الحمد لله، الحمد لله الذي الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلَا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ ، نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونؤمن به ونتوكل عليه، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له، ونشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، يحيي ويميت، بيده الخير، وهو على كل شيء قدير، ونشهد أن سيدنا ومولانا محمداً عبده ورسوله، أرسله بشيرًا ونذيرًا بين يدي الساعة، من يطع الله ورسوله فقد اهتدى، ومن يعصهما فإنه قد ضل، وإنه لا يضر إلا نفسه ولا يضر الله شيئًا. أما بعد! فيا عباد الله اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولا تموتن إلا وأنتم مسلمون. يأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولا سديدا يصلح لكم أعمالكم ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم،
إِنَّ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَٱلْمُسْلِمَٰتِ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ وَٱلْقَٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْقَٰنِتَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ وَٱلصَّٰدِقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّٰبِرَٰتِ وَٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ وَٱلْخَٰشِعَٰتِ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمِينَ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمَٰتِ وَٱلْحَٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَٱلْحَٰفِظَٰتِ وَٱلذَّٰكِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَٱلذَّٰكِرَٰتِ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا
“Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the devoutly obedient men and devoutly obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their chastity and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:35)
Allah (SWT) has promised great reward and forgiveness to His believing servants, both men and women, who embody the noble qualities of Eman, devotion, truthfulness, patience, humility, generosity, fasting, chastity, and remembrance of Allah.
We find ourselves in the blessed month of Sha’ban, a month that is often overshadowed by the eminence of Rajab before it and the sanctity of Ramadan that follows. Yet, Sha’ban is a month of immense virtue and significance, a month where what we should already be doing is further incentivised. The companions referred to Sha’ban as the “Shahrul Quraa”—the Month of the Reciters—because they intensified their connection with the Qur’an in anticipation of Ramadan.
The Prophet (ﷺ) set a powerful example during this month. A’ishah (رضي الله عنها) reported:
فَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اسْتَكْمَلَ صِيَامَ شَهْرٍ إِلاَّ رَمَضَانَ، وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ أَكْثَرَ صِيَامًا مِنْهُ فِي شَعْبَانَ
“I never saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fasting an entire month except in Ramadan, and I never saw him fasting more than he did in Sha’ban.” (Bukhari)
Usamah ibn Zayd (رضي الله عنه) also narrated:
قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَمْ أَرَكَ تَصُومُ شَهْرًا مِنْ الشُّهُورِ مَا تَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبٍ وَرَمَضَانَ وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الْأَعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ
Usamah said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as you fast during Sha’ban.’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘It is a month people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the worlds, and I like for my deeds to be raised while I am fasting.'” (Nasa’i)
These ahadith emphasize that Sha’ban is a month of neglect and heedlessness for many, yet it carries immense significance for those who understand the heart of the matter. Just as an athlete conditions himself before a marathon, we too must prepare ourselves in Sha’ban so that we do not falter when Ramadan arrives. How many times don’t we start Ramadan with vigour and excitement only to fall off the proverbial wagon within a week, if not sooner. This is no more evident than in the masajid where we find the mosque full on the first night but dwindling with each passing night until but a saf remains.
So what steps can we take to ensure that this doesn’t happen to us? What we learn from our “uswatun hasana” our great example is that we should engage in acts that others neglect. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged us to pray at night when others are asleep, saying:
صَلُّوا بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلَامٍ
“Offer salah at night when people are asleep, and you will enter Jannah in peace.” (Ibn Majah). Similarly, fasting in Sha’ban carries this unique reward, as it is a time when many would not fast so close to the month of fasting. If you have not fasted throughout the year, at least observe a few fasts in Sha’ban. The Prophet ﷺ emphasized fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, saying that these are the days when our deeds are presented before Allah.
We should strengthen our relationship with the Qur’an, if you have been neglectful of the Qur’an for months, now is the time to reconnect. If you recite the Qur’an regularly, challenge yourself to increase your recitation in preparation for
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ
The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed, as a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and that which distinguishes truth from falsehood.” (2:185)
Increasing in Sadaqah is a must. We mentioned last week the JMCT offers three meaningful opportunities for you to earn multiplied rewards: The first is Supporting the Hufaath during the month. The 2nd is the Daily Iftaar Feeding and the 3rd is the Maintenance of the Masjid: If you have not given charity in a while, then begin now. If you are already generous, increase your giving, وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ النَّارَ الْمَاءُ for charity extinguishes sin just as water extinguishes fire. And besides مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ مَالٍ Charity does not decrease wealth, so what is there to lose!
And finally, and I would say most importantly is Excellence in Serving Our Parents (Birr al-Walidayn). If we have been neglectful or disrespectful toward our parents, we must correct it. Allah commands us to treat them with ihsan—a level of excellence that goes beyond mere kindness. In our tafsir lessons, we reflected on how Allah uses a masdar (verbal noun) rather than a sifah (adjective), indicating that ihsan is not just an occasional act but a continuous state, encompassing even our thoughts about them. Allah says:
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُواْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۭ وَلَا تَنۡهَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلًۭا كَرِيمًۭا
“Your Lord has decreed: Do not worship any but Him; be good to your parents; and should both or one of them attain old age with you, do not even say to them ‘uff’ (a word of annoyance) nor repel them with harsh words, but be generous with your noble beautiful speech.” (17:23)
Sha’ban is clearly a month brimming with opportunity, reserved exclusively for those who are proactive in seizing the chance to prepare themselves for a month unlike any other.
أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولسائر المسلمين من كل ذنب فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرَّحيم
الحمد لله الحمد لله رب العالمين، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله، أرسله بشيرا ونذيرا بين يدي الساعة اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك عليه وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين، ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.
أما بعد! فيأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله ما استطعتم واسمعوا وأطيعوا وأنفقوا خيرا لأنفسكم. يا عباد الله أوصيكم وإياي بتقوى الله وطاعته
As we prepare for Ramadan, we should focus on increasing our acts of worship—prayer, fasting, reciting the Qur’an, and giving charity. But the Prophet of Allah ﷺ also emphasized another form of preparation: removing blameworthy qualities from our hearts. Before we can fully benefit from our acts of worship, we must cleanse ourselves internally.
Imagine a container with a bit of dirt in its corner. If you pour clean water into it, what happens? The water becomes murky. In the same way, if we enter Ramadan without purifying our hearts, our worship will be tainted. Two major barriers that can prevent us from fully benefiting from Ramadan are Shirk (associating partners with Allah) and Shahna (hatred, enmity, and grudges).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيَطَّلِعُ فِي لَيْلَةِ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَيَغْفِرُ لِجَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ إِلَّا لِمُشْرِكٍ أَوْ مُشَاحِنٍ
“Allah looks at His creation on the night of the middle of Sha’ban and forgives all of them, except a mushrik (one who associates partners with Him) and a person who harbours hatred.” (Ibn Majah)
A mushrik is someone who commits shirk, the gravest sin in Islam. A mushahin is someone who holds enmity, grudges, or hatred against others, especially fellow Muslims. Such a person’s heart is consumed by ill feelings, blocking the path to divine mercy.
These two sins are so severe that Allah withholds His forgiveness from those who carry them. Imagine standing in Ramadan, eager for the gates of mercy to open, only to find them closed because of a grudge you refuse to let go of or an act of shirk where Allah (SWT) says that I am too worthy to have anyone associated with me in worship so Whoever does a deed other than for me then I will leave him and that Shirk – there is no need for that deed.
What Do Shirk and Shahna Have in Common? The scholars have noted a dangerous connection between these two qualities. Shahna (hatred and enmity) often leads to recklessness—particularly with our tongues. Many sins, such as backbiting and slander, originate from hatred. A person driven by enmity does not merely speak carelessly; they seek to harm others. This enmity blinds them to justice and truth, leading them to lie and slander out of spite.
Similarly, shirk distorts a person’s perception of reality. When one associates partners with Allah, their moral compass becomes skewed. Shirk allows people to justify evil as good and corrupts their understanding of righteousness. Just as enmity leads a person to abandon truth for personal vendetta, shirk leads a person to abandon truth for falsehood.
What allowed the companions to prostrate to Allah after decades of prostrating to idols? They purified themselves from shirk but what enabled them to stand and prostrate next to people who had killed them and persecuted members of their own family and done all manner of evil? They were also doing that for Allah. They learned to love and hate only for Allah. They removed their nafs (themselves) from that equation all together. Their relationship with Allah was of utmost importance, they loved and hated for Him alone.
Tawheed purifies everything in our lives—our intentions, our actions, our relationships, and our thoughts. It makes us see the world as it truly is: a temporary place where we are tested by our choices. Tawheed gives us the peace of knowing that we are never alone. Our Creator is always with us, guiding us, sustaining us, and forgiving us when we fall short. Tawheed is the cure for the ailments of the nafs. It is the antidote to despair, for it reconnects us to our source, to Allah, and to the purpose of our existence.
What is Tawheed?
Imam Ghazali (RA) provides this powerful definition in his masterpiece Ihya ulumudeen (The Revival of the Religious Sciences):
Allah discloses and informs us that He is One in His essence without partner, unique without likeness, absolute without opposite, singular without rival. He is eternal without a predecessor, timeless without beginning, ever-being without end, ever-constant without waning. He is, was, and ever will be endowed with the qualities of majesty, and the interval of time and passing of lifespans will never bring Him to an end. Rather, “He is the First, the Last, the Outward and the Inward. And He is of all things knowing.” (57:3)
إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ، يَا أَيُهَا الذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ. وَارْضَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَعَلِيٍّ، وعن أم المومنين عائشة التي أمرنا الله في سورة النور أن ندافع عنها، وَعَنْ سَائِرِ الصَّحَابَةِ أَجْمَعِينَ، خُصُوصاً اِلأَنْصَارَ مِنْهُمْ وَالمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَعَنِ التَّابِعِينَ وَتَابِعِي التَّابِعِينَ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ.
اللهم بارك لنا في شعبان وبلغنا رمضان ، اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ وُلَاةَ أُمُورِ المُسْلِمِينَ لِمَا يُرْضِيكَ وَلِاتِّبَاعِ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَهُمْ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ المُسْتَقِيمِ، وَأَصْلِحْهُمْ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى شُيُوخِنَا، وَعَلَى رئيسنا، وَعَلَى أَمِيرِنَا، وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ أُمَرَاءِ وَزُعَمَاءِ المُسْلِمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى المُسْلِمِينَ فِي هَذِهِ المَدِينَةِ، وَوَفِّقْهُمْ لِمَا تُحِبُّهُ وَتَرْضَاهُ يَا أَكْرَمَ الأَكْرَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلَامَ وَالمُسِْلمِينَ. ربنا آتنا في الدنيا حسنة وفي الآخرة حسنة وقنا عذاب النار.
إِنَّ اللهَ يَامُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى، وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَّكَّرُونَ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ. وَقُومُواْ إِلَى صَلاتِكُمْ يَرْحَمُكُمُ اللهُ.