Chapter on Fasting Shaban

Muhammad ibn Yaqub, from Ali ibn Muhammad, from some of our companions, from Muhammad ibn Sulayman, from his father, who said: I (narrator) said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “What do you say regarding a man who fasts Shaban and the month of Ramadan?” Imam عليه السلام said: “They are the two months about which Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, said: ‘Two consecutive months as repentance from Allah سبحانه وتعالى.’” (Surah An-Nisa 4:92) He (narrator) said: “I asked, ‘Then should he not separate between them?’” Imam عليه السلام said: “When he breaks his fast during the night, then that is a separation. The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace and blessings of Allah سبحانه وتعالى be upon him and his family, only said, ‘There is no continuous fasting in fasting,’ meaning that a man should not fast two consecutive days without breaking the fast, and it is recommended for the servant not to leave the pre-dawn meal (al-suhur).”