Fasting, Faith & Family - Entrance Into The Month of Sha'ban

Salamun 'alaykum wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatu.[Peace, blessings and mercy of Allah be upon you]

Brothers and sisters, month of Sha'ban al-mu'adhdham [revered Month of Sha'ban] is approaching. Month of Sha'ban of 1444 after Hijrah is approaching. Al-hamduli Allah, with the grace of Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala we will [be]going to enter the month of Sha'ban.

One of the beautiful du'as is, 'O Allah give us strength to exit the month of Rajab the way Ahlul Bayt and noble Prophet of Islam they exited. And O Allah give us tawfiq to enter the month of Sha'ban month of Rasul Allah, the way Ahlul Bayt and noble Prophet of Islam entered. Month of Sha'ban al-mu'adhdham is a great month. Month of Rasul Allah salla Allahu 'alayhi wa alihi wa sallam.

I would like to take you to the beautiful salawat al-Sha'baniyyah, the form of du'a of the month of Sha'ban on which we recite these few sentence[s]. 'hadha Shahru Nabiyyik, Sayyidu Rasulik, Sha'ban alladhi hafaftahu minka bi ar-Rahmati wa ar-Ridwan'. This is the month of your Prophet, we are supplicating to Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala. 'O Allah, this is the month of your Prophet- Rasul Allah. The month of Sha'ban, 'alladhi hafaftahu minka bi ar-Rahmati wa ar-Ridwan', 'on which You bestowed and covered and showered Your special mercy and blessings.' 'Alladhi... To the point that Noble Prophet of Islam, he himself used to put extra effort in this great month, month of Sha'ban.

Brothers and sisters, Noble Prophet of Islam when he was extra cautious and putting extra effort in this great month we should understand the greatness of this great month.

The meaning of Sha'ban in Arabic is something very rich and open to everyone. Since Noble Prophet of Islam, one of his title is 'Rahmatan li 'l-'Alamin'-'as a mercy for everyone all the worlds- 'alamin'. The same thing month of Sha'ban as a mercy for everyone.

Often one of the meaning of Sha'ban is when after long drought when rain begin[s] to pour, people they will refer [to] that this is the season of Sha'ban. Brothers and sisters, this great month has begun.

In this great month, some of the key a'amal needs to be paid attention [to]. The first night of the month of Sha'ban is a special night on which we need to supplicate and we need to ask Allah, Subhana wa Ta'ala for a special mercy. Fasting in this great month is highly recommended. Du'as and supplications especially 'Munajat of Sha'baniyyah'[whispered prayer for Sha'ban]

Know our beloved Imam Amir al-Mu'minin, he has a beautiful munajat. Munajat al-Sha'baniyyah' in this month. And also giving a charity in this month is highly recommended. Asking others to forgive us and also Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala.

Our 6th Imam [Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq], he used to gather his family members and also all the companion[s] and he used to talk and discuss about the greatness of this month and how important is to seek forgiveness of each other, to have a clean slate before we enter to the laylatu 'l-bara'ah[mid-Sha'ban]

Laylatu 'l-bara'ah, this month, we are blessed to have the wiladat [births] of Imam Husayn, Imam as-Sajjad, Abu 'l-Fadl al-'Abbas, Ali al-Akbar, and Imam of our time in 'Laylah al-bara'ah' [15th of the month].

It is a great month do not forget asking du'as to each other. Our brothers and sisters, those who are affected in Syria, in Falastin [Palestine] and in Turkey and also different places. May Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala bless us and give strength and tawfiq to take advantage of these great months and to have all the ni'mat [bounties] and Rahmat [mercies] of these great months insha Allah.

Wa as-salaamu 'alaykum wa Rahmatu Allah wa barakatu [Peace, blessings and mercy of Allah be upon you]