Sha’ban is the gateway to the month of God’s feast/ Man should not be oblivious to the deeds of this month: Vahidpur
An expert on religious issues stated, “The introduction that makes a person worthy to enter the month of God’s feast, passes through the months of Rajab and Sha’ban, especially Sha’ban. Because it is right before the month of Ramadan, and in fact, it is considered the gateway to Ramadan.”
ABWA Official Website – On the occasion of the arrival of the month of Sha’ban (one of the virtuous months of the Hijri calendar), ABNA News Agency interviewed an expert on religious issues.
While offering his congratulations on the auspicious days of Sha’ban, Hojat al-Islam Hossein Vahidpur stated, “The first important thing to keep in mind is the value of certain days, as some people and places also have special value. Some days, such as Friday or the days of the holy month of Ramadan, known as the “month of God”, as well as the days of the month of Sha’ban, which is known as the “month of the Prophet”, which is also emphasized in the hadiths, and the Prophet said about it, “Shaban is my month”, have a high value. When a person or a specific time or place has a high value, it has certain deeds, and we must observe it. This respect is due to the actions that are performed in that place or time, and the deeds that it requires. For example, when a mosque is considered respectable, there are special rules for it, for example, it should not be Najis. Or that there is a spiritual reward for attending the mosque and praying there. The House of Kaaba or the pilgrimage of Imam Hussain (a.s.) are among the same things that have special deeds, rulings, and effects.”
“The month of Sha’ban also has special effects, rulings, and deeds that people should not neglect these recommended actions. According to a hadith of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h), “إنَّما سُمِّيَ شَعبانُ، لأِنَّهُ يَتَشَعَّبُ فيهِ أرزاقُ المُؤمِنينَ” (The reason for naming this month as Sha’ban (شعبان) is the branching and distributing (شعبه) of the believers’ sustenance.) (Thawab al-A’amal, p. 62). Similar expressions have been narrated about the virtue of the Qadr Nights. In a hadith, Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “صَومُ شَعبانَ يَذهَبُ بِوَسواسِ الصَّدرِ وَ بَلابِلِ القَلبِ” (Fasting in the month of Sha’ban removes the obsessions of the heart and the worries of the soul.) (Al-Khisal, p. 612). Unfortunately, we have many clients who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder and need to see a doctor. But one of the solutions to cure this disorder is to fast in the month of Sha’ban, which removes internal temptations and brings peace,” he continued.
“The blessed month of Ramadan is the month of God’s feast, and such a phrase is included only about this month. Although the months of Rajab and Sha’ban are also important, the phrase “God’s feast” is only for the month of Ramadan. The important point that should be borne in mind is that the preparation introduction that makes a person worthy to enter the month of God’s feast, passes through the months of Rajab and Sha’ban, especially Sha’ban. Because it is right before the month of Ramadan is attached to it, and in fact, it is considered the gateway to the Holy Ramadan. For this preparation, there are orders, including fasting which is mentioned in the “Salawat Sha’baniyah”. The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) fasted during the days and worshiped at night. The second action that is ordered for performing in this month is prayer and supplication. Just as the prayer of Abu Hamzah Thumali is recommended in the practices of the month of Ramadan, in the month of Sha’ban we also benefit from the Sha’baniyah Supplication, which is very rich in content and is one of the ways to reach Ma’rifah (Divine knowledge). In this regard, the late Imam Khomeini (r.a.) said, “The Sha’baniyah Supplication is not specific to a particular imam, but all the Imams (a.s.) had such supplication.” Also, the late Sheikh Abbas Qomi (r.a.) wrote in Mafatih al-Jinan, “This is the supplication of Imam Ali (a.s.) and all the progeny of that Imam”,” said the religious expert.
While referring to “Istighfar” (seeking forgiveness from Allah, usually by saying ʾastaġfiru -llāha (Arabic: أَسْتَغْفِرُ ٱللَّٰهَ). A longer variant is ʾastaġfiru -llāha rabbī wa-ʾatūbu ʾilayhi (Arabic: أَسْتَغْفِرُ ٱللَّٰهَ رَبِّي وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ) which means “Verily, I seek the forgiveness of Allah, who is my Lord and Sustainer, and I turn to Him in repentance”) as an action specific to the month of Sha’ban, Vahidpur continued, “Asking for forgiveness prepares a person to enter the month of Ramadan. According to the ulama of ethics, ‘first, the (spiritual) pollution must be removed from man, and he receives God’s mercy and forgiveness, then he should enter God’s feast,’ which path goes through asking for forgiveness (Istighfar). By referring to Mafatih, it can be seen that many dhikrs are mentioned for this month with Istighfar, and it is recommended to persist and continue them so that a person can finally be purified and be able to achieve the spiritual benefits of the holy month of Ramadan.”
“Another important point about this month is getting closer to God through His friends and saints. In this regard, general Salawat and special Salawat are recommended. The general Salawat is the same Salawat upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) (AhlulBayt), which is recommended. However, the special Salawat has been narrated from Imam Sajjad (a.s.) which should be recited every day at noon. This Salawat is very important because it is a way of knowing the Imam and it has sentences that open a person’s vision to the divine proof. It also increases Ma’rifah (divine knowledge). I wish a roundtable could be organized in IRIB to discuss the blessings of the Special Salawat of Sha’ban. Because every word and every sentence of the Special Salawat of Sha’ban are of great importance,” he pointed out.
Mentioning the life of the Infallibles (a.s.), this religious expert stated, “In addition to the Prophet (p.b.u.h), all Imams (a.s.) also fasted in all days of this month. In the Special Salawat of the month of Sha’ban, it is introduced as the “month of the Prophet”, which is associated with mercy and forgiveness. The Prophet paid great attention to it and his fasting continued until the end of his honorable life. Dignitaries and ulama also used to fast in the month of Rajab and Sha’ban and connected it to the month of Ramadan. The late Imam Khomeini (r.a.) emphasized this deed a lot. This way of life was also seen in the past believers. So that even past sale persons fast these three months to make their business flourish. But this custom has faded in today’s lifestyle. In the Imposed War (Iraq-Iran War) fronts, people like Martyr Sayyad Shirazi fasted all these days, prayed for forgiveness, and were bound to it.”
“God has spread a banquet for us to use. Unfortunately, we sometimes get away from God and become creditors to him, while we do not perform our duties as servants! Almighty God has given this opportunity for His servants to be purified and come back to Him. Especially because our life is not only this world. Rather, this world is a prologue to another world. Therefore, we should collect luggage for our journey to the hereafter, and fill our empty hands in the months of Sha’ban and Ramadan, and make sufficient use of them,” Vahidpur said in the end.
An expert on religious issues stated, “The introduction that makes a person worthy to enter the month of God’s feast, passes through the months of Rajab and Sha’ban, especially Sha’ban. Because it is right before the month of Ramadan, and in fact, it is considered the gateway to Ramadan.”
ABWA Official Website – On the occasion of the arrival of the month of Sha’ban (one of the virtuous months of the Hijri calendar), ABNA News Agency interviewed an expert on religious issues.
While offering his congratulations on the auspicious days of Sha’ban, Hojat al-Islam Hossein Vahidpur stated, “The first important thing to keep in mind is the value of certain days, as some people and places also have special value. Some days, such as Friday or the days of the holy month of Ramadan, known as the “month of God”, as well as the days of the month of Sha’ban, which is known as the “month of the Prophet”, which is also emphasized in the hadiths, and the Prophet said about it, “Shaban is my month”, have a high value. When a person or a specific time or place has a high value, it has certain deeds, and we must observe it. This respect is due to the actions that are performed in that place or time, and the deeds that it requires. For example, when a mosque is considered respectable, there are special rules for it, for example, it should not be Najis. Or that there is a spiritual reward for attending the mosque and praying there. The House of Kaaba or the pilgrimage of Imam Hussain (a.s.) are among the same things that have special deeds, rulings, and effects.”
“The month of Sha’ban also has special effects, rulings, and deeds that people should not neglect these recommended actions. According to a hadith of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h), “إنَّما سُمِّيَ شَعبانُ، لأِنَّهُ يَتَشَعَّبُ فيهِ أرزاقُ المُؤمِنينَ” (The reason for naming this month as Sha’ban (شعبان) is the branching and distributing (شعبه) of the believers’ sustenance.) (Thawab al-A’amal, p. 62). Similar expressions have been narrated about the virtue of the Qadr Nights. In a hadith, Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “صَومُ شَعبانَ يَذهَبُ بِوَسواسِ الصَّدرِ وَ بَلابِلِ القَلبِ” (Fasting in the month of Sha’ban removes the obsessions of the heart and the worries of the soul.) (Al-Khisal, p. 612). Unfortunately, we have many clients who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder and need to see a doctor. But one of the solutions to cure this disorder is to fast in the month of Sha’ban, which removes internal temptations and brings peace,” he continued.
“The blessed month of Ramadan is the month of God’s feast, and such a phrase is included only about this month. Although the months of Rajab and Sha’ban are also important, the phrase “God’s feast” is only for the month of Ramadan. The important point that should be borne in mind is that the preparation introduction that makes a person worthy to enter the month of God’s feast, passes through the months of Rajab and Sha’ban, especially Sha’ban. Because it is right before the month of Ramadan is attached to it, and in fact, it is considered the gateway to the Holy Ramadan. For this preparation, there are orders, including fasting which is mentioned in the “Salawat Sha’baniyah”. The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) fasted during the days and worshiped at night. The second action that is ordered for performing in this month is prayer and supplication. Just as the prayer of Abu Hamzah Thumali is recommended in the practices of the month of Ramadan, in the month of Sha’ban we also benefit from the Sha’baniyah Supplication, which is very rich in content and is one of the ways to reach Ma’rifah (Divine knowledge). In this regard, the late Imam Khomeini (r.a.) said, “The Sha’baniyah Supplication is not specific to a particular imam, but all the Imams (a.s.) had such supplication.” Also, the late Sheikh Abbas Qomi (r.a.) wrote in Mafatih al-Jinan, “This is the supplication of Imam Ali (a.s.) and all the progeny of that Imam”,” said the religious expert.
While referring to “Istighfar” (seeking forgiveness from Allah, usually by saying ʾastaġfiru -llāha (Arabic: أَسْتَغْفِرُ ٱللَّٰهَ). A longer variant is ʾastaġfiru -llāha rabbī wa-ʾatūbu ʾilayhi (Arabic: أَسْتَغْفِرُ ٱللَّٰهَ رَبِّي وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ) which means “Verily, I seek the forgiveness of Allah, who is my Lord and Sustainer, and I turn to Him in repentance”) as an action specific to the month of Sha’ban, Vahidpur continued, “Asking for forgiveness prepares a person to enter the month of Ramadan. According to the ulama of ethics, ‘first, the (spiritual) pollution must be removed from man, and he receives God’s mercy and forgiveness, then he should enter God’s feast,’ which path goes through asking for forgiveness (Istighfar). By referring to Mafatih, it can be seen that many dhikrs are mentioned for this month with Istighfar, and it is recommended to persist and continue them so that a person can finally be purified and be able to achieve the spiritual benefits of the holy month of Ramadan.”
“Another important point about this month is getting closer to God through His friends and saints. In this regard, general Salawat and special Salawat are recommended. The general Salawat is the same Salawat upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) (AhlulBayt), which is recommended. However, the special Salawat has been narrated from Imam Sajjad (a.s.) which should be recited every day at noon. This Salawat is very important because it is a way of knowing the Imam and it has sentences that open a person’s vision to the divine proof. It also increases Ma’rifah (divine knowledge). I wish a roundtable could be organized in IRIB to discuss the blessings of the Special Salawat of Sha’ban. Because every word and every sentence of the Special Salawat of Sha’ban are of great importance,” he pointed out.
Mentioning the life of the Infallibles (a.s.), this religious expert stated, “In addition to the Prophet (p.b.u.h), all Imams (a.s.) also fasted in all days of this month. In the Special Salawat of the month of Sha’ban, it is introduced as the “month of the Prophet”, which is associated with mercy and forgiveness. The Prophet paid great attention to it and his fasting continued until the end of his honorable life. Dignitaries and ulama also used to fast in the month of Rajab and Sha’ban and connected it to the month of Ramadan. The late Imam Khomeini (r.a.) emphasized this deed a lot. This way of life was also seen in the past believers. So that even past sale persons fast these three months to make their business flourish. But this custom has faded in today’s lifestyle. In the Imposed War (Iraq-Iran War) fronts, people like Martyr Sayyad Shirazi fasted all these days, prayed for forgiveness, and were bound to it.”
“God has spread a banquet for us to use. Unfortunately, we sometimes get away from God and become creditors to him, while we do not perform our duties as servants! Almighty God has given this opportunity for His servants to be purified and come back to Him. Especially because our life is not only this world. Rather, this world is a prologue to another world. Therefore, we should collect luggage for our journey to the hereafter, and fill our empty hands in the months of Sha’ban and Ramadan, and make sufficient use of them,” Vahidpur said in the end.