Blessed Times

Among the blessed months, Rajab and Sha'ban hold a particular place: they prepare the servant, in spirit and in body, for Ramadan. When Rajab came in, the Messenger of God ﷺ would make this supplication, receiving the three months with joy:

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي رَجَبٍ وَشَعْبَانَ وَبَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَانَ

“O God, bless Rajab and Sha'ban for us, and bring us to Ramadan.” (Ṭabarānī, al-Muʿjam al-awsaṭ, IV, 189)

One event that raises the standing of Rajab is the Ascent. The Isrā' — the Prophet's night journey from the Sacred Mosque to al-Aqsā Mosque — and the Miʿrāj, his ascent from there through the seven heavens, are held by one view to have taken place in Rajab.

The Prophet ﷺ took particular care to fast when Sha'ban came. Usāma, the son of his beloved Zayd, noticed this and asked why he fasted in no month as much as he did in Sha'ban. He received this reply:

This is a month between Rajab and Ramadan that people are heedless of. In it, deeds are presented to God, the Lord of the worlds. And I love that my deeds be presented to God while I am fasting.

The Prophet ﷺ — Nasā'ī, Ṣawm, 70

To convey how wide God's mercy is on this night, the Prophet ﷺ said to ʿĀ'isha:

On this night, which falls at the middle of Sha'ban, God descends to the lowest heaven (manifests His mercy) and forgives more sinners than there are hairs on the sheep of the tribe of Kalb.

The Prophet ﷺ — Tirmidhī, Ṣawm, 39; Ibn Mājah, Iqāmah, 191

Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar year, falling after Sha'ban and before Shawwāl. Immediately after the verses making fasting obligatory, it is stated that Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an — a guidance for people and a criterion between truth and falsehood — was sent down, and those who reach this month are commanded to fast. (2/al-Baqarah, 185)

The principal features of Ramadan

1. The revelation of the Qur'an began in this month, and the Night of Decree — declared in verse and hadith to be better than a thousand months — falls within it. (97/al-Qadr, 3; Nasā'ī, “Ṣiyām”, 5)
2. The fiṭr alms, a financial act of worship, must be paid at the end of this month and before the Eid.
3. In Ramadan — called “the month of the Qur'an” — it is considered recommended to recite the Qur'an abundantly and reflect upon it.

Hadith on Ramadan

Whoever prays the tarāwīḥ in Ramadan out of faith and in hope of reward from God, their past sins are forgiven.

Bukhārī, Īmān, 37; Muslim, Musāfirīn, 173

When Ramadan enters, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are put in chains.

Bukhārī, Ṣawm, 5; Muslim, Ṣiyām, 1

The one who fasts has two joys: the joy of the moment they break their fast, and the joy of meeting their Lord.

Bukhārī, Ṣawm, 2

Every good deed may be repaid from ten times over to seven hundred times over — but fasting is different. Fasting is for Me, and I shall reward it Myself.

Muslim, “Ṣiyām”, 164

Linguistically, qadr carries meanings such as “decree, eminence, honour, power.” In religious literature, laylat al-qadr is the name of the night on which the Qur'an was sent down. In the 97th sura, which bears the same name, this night is declared to be better than a thousand months.

A hadith pointing to its importance notes that whereas earlier communities were given long lives and so the opportunity to accumulate more reward, the Muslims were given the Night of Decree. (al-Muwaṭṭa', “I'tikāf”, 6)

Whoever spends the Night of Decree in worship and obedience, believing in its merit and sanctity and hoping for reward from God alone, their past sins are forgiven — save for the rights owed to other people.

Bukhārī, Laylat al-qadr, 1; Muslim, Musāfirīn, 175

I see that your dreams about the Night of Decree agree upon the last seven nights of Ramadan. So whoever seeks it, let them seek it in the last seven nights.

Bukhārī, Laylat al-Qadr, 2

The Messenger of God ﷺ particularly recommended seeking the Night of Decree in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. (Muslim, “Ṣiyām”, 216) Leaving his community a prophetic legacy, he encouraged i'tikaf, saying: “Whoever is deprived of the Night of Decree is deprived of all good.” (Musnad, II, 230, 285)

The supplication for the Night of Decree

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

“O God, You are Most Forgiving, You love forgiveness, so forgive me.” (Tirmidhī, “Daʿawāt”, 84; Ibn Mājah, “Duʿā'”, 5)