A MONTH FOR REHEARSAL & PREPARATION

It is like the Sunnah Salah we offer before and after the Fard Salah. For the Fard fast of Ramadan, we are taught to offer nafl fasts before and after (ie; in Sha’ban and Shawwal)

(Lataiful Ma’arif, pg.249)

The Sahabah (radiyallahu ’anhum) and Tabi’un (rahimahumullah) would also engage in what we would understand as ‘spiritual preparation’ for Ramadan.

Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه said:

During the month of Sha’bān, the Muslims would devote themselves to the Mushafs and recite from them. They used to distribute the zakāt* from their wealth in order to support the weak and poor for the upcoming Ramadān.

[Latāif al-Ma’ārif 135]

Hafiz Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali (rahimahullah) writes:

‘Since Sha’ban is a prelude to Ramadan, Islam encourages certain deeds in this month, that are usually done in Ramadan. Like fasting and Quran recital. This prepares the soul to welcome Ramadan, when it arrives, with open arms.’

(Lataiful Ma’arif, pg.258)

"When Sha'bān arrived, Muslims would dedicate themselves to the Qur'ān and they would dispose of their zakāt*..."

—Al-Hāfidh ibn Hajar (Fathul Bari)

* The general rule is to pay zakat as soon as it is due, however there can be exceptions please read here:

https://islamqa.info/amp/en/answers/8400

Allah knows best.

How quickly the human heart forgets. In moments of fear, pain, or hardship, we run to Allah with sincerity, our voices trembling as we call upon Him. But when ease returns and blessings surround us, the same heart becomes distracted… forgetting the One who carried us through difficulty. We forget the Giver even while living inside His bounty and mercy. Yet Allah — in His mercy — never forgets us.

Just imagine what would happen if Allah were to forsake you for even the blink of an eye. Every system in your body — your heartbeat, your lungs drawing breath, your nerves firing, your blood circulating, your organs functioning, your mind processing, your cells repairing themselves — would collapse instantly. You would be destroyed in a moment. Your entire existence is sustained by Him every second, in ways you cannot see or comprehend.

We must show Allah gratitude for these countless bounties — for the seen and the unseen, the remembered and the forgotten, in times of hardship and ease, the ones we notice and the unlimited countless we don’t.

That is why we make duʿāʾ. We humble ourselves and admit our complete dependence on Him, and we say:

اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو، فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ

“O Allah, I hope for Your mercy, so do not leave me to myself for the blink of an eye, and rectify all of my affairs. There is no god except You.”

And Allah reminds us in the Qur’an:

َإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ

“And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: ‘If you give thanks (by obeying Me), I will give you more (of My Blessings); but if you are thankless (i.e., disbelievers), verily My punishment is indeed severe.’”

— Surah Ibrāhīm, Verse 7

— Shaykh Musa Jibril حفظه الله
https://news.1rj.ru/str/LightOfTheTruth

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Verily. Allah would say on the Day of Resurrection: Where are those who have mutual love for My Glory's sake? Today I shall shelter them in My shadow when there is no other shadow but the shadow of Mine.

[Sahih Muslim, 2566]

Guidance from the Hadith:

💠 The Hadith highlights the virtue of loving one another for the sake of Allah and urges the believers to love one another for His sake.

💠 The reward is of the same kind as the deed, so whoever prefers love for Allah over his desires and offers acts of obedience diligently, Allah will favor him on the Day of Judgment and will shelter him under His shade.

[Riyaad as salihin 377]

@forerunnerss

Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ 🤍✨️

Abu Huraira reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: He who blesses me once, Allah would bless him ten times.

[Sahih Muslim, 408]

"Indeed, Allāh showers His blessings upon the Prophet, and His angels pray for him. O believers! Invoke Allāh’s blessings upon him, and salute him with worthy greetings of peace."

[Al-Ahzab: 56]

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ ❁ اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

@forerunnerss