Usman Rabiu
Our Obligations in Shabaan and Ramadan
Preparing for Ramadan in Shaʿbān
Delivered By: Mr. Usman Rabiu
Opening
All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and seek His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of ourselves and our misdeeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can misguide; and whomever Allah leaves astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
“O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except as Muslims.”
— Surah Āl ʿImrān (3:102)
The Blessed Month of Shaʿbān
Amma baʿd. Dear brothers and sisters, I counsel myself and all of you to have taqwā of Allah. We begin by recognizing that we are now in the blessed month of Shaʿbān, only a few weeks away from Ramadan. This is a special period of preparation, consistency, and spiritual renewal. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized not to overlook Shaʿbān, even as we eagerly anticipate Ramadan.
It is narrated that Usāmah ibn Zayd (raḍiya -llāhu ʿanhumā) once asked the Prophet ﷺ why he fasted so frequently in Shaʿbān. The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“That (Shaʿbān) is a month people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which deeds are raised up to the Lord of the Worlds, and I love that my deeds be raised while I am fasting.”
— Reported by al-Nasā’ī (graded ḥasan)
Subḥānallāh – our deeds of the year are being presented to Allah in Shaʿbān. The Prophet ﷺ wanted to be in a state of fasting and worship when his record of deeds was lifted. This teaches us to value this “neglected” month and fill it with consistent good actions, so that when our deeds go up to Allah, we are in sha Allah engaged in ʿibādah. It’s a chance to renew our sincerity and commitment before Ramadan arrives.
The Gates of Paradise Open
My dear brothers and sisters, Ramadan is around the corner – the month of mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. The Prophet ﷺ would often give glad tidings to his Companions when Ramadan drew near. He described Ramadan’s amazing virtues, saying:
“When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained.”
— Agreed upon by Bukhārī and Muslim
Allāhu akbar! A season of open gates of mercy and closed gates of punishment. In Ramadan, Allah makes it easier for us to do good and avoid evil. But to truly benefit, we need to start preparing now in Shaʿbān. We cannot suddenly transform on the first day of Ramadan without any prior training. Think of Shaʿbān as the spiritual warm-up, the training camp for our soul.
The Companions and pious predecessors would increase their worship in Shaʿbān, anticipating Ramadan. Our mother ʿĀ’isha (raḍiya -llāhu ʿanhā) said that the Prophet ﷺ fasted more in Shaʿbān than any other month besides Ramadan. This voluntary fasting in Shaʿbān helps us adapt physically and spiritually to the upcoming obligatory fasts.
Practical Steps for Preparation
Beyond fasting, there are many ways to seek spiritual renewal in Shaʿbān so that we enter Ramadan at our peak. Here are practical steps we can all take starting now:
Begin now to reconnect with the Qur’an. Set aside time daily to read and reflect on the Qur’an, even if a few pages. Shaʿbān is an ideal time to resume a daily tilāwah habit so that by Ramadan, reading Qur’an feels natural and our hearts are already softened by Allah’s words.
Don’t wait for Ramaḍān to start praying at night. Pray at least two rakʿāt of tahajjud in these nights of Shaʿbān. Wake up a bit before Fajr, even if just 10-15 minutes, and pray and make duʿā’. Likewise, be punctual with all obligatory ṣalāh and add sunnah and nawāfil prayers steadily. This builds spiritual stamina for the long Tarāwīḥ in Ramadan.
Ramp up your ṣadaqah in Shaʿbān. Help those in need, give charity, feed the hungry – even before Ramadan. Develop generosity now, for Ramadan is the month of charity. The Prophet ﷺ was “especially generous in Ramadan,” but he was also generous year-round; let’s start our charity early so the habit is strong by Ramadan.
Use Shaʿbān to clear any grudges or ill-will from your heart. A clean heart invites Allah’s mercy in Ramadan.
From now, beg Allah: “O Allah, allow us to reach Ramadan!” It is reported that the Prophet ﷺ himself would say: Allāhumma bārik lanā fī Rajab wa Shaʿbān wa ballighnā Ramaḍān – “O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Shaʿbān, and let us reach Ramadan.” Make sincere duʿā’ that Allah grants us life and health to witness Ramadan.
The Goal: Attaining Taqwā
Remember that the goal of Ramadan is taqwā. Allah says in the Qur’an:
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwā (righteousness).”
— Surah Al-Baqarah (2:183)
The purpose of all the fasting and nightly prayers is to become closer to Allah, more conscious of Him, more obedient and purified of sin. Fasting “cleanses the soul and narrows the paths of Shayṭān” as the scholars said. By disciplining our desires, we strengthen our souls. We deny the body to nourish the spirit. If we keep that purpose in mind – attaining taqwā – and start working on it in Shaʿbān, we will enter Ramadan already a step closer to Allah.
What a motivation! And likewise “whoever stands (in prayer) during the nights of Ramadan with faith and hope, all his past sins will be forgiven.” Such complete forgiveness is offered to the believers in Ramadan, but we must come into it with īmān and iḥtisāb (true faith and expectancy of reward). Let us cultivate that attitude now.
Make Your Plan Now
Finally, use this month to renew your resolve and make a plan for Ramadan: Plan your daily schedule, your Qur’an reading target, your charity goals, your family ifṭār plans, etc. As the saying goes, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Don’t let Ramadan arrive while we’re unfocused or unprepared.
Ask yourself: “If Allah grants me Ramadan, what will I do to make it the best one yet?” – Then start building those habits in Shaʿbān.
May Allah make us among those who honor Shaʿbān and reach Ramadan with zeal and sincerity. May He accept our deeds and forgive our shortcomings.
I say this and ask forgiveness of Allah for me and for you, so seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
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