Bliss of the Month
The root of word Sh'ab in Arabic means a branch or
offshoot. Sh'aban is derived from it and naturally suggests the springing up of
branches in various directions as luxuriant trees always do. It is a sign of
growth and flourishing. Keeping in view a well grown tree, one would derive the
idea of a multitude of branches, an evident sign of abundant increase. This
leads to the association of the month of Sh'aban with profusion or
multiplication of some sort. A Tradition reported by Hadrat Anas (R.D.A) leads
to the inevitable inference. He said that the Prophet ^ said: Sh'aban owes
its name to the fact that those who keep fasts during if find abundant reward
and felicity from Allah who showers His grace and bounties on them very
liberally. The felicity and well-being of these persons witness phenomenal
growth, branching out in so many directions and providing a shady cover of
Divine Beneficence. This clearly shows the august nature of this month. It
stands at the threshold of the Ramadan held sacred for so many things,
particularly because of the ritual fasting, It is therefore right to consider
Sh'aban as a symbol of felicity. With the lush branches of good deeds and
Divine favours descending as beneficent showers, the process of growth and
.expansion increases manifold ushering us into the very portals of Heaven.
With such striking promises Sh'aban provides a good
incentive for performing virtuous deeds. In fact there are very attractive
promises of munificent rewards as these are presented to Allah for showing his
bounty. Even the Prophet^ used to say that he would like it far more that his
deeds should be presented to the Almighty when he was going through a course of
fasting.
There is something very interesting about the Sh'aban.
Just as parents show their fancy for their children by the father or mother
associating them with each other, similarly some months have particular
association with Allah or the Prophet &, Sh'aban is reputed as the
Prophet's month. This is borne out by Hadrat Aisha's (R.D.A) statement that the
month is graced by its association with the Prophet ^. It is reported by Hadrat
Anas (R.D.A) that as the month of Rajab approached, the Prophet 4£ used to say: O Allah, make this
month and Sh'aban full of bliss for us; shower Thy bounties on both, and make
the month of Ramadan all the more felicitous for us.
In view of its association with the august person of
the Prophet 4£,
it is but natural that the Prophet should have special affinity with it. There
are numerous reports in authentic compilations of the Traditions like Bukhari,
Muslim and Abu Daud about the Prophet's practice in fasting. Sometimes he would
commence a series of fasts and continue them for days together so that it
appeared as if the course would never end, and when he stopped keeping them, it
looked as if he would keep them no more.
Thus the practice was not regular; it was rather
haphazard. It is however supported by strong testimony that he used to keep
more fasts in the Sh'aban at times throughout the month. It appears he relished
these fasts more than those at other times and the course went right upto the
Ramadan. His precept to his followers was that they should try to perform good
deeds to their utmost capacity as this would fetch boundless reward from Allah.
In fact Allah likes them the more you add to them; He has never enough of them.
It is only you who lose the fervour and capacity. A particular distinction
attaches to the good deeds performed this month. These are directly presented
to Allah. This is why the Prophet ^ used to express the wish that he should
appear before Allah when he was observing a fast and was spiritually in the
most intense state, an embodiment of purity and sublimation.
The Prophet ^ had another reason also for keeping
numerous fasts this month. It is the month in which the duration of men's lives
and the moment of their departure from the world are decided. In addition,
other matters like marriage and proceeding on Hajj are also decided. It was
with this in mind that Hadrat Aisha (R.D.A) advised a woman to fast in Sh'aban
for it would spell greater felicity for her. The 15th day of the month is
believed to be the day when the list of those who are to die next year is
handed over to Izrael (AS)' the Angel of Death. In fact the specification of
this month goes much further. According to a Tradition reported by Hadrat Abu
Bakr (R.D.A): Allah appears on the nethermost heaven
of the world on the 15th of this month and grants
pardon to all sorts of sinners. The only exceptions are of those who place
partners with Him in the form of deities or idols. The same applies to those
who are vindictive and prove themselves to be inhuman in their callousness and
hardness of mind. The announcement by the Divine Being is the very soul of
clemency and beneficence: Is there anyone who seeks forgiveness of his sins and
evil deeds so that he may be forgiven? Is there anyone seeking means of
livelihood so that he should be granted an ample provisions? Is there anyone
suffering from some affliction and trouble so that he should be granted
security and peace of mind? Allah is thus keen to demonstrate His love,
affection and kind-heartedness to men. Hence He continues raining down His
favours and bounties on those who seek them to the utmost limit of lavish ness.
It is the month of the exercise of Divine Wisdom. Therefore all matters which
need deliberation and pertain to cosmic policy are decided in the Sh'aban.
That being so, it is understandable why Hadrat Ali
(R.D.A) attached great importance to the fifteenth night of the month. It is
said he used to come out on this particular night and raising his head used to
make earnest supplication to the Almighty.
The importance of this fifteenth night is further
supported by the fact that the Prophet^ is reported to have said: Hadrat
Jibrail (AS) came to him and said this is the night on which the sinners are
forgiven even if their series are as countless as the hair of the goats of the
tribe named Bani Kalb proverbial for the numerical figure of their goats. The
exception is only those of the heinous offenders and bloodsuckers of humanity:
sorcerers, sooth sayers, occultists, astrologers executioners, fortune-tellers,
musicians and drummers because all of them
leave a tainted type of life harmful to humanity and
flourish at the expense of other in a perverted manner. Thus the emphasis is
throughout on these prsuits which lead to a healthy moral and spiritual state.
Whomsoever Allah (in His Plan) wills to guide, He makes
his breast wide open to Islam. (6:125)
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