out your lives, Allah’s grants are many; so, take as many as you can and do not away from them.”


The month of Rajab, the month of Allah (SWT), has set while making way for another blessed and sacred month to rise, illuminating the Rahmah of Allah (SWT) on us. Shabaan, the month of the Prophet (S), is here. The month of our Imam (ATF) is here.

Allah (SWT) continues to shower His Lutf and Mercy upon His Creatures, while we, the ungrateful ones, remain in a state of oblivion unmindful to His Blessings and unappreciative of His Bounties. This month is yet another manifestation of His Grace upon His Creaturs, where He is awaiting our return to Him by repentance and purification of our souls. Those who have supplicated and utilised the month of Rajab to its optimum have another blessed month awaiting to shower its mercy upon them, and those who have missed, are given yet another chance to avail of the blessings that awaits them.

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Importance:
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Imam Ali (as) once saw some Muslims arguing among themselves on the topic of fate and destiny, on the first day of Sha’ban. He discouraged them from their preoccupation and instead drew their attention to the merits of this month. He said that the Lord had called it Sha’ban because His favours and bounties were scattered (sha’aba) all over during it. Allah presents His great bounties in this month which are easy to achieve, and inexpensive, said Imam Ali (as). This could mean that the doing of ‘ibadah (acts of worship), performing other good deeds and abstaining from evils will carry manifold benefits.

The Imam (as) then enumerated some of the good actions which should not be overlooked in this month. These include salat (prayer), zakat (charity), amr bil ma’roof (enjoining of good), nahyi anil munkar(forbidding of evil), goodness to parents, Relatives, neighbours, mutual reconciliation and giving charity to the poor and the destitute.

Sha’ban is the second month of ‘Ibadah in order to make preparations for the grand and majestic month of Holy Ramadhan – the month of Allah (SWT). The Holy Prophet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pbuh.gif) has said, “Sha’ban is my month”. This is the month of asking for forgiveness of sins, giving alms & charity and fasting. The Holy Prophet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pbuh.gif) used to observe fast during the whole month of Sha’ban. Imam Zaynul-Aabideen (as) has said, “Whosoever, in love of the Prophet, wishes to seek nearness to Allah and receive His bounties, favours and rewards in this world and in the hereafter, must connect Sha’ban with Ramadhan in the matter of fasting and special prayers”.

It is also reported from the Holy Prophet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pbuh.gif) that, "Whosoever observes nine fasts in the whole month of Sha’ban should not fear the interrogation of Munkar & Nakeer. Whosoever observes twelve fasts in the month of Sha’ban, 70,000 angels will descend over his/her grave on the first night of his burial, the night of wahshah to remove his/her fear & loneliness”.

FRIDAY LEARNING ZONE FROM AL MAHDI
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Allah has honored certain times by his grants and paved ways that lead to his incomparable mercy and satisfaction. Sha’ban, which is a month glorified by Prophet Mohamad (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pbuh.gif) is one of these times. Whenever he used to see the crescent of Sha’ban, he ordered someone to call in Madinah, “O Ye People of Yathreb! I am the Messenger of Allah to you. Sha’ban is my month. May Allah have mercy on those who assist me on my month.” The question then is, how do we assist The Prophet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pbuh.gif) on his month?

Imam Ali (as), the Prince of Believers, that the month of Sha’ban was named so due to the ramifications of good in it and that Allah “…opened the doors of His paradise in it and offered its palaces and good to you at the cheapest of prices and the easiest of ways, so buy them”.

Imam Ali (as) said, “I have never missed the fasting of the entire month of Sha’ban ever since I heard that caller in Sha’ban.”

Imam Jaafar Al Sadeq also says, “Fasting in Sha’ban is an asset for every believer in the Day of Judgment. Any worshiper who fasts a lot in Sha’ban, Allah shall surely mend his living, pass up the evil of his enemies, and his minimum reward shall be paradise.”

Imam Al Rida says, “Anyone who asks Allah for forgiveness for one time in Sha’ban, Allah shall forgive him his sins even if they were as abundant as the stars.”

The Prophet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pbuh.gif) says, “Whoever practices charity in Sha’ban, Allah shall raise it as you raise your children until it is rewarded in the Judgment Day.”

http://www.almaaref.org/english/ligh...04/shaaban.htm
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Shabaan is a month of high excellence and is dedicated to the Leader of the Prophets (saaw). He used to keep fasts during this month and join it with the month of Ramadhan. He used to say, “Sha’baan is a month dedicated to me. Whoever keeps one fast during my month will definitely go to heaven”.

It has been reported from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (as) that on the commencement of this month, Imam Zainul Abideen (as) would gather his companions and address them, “O my companions, do you know which month this is? It is the month of Shabaan about which the Holy Messenger (saaw) used to say that it is dedicated to him. So keep fasts during this month in the love of your Holy Prophet (saaw) and to attain closeness to your Creator. By Allah in whose hands is my soul, I have heard from my father, Hussein ibn Ali (as), that he had heard from Commander of Faithful (as), that whoever keeps fast during Sha’baan in the love of the Holy Prophet (saw) and to attain closeness to Allah will become a friend to Allah and on the Day of Judgement will be close to Allah by His grace and Paradise will be assured to him.”

Sheikh Tusi has reported from Safwane Jammal that Imam Ja’far Sadiq (as) asked him to encourage his neighbours and friends to fast in the month of Sha’baan. He asked the Imam if there was any special significance for it, and he replied that when the month commenced, the Holy Messenger (saaw) would command his announcer to proclaim in Medina that the Holy Messenger (saaw) wished them to be aware that Sha’baan was a month dedicated to him and Allah bestows mercy on whosoever associates with him in this month by fasting. Imam Ja’far Sadiq (as) proceeded to report from Commander of Faithful (as) that since hearing the announcement, he never missed any fast during the month of Sha’baan and, Allah willing, hoped not to miss any during the remainder of his life. He added that fasting in the months of Sha’baan and Ramadhan is a means of repentance and pardon from Allah.

Keeping fast on Thursdays of the month also carried great significance. It has been reported that the heavens are decorated each Thursday in the month of Sha’baan and the angles pray to Allah to forgive all those who fast on that day and their prayers are accepted. It is stated in the reports of the narrations of the Holy prophet (saaw) that whoever fasts on Mondays and Thursdays of this month, Allah will fulfill twenty of his worldly wishes and twenty of his wishes of the Hereafter.

It is recommended to give alms in this month even if it is as small as a half date. Almsgiving in this month brings about rescue from Hellfire. In this respect, it has been narrated that when Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) was asked about the merits of observing fasting in Rajab, he answered, “Why do you not ask about the merits of observing fasting in Sha`ban.” “What is then the reward of him who observes fasting on one day in Sha`ban, Son of Allah’s Messenger?” asked the narrator. The Imam (a.s) answered, “The reward will be Paradise. I swear it by Allah.” The narrator then asked again, “What are the best deeds that should be done in Sha`ban.” The Imam (a.s) answered, “Almsgiving and seeking forgiveness are the best deeds in Sha`bآ،n. Verily, if anyone of you gives alms in Sha`ban, Almighty Allah will breed that alms in the very same way as you breed your small camels. Hence, this alms will be as huge as Mount Uhud on the Resurrection Day.”

Extract from Mafatih-ul-Jinan

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Supplications
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Dua'a - SHA'ABAN

The Invocation of Shabaniyah

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I pray that Allah (SWT) gives us tawfeeq in this month to worship Him, increase in our hearts the love of Ahlul Bayt (A) and hasten the reappearance of His Hujjah (ATF) whom we are Awaiting.

Wasalam.

[benben]

In this regard I want to remind my respected brethren about the speciality of this blessed month, which is the month of the Prophet(S) in his words:

"The holy month of Rajab is the month of Allah(Swt) and the holy month of Sha'ban is my month and the holy month of Ramadhan is the month of my Ummah"

I especially recommend you to recite Munajat Shabaniyah which is by Imam Ali(A) which is special to recite each day during this holy month but it could be recited every day during the year. This is a prayer which is the favorite amon the Islamic Mystics (Urefa) and they recite it during the year. Ayatullah al-Udhma Behjat(HA) use to say: "Recite this invocation whenever you feel for it".

This prayer had a special plays in the heart of Imam Khumayni(A). He has commented the invocation many times and on several occassions which show the importance of this prayer. In the book "Light Within Me" he says: According to reports all of the Imams(A) recited this invocation called Munajat Shabaniyah. I have not read some where else about an prayer or invocation that all the Imams(A) used to recite. "

He used to end all his speeches and and lectures with the following quotation which is where the invocation reaches it's climax coming to spiritual love and Divine nearness: "My Lord, grant me complete severance of my relations with everything else and total submission to You. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts with the light of their looking at You to the extent that they penetrate the veils of light and reach the Source of Grandeur, and let our souls get suspended by the glory of Your sanctity."

For other invocations and A'mal (practise) during the holy month of Sha'ban, please refer to this site:

Dua'a - SHA'ABAN

Please do not forget the Muslims in your prayers.

May Allah hasten the return of Our Awaited Saviour(AJ)!

WSalaams

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YouTube - Munajaat al-Sha'baniyyah