Question 1145: What are the specific recommendations of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) for the end of the month of Sha'ban?
Answer
✅In addition to the general acts of worship for the month of Sha'ban, please pay attention to the following two narrations:
1 عَنْ عَبْدِ السَّلَامِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ الْهَرَوِيِّ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا فِي آخِرِ جُمُعَةٍ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا الصَّلْتِ إِنَّ شَعْبَانَ قَدْ مَضَى أَكْثَرُهُ وَ هَذَا آخِرُ جُمُعَةٍ مِنْهُ فَتَدَارَكْ فِيمَا بَقِيَ مِنْهُ تَقْصِيرَكَ فِيمَا مَضَى مِنْهُ وَ عَلَيْكَ بِالْإِقْبَالِ عَلَى مَا يَعْنِيكَ وَ تَرْكِ مَا لَا يَعْنِيكَ وَ أَكْثِرْ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ وَ الِاسْتِغْفَارِ وَ تِلَاوَةِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ تُبْ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ ذُنُوبِكَ لِيُقْبِلَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكَ وَ أَنْتَ مُخْلِصٌ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لَا تَدَعَنَّ أَمَانَةً فِي عُنُقِكَ إِلَّا أَدَّيْتَهَا وَ لَا فِي قَلْبِكَ حِقْداً عَلَى مُؤْمِنٍ إِلَّا نَزَعْتَهُ وَ لَا ذَنْباً أَنْتَ مُرْتَكِبُهُ إِلَّا أَقْلَعْتَ عَنْهُ وَ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَ تَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ فِي سَرِّ أَمْرکَ وَ عَلَانِيَتِكَ وَ مَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْ ءٍ قَدْراً وَ أَكْثِرْ مِنْ أَنْ تَقُولَ فِيمَا بَقِيَ مِنْ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ غَفَرْتَ لَنَا فِيمَا مَضَى مِنْ شَعْبَانَ- فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا فِيمَا بَقِيَ مِنْهُ- فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يُعْتِقُ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ رِقَاباً مِنَ النَّارِ لِحُرْمَةِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ.
📚Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha, Vol. 2, p. 51
Abd al-Salam said: 'I came to Imam Ridha (peace be upon him) in the last week of the month of Sha'ban. He said to me: 'O Abu Salt! Most of the month of Sha'ban has passed, and this is its last week. So, in what remains of it, make up for your shortcomings and negligence in its past, and it is upon you to turn to what you need and leave what you do not need, and increase your supplication, seeking forgiveness, and recitation of the Qur'an. And repent to Allah from your sins so that the month of Allah (i.e., the month of Ramadan) comes to you while you are sincere to Allah Almighty, and never abandon any trust that is on your neck except that you deliver it (to its owner), and do not abandon any hatred in your heart for a believer except that you remove it, and no sin that you have committed except that you detach and separate yourself from it. And fear Allah and trust in Him in your hidden and apparent affairs, and whoever trusts in Allah, He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah is the one who brings His matter to pass, and He has set a measure for everything. And in the remainder of this month, say a lot:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ غَفَرْتَ لَنَا فِيمَا مَضَى مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا فِيمَا بَقِيَ مِنْهُ
Meaning: 'O Allah! If You have not granted us forgiveness in the past of the month of Sha'ban, then forgive us in what remains of it!'
For Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, in this month, frees necks from the fire of Hell out of respect for the month of Ramadan!
2 عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ: مَنْ صَامَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ آخِرِ شَعْبَانَ وَ وَصَلَهَا بِشَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ صَوْمَ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ.
📚Amali al-Saduq, p. 533, Hadith 8
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever fasts the last three days of the month of Sha'ban and joins it with the month of Ramadan, Allah will write for him the fast of two consecutive months!'
اللَّهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَجِّلْ لِوَلِیِّکَ الْفَرَجَ وَ الْعَافِیَةَ وَ النَّصْرَ