The Merits of Shaʿbān

Muḥammad b. Ibrāhīm b. Isḥāq narrated to us, saying that Aḥmad b. Muḥammad al-Kūfī narrated to him among others, from ʿAlī b. al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī b. Faḍḍal, from his father, from Abī’l-Ḥasan al-Riḍā عليه السلام, who stated: “Whoever fasts the first day of Shaʿbān will have Divine mercy mandated upon him, and whoever fasts two days of Shaʿbān will have Divine mercy, forgiveness and honour mandated upon him from Allāh عز وجل on the Day of Reckoning, and whoever fasts in the month of Ramaḍān will have Divine mercy mandated upon him. Whoever fasts three days at the end of Shaʿbān and connects it with fasting in the month of Ramaḍān, Allāh will write for him that he fasted for two consecutive months. Whoever fasts in the month of Ramaḍān faithfully and having reckoned the reward therein, will be exonerated from his sins as if it were the day his mother gave birth to him.” Imam al-Riḍā continued: “My father narrated to me, from his father, from his grandfather عليهم السلام, that the Messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وعلى آله has stated: “Whoever comes to know the month of Ramaḍān and yet is not forgiven, then may Allāh distance him! And whoever comes to know the Night of Power and yet is not forgiven, then may Allāh distance him! Whoever attends the Friday prayer with the Muslims and yet is not forgiven, then may Allāh distance him! Whoever knows both or either of his parents and yet is not forgiven, may Allāh distance him! And whoever has heard mention of me and sends upon me salutations and yet is not forgiven, then may Allāh distance him!” Someone said to him: “How can somebody send salutations upon you, o’ Messenger of Allāh, and yet not be forgiven?,” so he replied: “The salutations of a servant (of Allāh) who sends them upon me, but neglects to do the same upon the members of my House, are thrown back in his face. Whoever sends salutations upon both me and my House, then he is forgiven.”