The Merits of Shaʿbān

And with the same chain of transmission, it is reported that Abū ʿAbd Allāh, Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq عليه السلام has said that he heard his father, Abū Jaʿfar, Muḥammad al-Bāqir, saying: “My father, Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn عليه السلام, would gather his companions when the month of Shaʿbān came and he would say: “O’ masses of companions, do you know what month this is? This is the month of Shaʿbān, and the Messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وعلى آله would say: “Shaʿbān is my month. Doubtlessly, fast therein out of love for your Prophet and as a means of nearness to your Lord.” By He in Whose hand is the soul of ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn, I have heard my father, al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAlī, saying: “I have heard Amīr al-Muʾminīn عليه السلام saying: “Whoever fasts in Shaʿbān out of love for the Prophet of Allāh عليه السلام and as a means of nearness to Allāh عز وجل, then Allāh عز وجل will love him, bring him near to His generosity on the Day of Judgement, and mandate Paradise for him.”