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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:
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(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:
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( 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.):
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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. |
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