Shaban is a month of profound spiritual preparation. It acts as a bridge between the sacred month of Rajab and the blessed month of obligatory fasting in Ramadan. Shaban is especially known for increased voluntary fasting before Ramadan. For adults, this period is essential for building the physical and spiritual endurance needed for the upcoming month of devotion.
Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasised this month because it is a time when many people become distracted by worldly affairs. By fasting in Shaban, you distinguish yourself as a believer who remains mindful of the Divine even when others may be heedless. The tradition teaches us that acts of worship performed during times of general neglect carry a special weight.
Fasting during Shaban offers several advantages for the soul and the body. Firstly, it provides spiritual conditioning, allowing you to enter Ramadan with momentum in positive intentions and actions. Rather than struggling through the first week of Ramadan, your soul and body have already become accustomed to the discipline of the fast.
Secondly, it is a time for the raising of deeds. This is the month when our annual actions are presented to Allah Almighty, especially around the middle of Shaban (Nisf Shaban), when many Muslims increase in worship and seek forgiveness. There is a profound beauty in having your deeds raised while you are in a state of worship. Finally, it serves as an opportunity for atonement and completion, being the final chance to complete any missed fasts from the previous year.
A believer is someone who is disciplined not only in relation to impermissible things but also in relation to permissible things. A believer is therefore somebody who is disciplined in what they eat and how much they eat. Fasting is one of the best mechanisms through which we can discipline and control our egos and curb the desires of excessive food and drink. It is recorded in Sunan Nisai, Hadith 2223 that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
عَلَيْكَ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ عَدْلَ لَهُ
“Take to fasting, for there is nothing equal to it.”
The tradition of fasting as a response to Divine favour is rooted deep within our history. Fasting was utilised as an act of gratitude in the time of Prophet Nooh (AS) and his followers who numbered approximately eighty. When the Great Flood destroyed everyone in the world except Prophet Nooh (AS) and his followers, out of gratitude Prophet Nooh (AS) instructed his people to fast as a method of demonstrating their gratitude to Allah Almighty. So, when Prophet Nooh (AS) and his followers left the ark, the first thing they did was fast to show gratitude for being saved from the punishment of Allah Almighty.
Beyond personal discipline and gratitude, fasting serves a protective function for the believer’s moral character. Fasting not only removes sins from our spiritual account, it also acts as a shield against committing sins in the future. It is recorded in Sunan Nisai, Hadith 2228 that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
‘الصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ’
“Fasting is a shield.”
When a person goes without food and drink, their desires to commit sin automatically diminish. This is why a person is physically less likely to commit sin and disobey Allah Almighty while in a state of fasting. This is one of the reasons why holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated that ‘fasting is a shield’ because it protects a person from bad deeds and actions. By weakening the physical impulses that often lead to heedlessness, fasting strengthens our spiritual defences and fosters a state of constant mindfulness.
Integrating these benefits into our practise during Shaban creates the perfect spiritual foundation for the arrival of Ramadan. By utilising this month to discipline our egos and offer gratitude through fasting, we ensure that the transition into the obligatory fasts is not a sudden shock, but a natural progression of our devotion. Shaban serves as the training ground where we strengthen our shield and refine our self-control, allowing us to enter the holy month of Ramadan with a heart already attuned to the presence of Allah Almighty.
Ultimately, the effort we invest now determines the quality of our Ramadan experience. Just as Prophet Nooh (AS) and his followers began their new lives with a fast of gratitude, we use Shaban to be grateful, reset our intentions, and clear our spiritual accounts. By the time the moon of Ramadan is sighted, we will have already cultivated the stamina and mindfulness required to maximise every moment of the blessed month, transforming our ritual into a deeply personal journey of renewal.
The following narrations from the Sunnah form the basis for fasting in Shaban and clearly show the virtue of fasting in Shaban. There are several recorded Hadith Shareef reporting how consistently holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ fasted throughout this blessed month. It is reported in Sunan Nisai, Hadith 2356 that:
“The Messenger of Allah Almighty used to fast all of Shaban.”
To make the most of this month, consider these practical steps.
Engaging the whole family in Shaban fasts can turn this period of preparation into a season of shared excitement.
You might consider creating a ‘Ramadan Countdown’ station where children can mark off the days of Shaban and help prepare simple Iftar treats for those who are fasting. This builds a sense of anticipation and helps younger family members feel like they are part of a special spiritual programme. You could also introduce a ‘Gratitude Jar’ where everyone writes down one blessing each day, mirroring the mindset of Prophet Nooh (AS) and his followers.
Making the White Days or Sunnah Mondays and Thursdays a special family occasion helps normalise the discipline of fasting in a warm and supportive environment. Small rewards, such as choosing the menu for a weekend Iftar or sharing stories about the Blessed Companions of holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, can make these voluntary fasts feel like a celebration rather than a chore. By involving children in these smaller milestones, you are helping them build their own ‘shields’ and instilling a love for the month of Ramadan long before the first crescent is sighted.
