The Prophet Honors Sha’ban
الَّذى كانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِه وَ سَلَّمَ يَدْاَبُ فى صِيامِهِ وَ قِيامِهِ فى لَياليهِ وَ اَيّامِهِ بُخُوعاً لَكَ فى اِكْرامِهِ وَاِعْظامِهِ اِلى مَحَلِّ حِمامِهِ .
The Messenger of God used to keep vigil in devotion during its nights and observed fasts during its days humiliating himself before You honoring and respecting it till his departure from this World.
The supplicant continues to beseech Allah (SWT) by the blessings of the holy month of Sha’ban and further describes the special treatment which Rasulullah (SA) gave to these blessed days and nights. He used to fast during the days and then keep vigil in devotion during the nights. Aside from the physical benefits of fasting, there are many spiritual advantages.
The institute of the fast is one of the signs of the Almighty's mercy on those who adhere to His divine creed and it is never meant to cause hardship on anybody as the Almighty (SWT) does not gain any benefit by causing hardship on anyone. On the contrary, He (SWT) always paves the way of happiness for His servants in this life and the next life, and He (SWT) sometimes even "pushes" them to do what is good for them, as is the case with making the fast of the month of Ramadan obligatory on every believing man and woman.
Fasting is more than a diet adjustment; it involves spiritual intensity and intercession. One of the greatest spiritual benefits of fasting is becoming more aware of our own inadequacies and God's adequacy, and becoming more aware of our own failings and His self-sufficiency. The purpose of all disciplines including fasting is to change us so that we may become more disciplined and responsible.
The believers learn to curb their desires and check them against transgression, extravagance, and the yielding to the lower desires, all of which degenerate man and bring him to the pit of self-destruction and annihilation. Fast fosters strong will, teaches patience and self-discipline, and the ability to bear hardship and tolerate hunger and thirst. In short, it brings about a clear victory over one's illicit desires and selfish impulses. It teaches the believer to abandon vices, to control emotions and instincts, to curb the tongue against saying what is wrong or inappropriate and the conscience against contemplating upon wrongdoing or subversion.
Furthermore, it promotes the spirit of unity among members of the fasting community during the holy month of Ramadan. It teaches them humility and humbleness and instills within them the feeling of equality before Allah (SWT). The rich have to observe fast as well as the poor, the women as well as the men, the influential and powerful as well as the weak and unfortunate. It promotes the spirit of charity and compassion towards the poor and the needy and it reminds each believer of the needs of other believers. This is exactly what we discussed previously regarding the importance of fulfilling other people’s needs and offering Muwasaat to other believers. The concept of fasting goes hand in hand with the idea of Muwasaat which this supplication just alluded to.
Keeping vigil in devotion during the nights in general and especially in the holy month of Sha'ban has been practiced and observed by the Holy Prophet (SA). The remembrance of Allah (SWT) is the greatest deed of the human being as it elevates his life, brings him peace and happiness, and enables him to fulfill the real mission of his life in this world. When Allah (SWT) describes believers in the Holy Qur’an, He (SWT) says;
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِۗ أَلا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
Those who believe and whose hearts are set at rest by the remembrance of Allah, now surely by Allah’s remembrance are the hearts set at rest. [13:28].
Among the ways of remembering Allah is waking up at night for Salatul Layl. The Holy Qur’an and Hadith have much to say about this very important part of the worship of a believer. Its merits and effects are tremendous and whoever recites Salatul Layl regularly is following the path of the Prophets and the Ma’someen (AS). Those who wish to attain divine proximity forego a part of their sleep and wake up early to seek forgiveness from Allah (SWT). They sacrifice their sleep and comfort for the pleasure of reciting Salatul Layl.
In many verses of the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) enjoins spending the night in His glorification and worship. In one instance, He (SWT) says:
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْجُدْ لَهُ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلاً طَوِيلاً
And during part of the night adore Him, and give glory to Him (for a) long part of the night. [76:26]
This begs us to pose the following question: Why is night prayer more emphasized and rewarded than day prayers?
If we think about it, during daytime numerous affairs occupy the time and mind of the human being. In the midst of all this preoccupation, it is difficult to have the peace of mind and heart that is necessary for good quality worship. But at night when it is dark and silent and when the mind is less occupied with the mundane matters of this world, the human being can acquire a tranquil state which allows him to be in harmony with his Creator.
Hence, the Prophet (SA) said, “Two raka’ats of prayer recited in the darkness of the night are more beloved to me than the world and all that is in it.” (Salatul Layl) Furthermore, nighttime is usually a time where a human being rest from the toil of the day and the body calls for sleep.
However, if a servant ignores his state of exhaustion and resists sleep to worship his Lord and communicate with his beloved in the darkness of night where everyone is asleep, that act of sacrifice pleases Allah (SWT). That’s why He (SWT) says about those who rise at night:
كَانُوا قَلِيلاً مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ وَبِالأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ
They used to sleep but little in the night. And in the early part of the morning they asked forgiveness. [51:16-17]
In yet another verse Allah (SWT) describes the effect of reciting Salatul Layl for the believer. He says:
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَى أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا
And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud beyond what is incumbent on you; maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory. [17:79]
In this verse, Allah (SWT) describes the extraordinary spiritual effects of reciting Salat Al Layl. It raises the human being to “Maqame Mahmood”, an elevated position of glory and praise which only few people can attain. Therefore, the reward for those who rise at night to glorify Allah (SWT) cannot be described. As the Holy Prophet (SA) said, “There is no good deed except that its reward has been outlined in the Qur’an, except Salatul Layl. Almighty Allah has not specified its reward due to its greatness with Him.” (Salatul Layl)
During these holy days and nights of the month of Sha’ban, the Prophet (SA) is in the state of humility and modesty before Allah (SWT) and he is occupied in glorifying and honoring Him till his last breathe. The supplication uses the word بُخُوعاً which means to be deeply engaged and diligently occupied.
In fact, Allah (SWT) uses this same word to the Prophet (SA) in a different context to alleviate his deep concern and disappointment that his people were not embracing the truth:
لَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَفْسَكَ أَلاَّ يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِين َ.
Perhaps you will kill yourself with grief because they do not believe. [26:3]
It is not surprising that this same person who grieved himself about the disbelief of his people is deeply engaged in prayer and worship such that even before his official inauguration of prophethood, he used to go secretly every now and then to Cave Hiraa' in the mountains in the darkness and silence of night and exercise an intimate relationship with his Creator while engaged in meditation and worship.
This same esteemed Prophet (SA) is now engaging himself in glorification and veneration of Allah (SWT) during the holy month of Sha’ban after excelling in his role as the Seal of Prophets who was sent as a mercy to the world. Along the same lines, the Prophet (SA) confesses that “The coolness of my eyes lies in Salah.” (Salat Al Mu’min fi Dawq Al Kitab Wal Sunnah) Hence we can better understand the meaning of the above phrase in the supplication.
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