"The month which the Messenger of Allah most liked to fast was Shaban; indeed he used to join it to Ramadan."

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ كَانَ أَحَبَّ الشُّهُورِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَصُومَهُ شَعْبَانُ بَلْ كَانَ يَصِلُهُ بِرَمَضَانَ

The month most liked by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for fasting was Sha'ban. He then joined it with Ramadan.

سَمِعَ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ كَانَ أَحَبَّ الشُّهُورِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَصُومَهُ شَعْبَانُ ثُمَّ يَصِلُهُ بِرَمَضَانَ

The month most liked by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for fasting was Sha'ban. He then joined it with Ramadan. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2431)

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ كَانَ أَحَبُّ الشُّهُورِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَصُومَهُ شَعْبَانَ ثُمَّ يَصِلَهُ بِرَمَضَانَ

The month most liked by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for fasting was Sha'ban. He then joined it with Ramadan. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2431)

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ «كَانَ أَحَبَّ الشُّهُورِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَصُومَهُ شَعْبَانُ ثُمَّ يَصِلُهُ بِرَمَضَانَ»

"The month which the Messenger of Allah most liked to fast was Shaban; indeed he used to join it to Ramadan." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2350)

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ «كَانَ أَحَبَّ الشُّهُورِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَصُومَهُ شَعْبَانُ كَانَ يَصِلُهُ بِرَمَضَانَ»

"The month which the Messenger of Allah most liked to fast was Shaban; indeed he used to join it to Ramadan." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2350)

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ «كَانَ أَحَبَّ الشُّهُورِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَصُومَهُ شَعْبَانُ بَلْ كَانَ يَصِلُهُ بِرَمَضَانَ»

The month most liked by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for fasting was Sha'ban. He then joined it with Ramadan. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2431)

ؓ تَقُولُ كَانَ أَحَبُّ الشُّهُورِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَصُومَهُ شَعْبَانَ ثُمَّ يَصِلُهُ بِرَمَضَانَ

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'When you see the crescent then fast, and when you see it, then stop fasting. If it is too cloudy then complete Shaban as thirty days, unless you see the crescent before that, then fast Ramadan as thirty days, unless you see the new crescent before that."'

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْهِلاَلَ فَصُومُوا وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَأَفْطِرُوا فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا شَعْبَانَ ثَلاَثِينَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَرَوُا الْهِلاَلَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ صُومُوا رَمَضَانَ ثَلاَثِينَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَرَوُا الْهِلاَلَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'When you see the crescent then fast, and when you see it, then stop fasting. If it is too cloudy then complete Shaban as thirty days, unless you see the crescent before that, then fast Ramadan as thirty days, unless you see the new crescent before that."' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2128)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْهِلَالَ فَصُومُوا وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَأَفْطِرُوا فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا ثَلَاثِينَ أَتِمُّوا شَعْبَانَ ثَلَاثِينَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَرَوُا الْهِلَالَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ صُومُوا رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثِينَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَرَوُا الْهِلَالَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ»

"I entered upon 'Ikrimah on the day concerning which there was doubt as to whether it was Ramadan or Shaban, and he was eating bread, vegetables and milk. He said: 'Come and eat.' I said: 'I am fasting.' He adjured me by Allah to break my fast. I said Subhan-Allah twice. When I saw that he was insisting, I went forward and said: 'Give me what you have.' He said: 'I heard Ibn 'Abbas say: The Messenger of Allah said: 'Fast when you see it (the crescent) and stop fasting when you see it, and if clouds or darkness prevent you from seeing it, then complete the number of days of Shaban, and do not fast ahead of the month, and do not join Ramadan to a day of Shaban." '

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عِكْرِمَةَ فِي يَوْمٍ قَدْ أُشْكِلَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ هُوَ أَمْ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ وَهُوَ يَأْكُلُ خُبْزًا وَبَقْلاً وَلَبَنًا فَقَالَ لِي هَلُمَّ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ قَالَ وَحَلَفَ بِاللَّهِ لَتُفْطِرَنَّ قُلْتُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُ يَحْلِفُ لاَ يَسْتَثْنِي تَقَدَّمْتُ قُلْتُ هَاتِ الآنَ مَا عِنْدَكَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ حَالَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُ سَحَابَةٌ أَوْ ظُلْمَةٌ فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ عِدَّةَ شَعْبَانَ وَلاَ تَسْتَقْبِلُوا الشَّهْرَ اسْتِقْبَالاً وَلاَ تَصِلُوا رَمَضَانَ بِيَوْمٍ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ

"I entered upon 'Ikrimah on the day concerning which there was doubt as to whether it was Ramadan or Shaban, and he was eating bread, vegetables and milk. He said: 'Come and eat.' I said: 'I am fasting.' He adjured me by Allah to break my fast. I said Subhan-Allah twice. When I saw that he was insisting, I went forward and said: 'Give me what you have.' He said: 'I heard Ibn 'Abbas say: The Messenger of Allah said: 'Fast when you see it (the crescent) and stop fasting when you see it, and if clouds or darkness prevent you from seeing it, then complete the number of days of Shaban, and do not fast ahead of the month, and do not join Ramadan to a day of Shaban." ' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2189)

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عِكْرِمَةَ فِي يَوْمٍ يَعْنِي قَدْ أُشْكِلَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ هُوَ أَوْ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ؟ وَهُوَ يَأْكُلُ خُبْزًا وَبَقْلًا وَلَبَنًا فَقَالَ لِي هَلُمَّ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ قَالَ وَحَلَفَ بِاللهِ لَتُفْطِرَنَّ قُلْتُ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُ يَحْلِفُ لَا يَسْتَثْنِي تَقَدَّمْتُ قُلْتُ هَاتِ الْآنَ مَا عِنْدِكَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ حَالَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُ سَحَابَةٌ أَوْ ظُلمَةٌ فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ عِدَّةَ شَعْبَانَ وَلَا تَسْتَقْبِلُوا الشَّهْرَ اسْتِقْبَالًا وَلَا تَصِلُوا رَمَضَانَ بِيَوْمٍ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ»

[AI] I entered upon Ikrimah one day, and he questioned me about whether it was the 29th day of Ramadan or the 29th day of Sha'ban. I became confused and decided to fast, saying that if it was Ramadan, I would not be left behind, and if it was Sha'ban, it would be voluntary fasting. So, I entered upon Ikrimah while he was eating bread, vegetables, and yogurt. He invited me to join him for a meal, but I informed him that I was fasting. He insisted, swearing by Allah that he would make me break my fast. I said, "Glory be to Allah." He then insisted again, swearing by Allah that he would make me break my fast. And when I saw that he did not make any exceptions, I broke my fast. I had some food and felt full. Then I said, "Give me more food." He said, "I heard Ibn Abbas say that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, 'Fast when you see the new moon and break your fast when you see it. But if it is cloudy or the moon is not visible to you, then complete the month of Sha'ban and do not start Ramadan until you see the new moon.'"

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عِكْرِمَةَ فِي يَوْمٍ وَقَدْ أُشْكِلَ عَلَيَّ أَمِنْ رَمَضَانَ هُوَ أَمْ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَأَصْبَحْتُ صَائِمًا فَقُلْتُ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ لَمْ يَسْبِقْنِي وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ كَانَ تَطَوُّعًا فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى عِكْرِمَةَ وَهُوَ يَأْكُلُ خُبْزًا وَبَقْلًا وَلَبَنًا فَقَالَ هَلُمَّ إِلَى الْغَدَاءِ قُلْتُ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ فَقَالَ أَحْلِفُ بِاللهِ لَتُفْطِرَنَّهُ قُلْتُ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ قَالَ أَحْلِفُ بِاللهِ لَتُفْطِرَنَّهُ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُ لَا يَسْتَثْنِي أَفْطَرْتُ فَغَدَوْتُ بِبَعْضِ الشَّيْءِ وَأَنَا شَبْعَانٌ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ هَاتِ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ حَالَتْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُ سَحَابَةٌ أَوْ غَيَابَةٌ فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلَا تَسْتَقْبِلُوا الشَّهْرَ اسْتِقْبَالًا لَا تَسْتَقْبِلُوا رَمَضَانَ بِيَوْمٍ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ

"I would own fasts from Ramadan and I would not make them up until Shaban came."

إِنْ كَانَ لَيَكُونُ عَلَىَّ الصِّيَامُ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَمَا أَقْضِيهِ حَتَّى يَجِيءَ شَعْبَانُ

If I had some part of the fast of Ramadan to make up, I would not be able to atone for it except in Sha'ban.

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَائِشَةَ ؓ تَقُولُ إِنْ كَانَ لَيَكُونُ عَلَىَّ الصَّوْمُ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَمَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقْضِيَهُ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ شَعْبَانُ

“I heard ‘Aishah say: ‘I used to owe fasts from the month of Ramadan, and I would not make them up for until Sha’ban came.’”

سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ إِنْ كَانَ لَيَكُونُ عَلَىَّ الصِّيَامُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَمَا أَقْضِيهِ حَتَّى يَجِيءَ شَعْبَانُ

"I would own fasts from Ramadan and I would not make them up until Shaban came." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2319)

«إِنْ كَانَ لَيَكُونُ عَلَيَّ الصِّيَامُ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَمَا أَقْضِيهِ حَتَّى يَجِيءَ شَعْبَانُ»

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as Shaban.' He said: 'That is a month to which people do not pay much attention, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I like that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting."'

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَمْ أَرَكَ تَصُومُ شَهْرًا مِنَ الشُّهُورِ مَا تَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبٍ وَرَمَضَانَ وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الأَعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast on certain days until it was said that he never breaks his fast, and he would break his fast on certain days until it was said that he hardly ever fasts, except for two days of the week, unless there was a fasting in the month, then he would fast those two days as well. He did not fast any month as much as he fasted in Sha'ban. I said, "O Messenger of Allah, you fast so much that it seems like you never break your fast, and you break your fast so much that it seems like you hardly ever fast. He said, "Which two days?" I said, "Monday and Thursday." He said, "Those are two days when deeds are shown (to Allah) and I love that my deeds should be shown (to Allah) when I am fasting." I said, "And I have never seen you fasting in any month as you fast in Sha'ban." He said, "That is a month between Rajab and Ramadan that people neglect, but it is a month in which deeds are raised up to the Lord of the worlds, and I love that my deeds should be raised up when I am fasting."

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَصُومُ الْأَيَّامَ يَسْرُدُ حَتَّى يُقَالَ لَا يُفْطِرُ وَيُفْطِرُ الْأَيَّامَ حَتَّى لَا يَكَادَ أَنْ يَصُومَ إِلَّا يَوْمَيْنِ مِنَ الْجُمُعَةِ إِنْ كَانَ فِي صِيَامِهِ وَإِلَّا صَامَهُمَا وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يَصُومُ مِنْ شَهْرٍ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ مَا يَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّكَ تَصُومُ لَا تَكَادُ أَنْ تُفْطِرَ وَتُفْطِرَ حَتَّى لَا تَكَادَ أَنْ تَصُومَ إِلَّا يَوْمَيْنِ إِنْ دَخَلَا فِي صِيَامِكَ وَإِلَّا صُمْتَهُمَا قَالَ أَيُّ يَوْمَيْنِ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَوْمُ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمُ الْخَمِيسِ قَالَ ذَانِكَ يَوْمَانِ تُعْرَضُ فِيهِمَا الْأَعْمَالُ عَلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْرَضَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَلَمْ أَرَكَ تَصُومُ مِنْ شَهْرٍ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ مَا تَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ ذَاكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبٍ وَرَمَضَانَ وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الْأَعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَفَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as Shaban.' He said: 'That is a month to which people do not pay much attention, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I like that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting."' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2357)

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ لَمْ أَرَكَ تَصُومُ مِنَ شَهْرٍ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ مَا تَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ «ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبَ وَرَمَضَانَ وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الْأَعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ»

I said: Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting ˹more˺ in any month like you fast in Shaʿbān. He said, "People are heedless in that month between Rajab and Ramaḍān and it is the month where deeds are raised up to the Lord of the worlds. Therefore I prefer that my deeds are raised up while I'm fasting."

قُلتُ: يَا رَسُولَ الله! لَمْ أَرَاكَ تَصُومُ مِنْ شَهْرٍ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ مَا تَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ؟ قَالَ: «ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجبٍ وَرَمَضَانَ، وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الأعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبَ الْعَالمِينَ، فَأُحِبُّ أنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِى وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ۔»

Ibn ‘Umar reported the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ as saying “The month consists of twenty nine days, but do not fast till you sight it (the moon) and do not break your fast till you sight it. If the weather is cloudy, calculate it thirty days. When the twenty-ninth of Sha’ban came, Ibn ‘Umar would send someone (who tried) to sight the moon for him. If it was sighted then well and good, in case it was not sighted and there was no cloud and dust before him (on the horizon) he would not keep fast the next day. If there appeared (on the horizon) before him cloud or dust, he would fast the following day. Ibn ‘Umar would end his fasting alone with the people and did not follow this calculation.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ فَلاَ تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ وَلاَ تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ ثَلاَثِينَ قَالَ فَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ إِذَا كَانَ شَعْبَانُ تِسْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ نُظِرَ لَهُ فَإِنْ رُؤِيَ فَذَاكَ وَإِنْ لَمْ يُرَ وَلَمْ يَحُلْ دُونَ مَنْظَرِهِ سَحَابٌ وَلاَ قَتَرَةٌ أَصْبَحَ مُفْطِرًا فَإِنْ حَالَ دُونَ مَنْظَرِهِ سَحَابٌ أَوْ قَتَرَةٌ أَصْبَحَ صَائِمًا قَالَ فَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يُفْطِرُ مَعَ النَّاسِ وَلاَ يَأْخُذُ بِهَذَا الْحِسَابِ

The month of Ramadan may consist of twenty-nine days. So do not fast till you have sighted it (the new moon) and do not break fast, till you have sighted it (the new moon of Shawwal), and if the sky is cloudy for you, then calculate. (Using translation from Muslim 1080e)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنَّمَا الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ فَلَا تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ وَلَا تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ قَالَ نَافِعٌ فَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللهِ إِذَا مَضَى مِنْ شَعْبَانَ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ يَبْعَثُ مَنْ يَنْظُرُ فَإِنْ رُئِيَ فَذَاكَ وَإِنْ لَمْ يُرَ وَلَمْ يَحُلْ دُونَ مَنْظَرِهِ سَحَابٌ وَلَا قَتَرٌ أَصْبَحَ مُفْطِرًا وَإِنْ حَالَ دُونَ مَنْظَرِهِ سَحَابٌ أَوْ قَتَرٌ أَصْبَحَ صَائِمًا

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Indeed, the month is twenty-nine days, so do not fast until you see it, and do not break your fast until you see it. If it is cloudy and unclear to you, then estimate it." Hammam narrated from Ayub who said, "Whenever Ibn Umar would finish the month of Sha'ban as twenty-nine days, he would look for the moon. If he saw it, he would fast, and if he did not see it, and there were no clouds or fog obstructing his view, then he would break his fast. And he would break his fast with the people and not follow this calculation." Ibn 'Awn also said, "I mentioned the actions of Ibn 'Umar to Muhammad bin Sirin, and it did not please him."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنَّمَا الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ فَلَا تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ وَلَا تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ زَادَ حَمَّادٌ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ قَالَ نَافِعٌ كَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ إِذَا مَضَى مِنْ شَعْبَانَ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ نَظَرَ لَهُ فَإِنْ رُئِيَ فَذَاكَ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَرَ وَلَمْ يَحُلْ دُونَ مَنْظَرِهِ سَحَابٌ وَلَا قَتَرَةٌ أَصْبَحَ مُفْطِرًا وَإِنْ حَالَ دُونَ مَنْظَرِهِ سَحَابٌ أَوْ قَتَرَةٌ أَصْبَحَ صَائِمًا وَكَانَ يُفْطِرُ مَعَ النَّاسِ وَلَا يَأْخُذُ بِهَذَا الْحِسَابِ قَالَ وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَوْنٍ ذَكَرْتُ فِعْلَ ابْنِ عُمَرَ لِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ فَلَمْ يُعْجِبْهُ

I asked AbuTha'labah al-Khushani: What is your opinion about the verse "Care for yourselves". He said: I swear by Allah, I asked the one who was well informed about it; I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it. He said: No, enjoin one another to do what is good and forbid one another to do what is evil. But when you see niggardliness being obeyed, passion being followed, worldly interests being preferred, everyone being charmed with his opinion, then care for yourself, and leave alone what people in general are doing; for ahead of you are days which will require endurance, in which showing endurance will be like grasping live coals. The one who acts rightly during that period will have the reward of fifty men who act as he does. Another version has: He said (The hearers asked:) Messenger of Allah, the reward of fifty of them? He replied: The reward of fifty of you.

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا ثَعْلَبَةَ الْخُشَنِيَّ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا ثَعْلَبَةَ كَيْفَ تَقُولُ فِي هَذِهِ الآيَةِ { عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ } قَالَ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَنْهَا خَبِيرًا سَأَلْتُ عَنْهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ بَلِ ائْتَمِرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنَاهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَيْتَ شُحًّا مُطَاعًا وَهَوًى مُتَّبَعًا وَدُنْيَا مُؤْثَرَةً وَإِعْجَابَ كُلِّ ذِي رَأْىٍ بِرَأْيِهِ فَعَلَيْكَ يَعْنِي بِنَفْسِكَ وَدَعْ عَنْكَ الْعَوَامَّ فَإِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ أَيَّامَ الصَّبْرِ الصَّبْرُ فِيهِ مِثْلُ قَبْضٍ عَلَى الْجَمْرِ لِلْعَامِلِ فِيهِمْ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ خَمْسِينَ رَجُلاً يَعْمَلُونَ مِثْلَ عَمَلِهِ وَزَادَنِي غَيْرُهُ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَجْرُ خَمْسِينَ مِنْهُمْ قَالَ أَجْرُ خَمْسِينَ مِنْكُمْ

"I went to Abu Tha'balah Al-Khushani and said to him: 'How do you deal with this Ayah?' He said: 'Which Ayah?' I said: 'Allah's saying: Take care of yourselves! If you follow the guidance no harm shall come to you (5:105).' He said: 'Well, by Allah! I asked one well-informed about it, I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it. [So] he said: "Rather, comply with (and order) the good, and stay away from (and prohibit) the evil, until you see avarice obeyed, desires followed, and the world preferred, and everyone is amazed with his view. Then you should be worried about yourself in particular, and worry of the common folk. Ahead of you are the days in which patience is like holding onto an ember, for the doer (of righteous deeds) during them is the like of the reward of fifty of those who do the like of what you do." 'Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak said: "It was added for me, by other than 'Utbah, that it was said: 'O Messenger of Allah! The reward of fifty men among us, or them?' He said: 'No! Rather the reward of fifty men among you.'"

أَتَيْتُ أَبَا ثَعْلَبَةَ الْخُشَنِيَّ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ فِي هَذِهِ الآيَةِ قَالَ أَيَّةُ آيَةٍ قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ ( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ لاَ يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ ) قَالَ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَنْهَا خَبِيرًا سَأَلْتُ عَنْهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ بَلِ ائْتَمِرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنَاهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَيْتَ شُحًّا مُطَاعًا وَهَوًى مُتَّبَعًا وَدُنْيَا مُؤْثَرَةً وَإِعْجَابَ كُلِّ ذِي رَأْىٍ بِرَأْيِهِ فَعَلَيْكَ بِخَاصَّةِ نَفْسِكَ وَدَعِ الْعَوَامَّ فَإِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ أَيَّامًا الصَّبْرُ فِيهِنَّ مِثْلُ الْقَبْضِ عَلَى الْجَمْرِ لِلْعَامِلِ فِيهِنَّ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ خَمْسِينَ رَجُلاً يَعْمَلُونَ مِثْلَ عَمَلِكُمْ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ وَزَادَنِي غَيْرُ عُتْبَةَ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَجْرُ خَمْسِينَ رَجُلاً مِنَّا أَوْ مِنْهُمْ قَالَ لاَ بَلْ أَجْرُ خَمْسِينَ مِنْكُمْ

“I came to Abu Tha’labah Al-Khushani and said: ‘How do you understand this Verse?’ He said: ‘Which verse?’ I said: “O you who believe! Take care of your own selves. If you follow the (right) guidance, no hurt can come to you from those who are in error.”?[5:105] He said: ‘You have asked one who knows about it. I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it and he said: “Enjoin good upon one another and forbid one another to do evil, but if you see overwhelming stinginess, desires being followed, this world being preferred (to the Hereafter), every person with an opinion feeling proud of it, and you realize that you have no power to deal with it, then you have to mind your own business and leave the common folk to their own devices. After you will come days of patience, during which patience will be like grasping a burning ember, and one who does good deeds will have a reward like that of fifty men doing the same deed.”

قُلْتُ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ فِي هَذِهِ الآيَةِ قَالَ أَيَّةُ آيَةٍ قُلْتُ {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ لاَ يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ} قَالَ سَأَلْتَ عَنْهَا خَبِيرًا سَأَلْتُ عَنْهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ بَلِ ائْتَمِرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنَاهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَيْتَ شُحًّا مُطَاعًا وَهَوًى مُتَّبَعًا وَدُنْيَا مُؤْثَرَةً وَإِعْجَابَ كُلِّ ذِي رَأْىٍ بِرَأْيِهِ وَرَأَيْتَ أَمْرًا لاَ يَدَانِ لَكَ بِهِ فَعَلَيْكَ خُوَيْصَّةَ نَفْسِكَ وَدَعْ أَمْرَ الْعَوَامِّ فَإِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ أَيَّامَ الصَّبْرِ الصَّبْرُ فِيهِنَّ مِثْلُ قَبْضٍ عَلَى الْجَمْرِ لِلْعَامِلِ فِيهِنَّ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ خَمْسِينَ رَجُلاً يَعْمَلُونَ بِمِثْلِ عَمَلِهِ

“I came to Abu Tha’labah Al-Khushani and said: ‘How do you understand this Verse?’ He said: ‘Which verse?’ I said: “O you who believe! Take care of your own selves. If you follow the (right) guidance, no hurt can come to you from those who are in error.”?[5:105] He said: ‘You have asked one who knows about it. I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it and he said: “Enjoin good upon one another and forbid one another to do evil, but if you see overwhelming stinginess, desires being followed, this world being preferred (to the Hereafter), every person with an opinion feeling proud of it, and you realize that you have no power to deal with it, then you have to mind your own business and leave the common folk to their own devices. After you will come days of patience, during which patience will be like grasping a burning ember, and one who does good deeds will have a reward like that of fifty men doing the same deed.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 4014)

عَنْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ} [المائدة 105] فَقَالَ أَبُو ثَعْلَبَةَ لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَنْهَا خَبِيرًا أَنَا سَأَلْتُ عَنْهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَبْلًا فَقَالَ «يَا أَبَا ثَعْلَبَةَ مُرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنَاهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ شُحًّا مُطَاعًا وَهَوًى مُتَّبَعًا وَدُنْيَا مُؤْثَرَةً وَرَأَيْتَ أَمْرًا لَابُدَّ لَكَ مِنْ طَلَبِهِ فَعَلَيْكَ نَفْسَكَ وَدَعْهُمْ وَعَوَامَّهُمْ فَإِنَّ وَرَاءَكُمْ أَيَّامَ الصَّبْرِ صَبْرٌ فِيهِنَّ كَقَبْضٍ عَلَى الْجَمْرِ لِلْعَامِلِ فِيهِنَّ أَجْرُ خَمْسِينَ يَعْمَلُ مِثْلَ عَمَلِهِ»

I asked AbuTha'labah al-Khushani: What is your opinion about the verse "Care for yourselves". He said: I swear by Allah, I asked the one who was well informed about it; I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it. He said: No, enjoin one another to do what is good and forbid one another to do what is evil. But when you see niggardliness being obeyed, passion being followed, worldly interests being preferred, everyone being charmed with his opinion, then care for yourself, and leave alone what people in general are doing; for ahead of you are days which will require endurance, in which showing endurance will be like grasping live coals. The one who acts rightly during that period will have the reward of fifty men who act as he does. Another version has: He said (The hearers asked:) Messenger of Allah, the reward of fifty of them? He replied: The reward of fifty of you. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 4341)

أَتَيْتُ أَبَا ثَعْلَبَةَ الْخُشَنِيَّ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا ثَعْلَبَةَ كَيْفَ تَقُولُ فِي هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ {لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ} ؟ قَالَ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَنْهَا خَبِيرًا سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فقَالَ «بَلِ ائْتَمِرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنَاهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَيْتَ شُحًّا مُطَاعًا وَهَوًى مُتَّبَعًا وَدُنْيَا مُؤْثَرَةً وَإِعْجَابَ كُلِّ ذِي رَأْيٍ بِرَأْيِهِ فَعَلَيْكَ نَفْسَكَ وَدَعْ أَمْرَ الْعَوَامِّ فَإِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ أَيَّامًا الصَّبْرُ فِيهِنَّ مِثْلُ قَبْضٍ عَلَى الْجَمْرِ لِلْعَامِلِ فِيهِنَّ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ خَمْسِينَ رَجُلًا يَعْمَلُونَ مِثْلَ عَمَلِهِ» قَالَ وَزَادَنِي غَيْرُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَجْرُ خَمْسِينَ مِنْهُمْ؟ قَالَ «خَمْسِينَ مِنْكُمْ»

[AI] I went to Abu Tha'labah Al-Khushani and said, "O Abu Tha'labah, how do you interpret this verse?" He asked, "Which verse are you referring to?" I replied, "His saying, 'O you who have believed, upon you is [responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided'." He said, "By Allah, you have asked about something knowledgeable. I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it and he said, 'Rather, enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And when you see greed being obeyed, desires being followed, worldly gains being preferred, and everyone is pleased with their own opinion, then you should focus on yourself in particular and ignore the common people's affairs. For behind you, there will come days of patience, where the patient one will be like the one holding onto burning coals. In that time, the reward of fifty men will be obtained by the worker.'" And without a doubt, 'Utbah ibn Abu Hakim increased me (i.e., added another narration). It was said, "O Messenger of Allah, will the reward of fifty men be for us or for them?" He replied, "No, rather the reward of fifty men will be for you."

أَتَيْتُ أَبَا ثَعْلَبَةَ الْخُشَنِيَّ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا ثَعْلَبَةَ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ فِي هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ؟ قَالَ أَيَّةً آيَةً قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ} قَالَ أَمَا وَاللهِ لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَنْهَا خَبِيرًا سَأَلْتُ عَنْهَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «بَلْ تَأْمُرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَتَنَاهُوا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ شُحًّا مُطَاعًا وَهَوًى مُتَّبَعًا وَدُنْيَا مُؤْثَرَةً وَإِعْجَابَ كُلِّ ذِي رَأْيٍ بِرَأْيِهِ فَعَلَيْكَ بِخَاصَّةِ نَفْسِكَ وَدَعْ عَنْكَ أَمْرَ الْعَوَّامِ فَإِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ أَيَّامَ الصَّبْرِ الصَّابِرُ فِيهِ مِثْلُ الْقَابِضِ عَلَى الْجَمْرِ لِلْعَامِلِ فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ أَجْرُ خَمْسِينَ رَجُلًا» وَزَادَنِي غَيْرُ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ أَبِي حَكِيمٍ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَجْرُ خَمْسِينَ رَجُلًا مِنَّا أَوْ مِنْهُمْ قَالَ «لَا بَلْ أَجْرُ خَمْسِينَ رَجُلًا مِنْكُمْ»

I asked AbuTha'labah al-Khushani: What is your opinion about the verse "Care for yourselves". He said: I swear by Allah, I asked the one who was well informed about it; I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it. He said: No, enjoin one another to do what is good and forbid one another to do what is evil. But when you see niggardliness being obeyed, passion being followed, worldly interests being preferred, everyone being charmed with his opinion, then care for yourself, and leave alone what people in general are doing; for ahead of you are days which will require endurance, in which showing endurance will be like grasping live coals. The one who acts rightly during that period will have the reward of fifty men who act as he does. Another version has: He said (The hearers asked:) Messenger of Allah, the reward of fifty of them? He replied: The reward of fifty of you. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 4341)

قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ} [المائدة 105] قَالَ أَمَا وَاللهِ لَقَدْ سَأَلْتُ عَنْهَا خَبِيرًا سَأَلْتُ عَنْهَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ بَلْ أَنْتُمُ ائْتَمِرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنَاهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَيْتَ شُحًّا مُطَاعًا وَهَوًى مُتَّبَعًا وَدُنْيَا مُؤْثَرَةً وَإِعْجَابَ كُلِّ ذِي رَأْيٍ بِرَأْيِهِ وَرَأَيْتَ أَمْرًا لَا يَدَانِ لَكَ بِهِ فَعَلَيْكَ نَفْسَكَ وَدَعْ عَنْكَ أَمْرَ الْعَوَامِّ فَإِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِكَ أَيَّامَ الصَّبْرِ الصَّبْرُ فِيهِنَّ مِثْلُ قَبْضٍ عَلَى الْجَمْرِ لِلْعَامِلِ فِيهِنَّ كَأَجْرِ خَمْسِينَ رَجُلًا يَعْمَلُونَ مِثْلَ عَمَلِهِ لَفْظُ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ شُعَيْبٍ زَادَ ابْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ قَالَ وَزَادَنِي غَيْرُهُ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَجْرُ خَمْسِينَ مِنْهُمْ؟ قَالَ أَجْرُ خَمْسِينَ مِنْكُمْ

'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz wrote (a letter) to the people of Basrah: It has reached us from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, like the tradition narrated by Ibn 'Umar from the Prophet ﷺ. This version adds: The best calculation is that when we sight the moon of Sha'ban on such-and-such date, fasting will being on such-and-such dates, Allah willing, except they they sight the moon before that (date).

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ زَادَ وَإِنَّ أَحْسَنَ مَا يُقَدَّرُ لَهُ إِذَا رَأَيْنَا هِلاَلَ شَعْبَانَ لِكَذَا وَكَذَا فَالصَّوْمُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لِكَذَا وَكَذَا إِلاَّ أَنْ تَرَوُا الْهِلاَلَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, then he mentioned a narration from Ibn Umar about the Prophet ﷺ adding, "And indeed the best thing he can do is that we sight the moon of Sha'ban on such and such a day, and fasting will be on such and such a day, except if you see the moon before that." The sheikh said, "And by the one who indicates the authenticity of what Umar ibn Abdul Aziz mentioned, the rest of the narrations from the Prophet ﷺ in this matter include those from Ibn Umar."

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ زَادَ وَإِنَّ أَحْسَنَ مَا يَقْدِرُ لَهُ أَنَّا رَأَيْنَا هِلَالَ شَعْبَانَ لِكَذَا أَوْ كَذَا وَالصَّوْمُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ لِكَذَا وَكَذَا إِلَّا أَنْ تَرَوَا الْهِلَالَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ الشَّيْخُ وَالَّذِي يَدُلُّ عَلَى صِحَّةِ مَا ذَكَرَهُ عُمَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ سَائِرُ الرِّوَايَاتِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي هَذَا الْبَابِ مِنْهَا عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to count the days in Sha'ban in a manner he did not count any other month; then he fasted when he sighted the new moon of Ramadan; but if the weather was cloudy he counted thirty days and then fasted.

سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ ؓ تَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ مَا لاَ يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ ثُمَّ يَصُومُ لِرُؤْيَةِ رَمَضَانَ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْهِ عَدَّ ثَلاَثِينَ يَوْمًا ثُمَّ صَامَ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to count the days in Sha'ban in a manner he did not count any other month; then he fasted when he sighted the new moon of Ramadan; but if the weather was cloudy he counted thirty days and then fasted. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2325)

قَيْسٍقَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ هِلَالِ شَعْبَانَ مَا لَا يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ ثُمَّ يَصُومُ لِرُؤْيَةِ رَمَضَانَ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْهِ عَدَّ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْمًا ثُمَّ صَامَ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to count the days in Sha'ban in a manner he did not count any other month; then he fasted when he sighted the new moon of Ramadan; but if the weather was cloudy he counted thirty days and then fasted. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2325)

سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ «كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ هِلَالِ شَعْبَانَ مَا لَا يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ ثُمَّ يَصُومُ لِرُؤْيَةِ رَمَضَانَ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْهِ عَدَّ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْمًا ثُمَّ صَامَ»

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to count the days in Sha'ban in a manner he did not count any other month; then he fasted when he sighted the new moon of Ramadan; but if the weather was cloudy he counted thirty days and then fasted. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2325)

سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ «كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ هِلَالِ شَعْبَانَ مَا لَا يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ ثُمَّ يَصُومُ لِرُؤْيَةِ رَمَضَانَ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْهِ عَدَّ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْمًا ثُمَّ صَامَ»

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to count the days in Sha'ban in a manner he did not count any other month; then he fasted when he sighted the new moon of Ramadan; but if the weather was cloudy he counted thirty days and then fasted. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2325)

سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ هِلَالِ شَعْبَانَ مَا لَا يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ ثُمَّ يَصُومُ لِرُؤْيَتِهِ رَمَضَانَ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْهِ عَدَّ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْمًا ثُمَّ صَامَ وَكَذَلِكَ

AbdulAziz ibn Muhammad said: Abbad ibn Kathir came to Medina and went to the assembly of al-Ala'. He caught hold of his hand and made him stand and said: O Allah, he narrates a tradition from his father on the authority of AbuHurayrah who reported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: When the middle of Sha'ban comes, do not fast. Al-Ala' said: O Allah, my father narrated this tradition on the authority of AbuHurayrah from the Prophet ﷺ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا انْتَصَفَ شَعْبَانُ فَلاَ تَصُومُوا فَقَالَ الْعَلاَءُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ أَبِي حَدَّثَنِي عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِذَلِكَ

[AI] The Prophet ﷺ said, "When the middle of Sha'ban comes, do not fast." Al-Ala' said, "O Allah, my father narrated to me from Abu Hurayrah from the Prophet ﷺ about that."

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا انْتَصَفَ شَعْبَانُ فَلَا تَصُومُوا فَقَالَ الْعَلَاءُ اللهُمَّ إِنَّ أَبِي حَدَّثَنِي عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِذَلِكَ

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "When one half of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān remains then do not ˹continue to˺ fast."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «إِذَا بَقِيَ نِصْفٌ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَلاَ تَصُومُوا۔»

‘When it is the middle of Sha’ban, do not fast until Ramadan comes.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «إِذَا كَانَ النِّصْفُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَلاَ صَوْمَ حَتَّى يَجِيءَ رَمَضَانُ۔»

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When it is the middle of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān then withhold fasting until it is ˹the month of˺ Ramaḍān.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ: «إِذَا كَانَ النِّصْفُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَأَمْسِكُوا عَنِ الصَّوْمِ حَتَّى يَكُونَ رَمَضَانُ۔»

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When it is the middle of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān then withhold fasting.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «إِذَا كَانَ النِّصْفُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَأَمْسِكُوا عَنِ الصَّوْمِ۔»

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When half of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān is complete then withhold fasting until ˹the month of˺ Ramaḍān enters.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ: «إِذَا مَضَى النِّصْفُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَأَمْسِكُوا عَنِ الصِّيَامِ حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ رَمَضَانُ۔»

"When it is the middle of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān then withhold fasting.”

«إذا كانَ النصفُ منْ شعبانَ فأمْسكوا عن الصوم۔»

"When it is the middle of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān then do not ˹continue to˺ fast."

«إذا كانَ النِّصفُ مِنْ شعبانَ فلا تَصُومُوا۔»

"When it is the middle of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān then withhold fasting until it is ˹the month of˺ Ramaḍān except when fasting is ˹habitually or ritually obligitatory˺ upon him, and thus he should ˹continue˺ and not cut off ˹fasting˺."

«إِذا كانَ النِّصفُ مِنْ شعْبانَ فأمْسكُوا عن الصَّومِ حتَّى يدخلَ رمضانُ إِلا أن يكونَ عليه صومٌ فليَسْرُدْ ولا يقطعْ۔»

"When it is the middle of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān then withhold fasting until it is ˹the month of˺ Ramaḍān."

"إِذا كانَ النِّصفُ مِنْ شعبانَ فأمْسكوا عن الصَّوم حتَّى يكونَ رمضانُ".

"When it is the middle of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān then withhold ˹fasting˺ until ˹the month of˺ Ramaḍān enters."

"إذَا مضَى النِّصْفُ مِنْ شعبْانَ فأمْسِكُوا (عن الصِّيامِ) حتَّى يدْخُلَ رمضانُ".

I could not find the Messenger of Allah ﷺ one night, so I left ˹looking for him˺ and found him at the Baqīʿ ˹cemetery˺. He said, "Were you afraid that you had been wronged by Allah and His Messenger?" I said: O Messenger of Allah! I thought that you had come to some of your wives. So he said: "Allah ﷻ descends to the lowest sky during the night of the middle of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān and then forgives ˹people˺ more than the number of hair on the sheep of ˹the tribe of Banū˺ Kalb."

فَقَدْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيْلَةً فَخَرَجْتُ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِالْبَقِيعِ فَقَالَ: «أَكُنْتِ تَخَافِينَ أَنْ يَحِيفَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكِ وَرَسُولُهُ؟» قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّكَ أَتَيْتَ بَعْضَ نِسَائِكَ۔ فَقَالَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ يَنْزِلُ لَيْلَةَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَغْفِرُ لأَكْثَرَ مِنْ عَدَدِ شَعْرِ غَنَمِ كَلْبٍ۔»