The Meaning of Sya’ban in Islam: Gate of Glory

Redha Sindarotama11 February 2025

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The meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam as the gate to the glory of the great month, the month of the Qur’an, the month of Ramadan is indeed often neglected. Moreover, the month of Sha’ban is a month that is sandwiched between two holy months (haram) Rajab and Ramadan. So it is not uncommon for the month of Sha’ban to be missed just like that. Even the Prophet ﷺ reminded,

ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفَلُ عَنْهُ النَّاسُ

“It is a month, in which people neglect it.” (HR. At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i from Usamah bin Zaid radhiyallahu anhu)

Therefore, in this article, let us discuss the meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam as a gateway to glory, although it is often overlooked.

Also read: Knowledge is the Key to Glory in the World and the Hereafter

The Virtue of Revive Times Life to That Humans Neglect

In a longer hadith the Prophet ﷺ said,

ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبٍ وَرَمَضَانَ وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الْأَعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُرْف عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ

“The month of Sha’ban is a month in which people begin to be negligent, that is between the months of Rajab and Ramadhan. It is a month in which deeds are raised to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Therefore, I am very fond of it. to fast when my deeds are increased.” (HR. An Nasa’i no. 2357)

The scholars also said,

“This hadith is a proof regarding the sunnah of reliving the times that people neglect with obedience. That is certainly more beloved by Allah ﷻ. Some Salaf scholars like to liven up the time between the two Isha [Magrib-Isha] with prayer. They say, ‘This is a waste of time.’”

Therefore, this noble sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ also becomes our self-assessment, are we among those who are neglected in the month of Sha’ban with all its virtues, or not? This is what the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned about.

We hope that by reviewing the meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam again, it will be able to help us and our brothers and sisters in maximizing piety in a time that is often neglected.

Also read: The Importance of Using Time in Islam

The Month of Sha’ban is a Gate of Glory

The meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam can also be said to be the gateway to the month of glory. Because, the month of Sha’ban is right before the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan, the opening gate to days where the reward of our piety is multiplied many times over. Apart from that, Ramadhan is also the month when the doors of heaven are opened, as the Prophet ﷺ said.

قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَمَضَانُ شَهْرٌمُبَارَكٌ افْتَرَضَ اللهُ عَلَيْكُمْ صِيَامَهُ تُفْتَحُ فَيْهِ أبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ وَيُغْلَقُ فَيْهِ أبْوَابُ الْجَحِيْمِ وَتُغَلًّ فَيْهَ الشَّيَاطَيْنُ فَيْهِ لَيْلَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ ألْفِ شَهْرٍ

Meaning: The month of Ramadan has come, the full month blessings, then Allah requires you to fast that month. At that time the gates of heaven were opened, the gates of hell were closed, the devils were bound and in that month there was a night that was better than a thousand months (HR. Ahmad).

So Sya’ban is the initial gate to the gates of heaven promised in the month of Ramadan.

For this reason, whoever really longs to enter heaven through the doors of its glory, then the meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam needs to be immediately understood well, so that Sya’ban can immediately be utilized in piety and become an opportunity to knock on that door’s heaven.

So that the meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam as a carriage towards glory can truly be realized. For the success of the great goal of piety in the special month of Ramadan.

Also read: Too Much Worship? Is it Possible or Wrong?

2 Sha’ban Practices as the Gateway to Preparation for the Month of Ramadan

After we have learned the meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam as the gateway to glory towards Ramadan, then it is time for us to practice it in the form of preparation that must be done in welcoming Ramadan. Here are 2 practices that are highly recommended.

First, increase sunnah fasting in the month of Sha’ban

There are special practices that can be done in the month of Sha’ban and this is one of the most important meanings of the month of Sha’ban in Islam, namely increasing sunnah fasting. Even the Prophet ﷺ gave an example of fasting himself during the month of Sha’ban, which is more than other months apart from obligatory fasting in the month of Ramadan.

From ‘Aisyah’s mother radhiyallahu ‘anha said,
لَمْ يَكُنِ النَّبِىُّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – يَصُومُ شَهْرًا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ ، فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ كُلَّهُ

The Prophet ﷺ did not usually fast in one month more than the month of Shaban. The Prophet ﷺ used to fast the entire month of Sha’ban.” (HR. Bukhari no. 1970 and Muslim no. 1156)

Increasing fasting is one of the practices that is based on the most important meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam. In fact, fasting on Sha’ban can be likened to the careib prayer or prayer which has priority because it accompanies the obligatory prayers, before or after it, such is the fast on Sha’ban. Because fasting in the month of Shaban is very close to fasting in Ramadan, this fast has the advantage of dissecting the practices learned from studying the meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam.

Second, Increase Reading of The Qur’an in The Month of Sha’ban

In addition to increasing the sunnah fasting in the month of Sha’ban, the meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam is also conveyed by scholars to increase reading of the Qur’an. As in the month of Ramadan we are recommended to be busy with the Qur’an, so the month of Sha’ban is the perfect time to start it. Quoted from Shaikh Sholih Al Munajjid after this translation, he said:

قال سلمة بن كهيل : كان يقال شهر شعبان شهر القراء
Salamah bin Kahiil said, “In the past, the month of Sha’ban was also called the month of reading the Qur’an.”

وكان عمرو بن قيس إذا دخل شهر شعبان أغلق حانوته وتفرغ لقراءة القرآن
‘Amr bin Qois when the month of Sha’ban entered, he closed his shop and busied himself more with the Qur’an.

وقال أبو بكر البلخي : شهر رجب شهر الزرع ، وشهر شعبان شهر سقي الزرع ، وشهر رمضان شهر حصاد الزرع

Abu Bakr Al Balkhi said, “The month of Rajab is the time to plant. “The month of Sha’ban is the time to water the plants and the month of Ramadan is the time to reap the harvest.”

وقال – أيضاً – : مثل شهر رجب كالريح ، ومثل شعبان مثل الغيم ، ومثل رمضان مثل المطر ، ومن لم يزرع ويغرس في رجب ، ولم يسق في شعبان فكيف يريد أن يحصد في رمضان .

Abu Bakr Al Balkhi also said, “The month of Rajab is like the wind, the month of Sha’ban is like clouds and the month of Ramadan is like rain. Whoever does not plant in the month of Rajab, then does not water his plants in the month of Sha’ban, then do not expect to be able to reap the results in the month of Ramadan.”

Starting to read the Qur’an more after understanding the meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam. It turns out that it is also highly recommended by the salaf scholars. So by knowing the meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam as the gateway to the glory of Ramadan, it is fitting that we start by increasing our reading of the Qur’an before entering it.

Also read: 6 Effective Tips for Preparing to Face the Finances of the Month of Ramadan Smoothly Without Stress

Khatimah

Let us understand the meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam as the gateway to the glory of Ramadan. So that by understanding the meaning of the month of Sha’ban in Islam, we can achieve its best deeds. By keeping yourself busy in the month of Sya’ban to increase interaction with the Qur’an and increase fasting before entering the holy month, the month of Ramadan as the gate of glory.