Reward of a fast in the month of Shaban

13. It was narrated to us by Hamzah b. Muhammad b. al-Alawi رحمه الله who said it was narrated to us by Abu Muhammad Abdulrahman b. Abi Hatim who said it was narrated to us by Yazid b. Sinan al-Basri in Egypt who said it was narrated to us by Abdulrahman b. Mahdi who said it was narrated to us by Thabit b. Qays al-Madani who said I was informed by Abu Sa’eed al-Muqri who said it was narrated to us by Usama b. Zayd who said: Usama bin Zaid says that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم used to fast so much that people used to say that you are always fasting and when he did not fast, people used to say that he won’t fast now. The narrator asked, “Is there any month in which the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم used to fast a lot?” He replied, “In the month of Shaban. Shaban is a month falling between Rajab and Ramadan. People are unaware of its excellence. The record of deeds of people is sent to Almighty Allah in this month. I wish I am fasting when my record of deeds is being sent.”