Shaykh Dr. Muḥammad bn Ghālib al-’Umarī:
The month of Shāʾbān —may Allāh preserve you— is a virtuous month. And from the actions that the servant should be diligent upon in this month (are):
Firstly: Fasting a lot in Shāʾbān. The Prophet ﷺ used to fast a lot in the month of Shāʾbān.
ʿĀʾishah, may Allāh be pleased with her, said: The month which the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ liked to fast most was Shāʾbān. Then he would join it with Ramaḍān. [Sunan an-Nasāʾī 2350]
And in fasting (during) Shāʾbān –may Allāh preserve you– is a benefit and that is settlement of the soul and preparing it for fasting (in Ramaḍān).
Secondly: Performing a lot of righteous deeds. For it is a month in which actions are taken up (to Allāh). That is due to what is established in the Ḥadīth from his statement ﷺ:
“That (Shāʾbān) is a month to which people do not pay much attention, between Rajab and Ramaḍān. And it is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I love that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting.” [Ḥasan; Sunan an-Nasāʾī 2357]
And likewise, from the (righteous) actions is: diligence upon the recitation of the Qurʾān. And this was the habit of the Salaf (righteous predecessors), may Allāh have mercy on them.
Salamah bn Kuhail said: “It used to be said, the month of Shāʾbān is the month of the reciters (of the Qurʾān).”
And when Ḥabīb bn Abī Thābit enters Shāʾbān, he used to say: “This is the month of the reciters (of the Qurʾān)”
And when ʿAmr bn Qays al-Malāʾī enters Shāʾbān, he used to lock his shop and devote himself to the recitation of the Qurʾān.
I ask Allāh, the Majestic and Most High, to accept from us and from you, the righteous actions (that we perform) in this virtuous month. And to make us and you reach the month of Ramaḍān in security, peace, safety and Islām.
