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The Month of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) - Sha'baan

                           
The Holy Prophet said: "Shaa'baan is my month".
 Imam Ali bin Husayn Al Zaynul Abideen (a.s.) told his companions:
 "The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) used to observe fast during the whole month of Shaa'baan. Therefore whoso, in love of the Holy Prophet (s.a.), wishes to seek nearness o Allah and receive bounties, favors and rewards in this world and in the Hereafter, must connect Sha'baan with Ramadhan (in the matter of fasting and special prayers)."

        Sh'abaanul Muaddham is the month The Prophet (s.a.w.) called his month.  It is a month of blessings and virtues.  It was in this month in the 2nd year of Hijra that The Prophet (s.a.w.) received the commandment of fasting
the month of Ramadhan, which he conveyed in a khutba.   Imam Amirul Mu'miniin Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) explained that this month has been named Sha'baan by The Almighty (swt) because He has gathered together all bounties for his creation.  He grants these bounties for good deeds done by people in this month.  The Imam (a.s.) narrated to a group of people sitting in the mosque arguing about Predestination and Free Will that in one of the battles between the Muslims and the Kuffar, the Muslim army was saved by a handful of people who were awake at night while the rest of the army slept and the enemy launched a surprise attack in the dark of the night.  Such a luminous glow rose from their faces that the rest of the army woke up and was inspired with strength and bravery by it.  When The Prophet (s.a.w.) was told of this, he confirmed that it was the act of worship of the few who had stayed up at night on the eve of the first of Sha'baan that had carried the day for the Muslims.  On the first day of Sha'baan, The Prophet (s.a.w.) continued, Shaitan orders his army to draw people away from remembrance of The Almighty (swt) because on this day. The Almighty sends His angels to protect those who remember Him with prayers, fasting and giving alms. 

        The Prophet (s.a.w.) further explained that whosoever carries out an act of worship like salaat and sawm, he willbe under the shadow of Sharaju-t-Tuba, the sacred tree of Paradise.  The opposite will be the case of those who do not do good on this day; their fate will be tied with Sharajatu-z-Zaqqum, the tree of Hell.  Among the undesirable deeds The Prophet (s.a.w) cited included creating division between brothers, husband and wife, parents and children and even neighbors.  A person who does not help a needy person he is aware of will also be included among the evil
doers.  A person who denies the debt is also placing himself under Zaqqum.   Similarly, those who do not heed the cries of the oppressed, the orphans and the weak when they can help will be drawn towards Zaqqum.  To neglect to visit a sick neighbor thinking his illness is trivial also draws wrath of The Almighty (swt) on this day and earns a place under Zaqqum.  The Prophet (a.s.) once looked up at the heavens and smiled.  But when he looked at the earth he became sad.  When asked the reason, he explained that he smiled when he saw those who were going towards Heaven holding onto Tuba and became sad when he saw the hypocrites, who used to sit in his companionship pretending to be what they turned out not to be, being dragged into the lowest pit of Hell by Zaqqum. 

        Similarly, those who die the death of Jahiliyah of not recognizing the Imam of the Time will rue their fate.  This is the hadith of The Prophet (s.a.w.) accepted by all Muslims.  Yet, only one sect has adhered to the hadith and recognizes the birth and existence of The Twelfth Imam, Hadhrat Imam Muhammad Mehdi (ATFS), Sahibul Asri wal Zaman, Sahibul Amr, Al-Qaim, Al-Hujjah from the purified progeny of The Prophet (s.a.w.) through his only daughter, Fatima (a.s.), and Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.).  This Living Imam who is descended from Imam Husain (a.s.), his grandfather was born in this month on the 15th, which is the eve of Lailatul Bara'ah (Night of Deliverance) Imam
Husain was born on the 3rd, his brother Al-Abbaas on the 4th and Imam al-Sajjad on the 5th.  Imam Husain's (a.s.) son Ali Al-Akber and his nephew Qasim ibnil Hassan (a.s.), who were among the martyrs of Karbala, were also born in this month.  The Hujjah will rise one day to rid this world of all forms of corruption and establish Justice and Equity with the assistance of Nabi Isa (a.s.) who will descend from the Fourth Heaven where he has been living since he was elevated there by The Power of The Almighty (swt). 

Everyday Aa'maal for the Month of Sha'baan: 

(1)  Observe fast. 
(2)  Give Alms in the name of Allah. (Giving alms in the month of Sha'baan has a been strongly recommended). 
(3)  Recite 70 times: 
( i )  ASTAGHFIRULLAHA WA AS-ALUHUT TAWBAH [I seek forgiveness of Allah, and, repentant, beseech Him]. 
( ii ) ASTAGHFIRULLAAHALLAD'EE LAA ILAAH ILLAA HUWAR RAH'MAANUR RAH'EEMUL H'AYYUL QAYYOOMU WA ATOOBU ILAYHI  [I seek forgiveness of Allah who is "There is no god save He", the Beneficent, the Merciful; the Everliving, the Eternal, and I
turn repentant to Him]. 
(4)  Recite the following 1000 times, not daily, but throughout the month; whenever the count reaches 1000, at any time within
the month, the a'mal is completed: 
LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAAHU WA LAA NAA'-BUDU ILLAA IYYAAHU MUKHLIS'EENA LAHUD DEEN WA LAW KARIHAL MUSHRIKOON 
[There is no god save Allah.  We do not worship save "He" alone, making religion pure for Him (only), however much the disbelievers be averse.] 
(5)  On every  Thursday pray a 2 Rak-a't Namaaz.. 
In every Rak-a't, after the recitation of Soorah Al-Faatih'ah, recite Soorah Al Ikhlaas 100 times.
After Salaam recite Salawat 100 times. 
[Please note that fasting on Thursday in this month is highly rewarding, if you are not fit to observe fast daily as stated
above]. 
(6)  Recite the following Salawaat taught by Imam Ali bin Husayn Al Zayn Aabideen (a.s.): 
O my Allah send blessings on Muhammad and on the descendants of Muhammad, the evergreen tree (outcome and  end) of (the toil of) prophethood, the destination of the Divine messages, the academy where Angels came to learn and know, the depository of wisdom, the people of the House of "Wahi" (the Divine Revelations). O my Allah send blessings on Muhammad and on the descendants of Muhammad, an unsinkable sailing ship afloat over the fathomless deep waters of the seas; whoso gets into it is saved and whoso stays away is drowned; whoso steps   in front of them misses the aim and goes astray, whoso lags behind wanders in wilderness; whoso holds fast to them reaches the destination.
O my Allah send blessings on Muhammad and on the descendants of Muhammad, a safe sanctuary, a relief for the worried and uncared for destitutes, a refuge for the fugitives running away from tyranny, an asylum for the banished and hunted, seeking shelter.
O my Allah send blessings on Muhammad and on the descendants of Muhammad, a great many blessings, a stimulation for inner joy and peace of mind to them, a fulfilment of the obligation unto Muhammad and the children of Muhammad, duly decreed as a duty by the authority and power Thou commands, O the Lord of the worlds.
O Allah send blessings on Muhammad and on the descendants of Muhammad, the good, the attested by Thy witness, the high-minded chosen in preference by Thee, whoso claim has been declared a must for all to accept, to obey them to love them has been made obligatory under Thy commands.
 O my Allah send blessings on Muhammad and on the descendants of Muhammad and cultivate in my mind and heart  obedience unto Thee, do not let me put myself to shame by acts of disobedience, make me feel compassion and assist the unfortunate people who do not receive enough from Thee, with the provisions Thou has made available to me,  more than I need, (to justify that) Thou rightly selected me as a channel and has kept me alive under Thy protective cover.
This is the month of Thy Prophet, the Messenger-in-chief, the month of Shaa'baan surrounded by Thy mercy and  blessings from all sides, in which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be on him and his children) used  to exert himself willingly in the matter of fasting and praying (in its days and nights) to show his humility before Thee for the respect and honor Thou bestowed on him, until his last breath.
O Allah help us to model our conduct on his "way of life" and obtain  the intercession he is entitled to put forward.
O my Allah select him as my advocate to speak in favor of me, establish him for me a medium unto Thee, the sure and smooth approach; and make me follow in his footsteps till I send before Thee on  the Day of Judgement; Thou pleasedwith me, my mistakes overlooked, because Thou has found me worthy of Thy mercy and indulgence, and allowed me to take quarters in the eternal land of bliss and happiness in the neighborhood of the select, good.
(7)  It is highly desirable to observe fast on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of Shaa'baan, and pray every night a 2 Rak-a't Namaaz. 
-In every Rak-a't, after the recitation of Soorah Al-Fatih'ah, recite Soorah Al Ikhlaas 13 times. 

Reference
Al Huda Islamic Newsletter.  The Month of the Prophet SAWW.  Page. 1, December 1997. 
P.E.T (Permahomed Ebrahim Trust).  The Prayer's Almanac.  Pages. 362-367.


Source: http://www.fabonline.com