I’d like to share two thoughts with you. The first one is about Sha’ban, which started a couple of days ago and the second is self-isolation. Sha’ban As Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated the Prophet (peace be on him) used to fast in Sha’ban more than any other month. Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (peace be on him) did not observe voluntary sawm (fasting) so frequently during any other month as he did during Sha’ban. He observed sawm throughout the month of Sha’ban. Another narration says: He (ﷺ) observed Saum during the whole month of Sha’ban except a few days. (Bukhari and Muslim) There is another narration that the most beloved month to him for fasting was Sha’ban, as he connected it to Ramadan. Usamah bin Zaid said: ‘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.’ (Nasa’i) There are many authentic narrations about him (ﷺ) fasting in Sha’ban. And so we see that the Prophet (peace be on him) increased his siyam, so we too should increase our fasting in Sha’ban. And part of our ibadah is to increase our recitation and supplication and dhikr in this month. The changing of the Qibla It was during Sha’ban that the qibla was changed from Bait al Maqdis to al-Masjid al Haram. The Prophet (peace be on him) used to pray in the direction of Bait al-Maqdis, but he longed for it to be changed to … Continue reading Self-isolation – the chance for a fresh start