Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Abu Salamah reports that I asked Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the fasting of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), so she said: Sometimes the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would fast continuously in such a way during a month that we would feel he would not stop fasting, and sometimes he would stop fasting to such an extent that we would feel he would not fast. He used to fast the most in the month of Sha'ban. He would not fast less in Sha'ban, rather he would fast for the entire month of Sha'ban.

Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the most virtuous fast. He replied that the fast of Sha'ban is in honor of Ramadan.

Hazrat Ata states that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast the most in the month of Sha'ban. The reason for this was that in this month, the time is recorded for those people who will pass away in that year.

Hazrat Usama bin Zaid says that I asked, O Messenger of Allah! I have seen you fasting so much in Sha’ban that except for Ramadan, you do not fast as much in any other month. What is the reason for this? He replied, This is the month that people are heedless of. It is the month between Rajab and Ramadan. In this month, the deeds of people are presented before Allah. I like that when my deeds are presented before Allah, I am in a state of fasting.

Hazrat Abu Salamah narrates that I asked Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the fasts of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so she replied that he used to fast the most in the month of Sha'ban. He did not fast less in Ramadan, rather he used to fast the entire month of Sha'ban.