The Merits of Shaʿbān

Aḥmad b. Ziyād b. Jaʿfar al-Hamadānī رحمه الله narrated to us, saying that ʿAlī b. Ibrāhīm b. Hāshim narrated to him, among others, saying that Jaʿfar b. Salama al-Ahwāzī narrated to him, among others, saying that Ibrāhīm b. Muḥammad al-Thaqafī narrated to him, among others, saying that Ibrāhīm b. Maymūn informed him, among others, saying that the Imām عليه السلام narrated to him, among others, saying: “Fasting in Shaʿbān is expiation for cardinal sins, such that even if a man were to shed blood that was forbidden to shed and then fast in this month a few days, he would die with the hope of attaining forgiveness.” Ibrāhīm b. Maymūn narrated that he asked the Imam: “What is the best supplication in this month?,” so he replied: “(That of) forgiveness, for whoever seeks forgiveness during Shaʿbān seventy times every day, it will be as if he had sought forgiveness seventy thousand times had it been a different month.” Ibn Maymūn asked one last question: “How do I do that?,” so the Imam said: “(Say:) “I seek forgiveness from Allāh and I ask Him for repentance (to be accepted).”