Fasting Shaban

Abu Salamah says: I asked Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) about the fasting of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and she said: Sometimes the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would fast continuously in a month in such a way that we felt he would not stop fasting, and sometimes he would stop fasting in such a way that we felt he would not fast. He fasted the most in the month of Sha'ban. He used to fast Sha'ban except for a little; rather, he used to fast the whole of Sha'ban.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the most virtuous fasting, and he said: "Fasting in Sha'ban, out of veneration for Ramadan."

Ata bin Yasar says: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fasted the most in the month of Sha'ban. The reason for this was that in this month the appointed time is written for those who are to die that year.

Sayyiduna Usamah bin Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I said: "O Messenger of Allah! I have seen you fast so much in Sha'ban that you do not fast as much in any other month except Ramadan. What is the reason for this?" He said: "That is a month people are heedless of. It is the month between Rajab and Ramadan. In it the deeds of people are raised up to the court of Allah, and I love that when my deeds are presented in the divine court, I am fasting."

Abu Salamah says: I asked Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) about the fasting of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and she said: He fasted the most in the month of Sha'ban. He used to fast the whole of Sha'ban; he used to fast Sha'ban except for a little.