I’m sure you’ve heard of the fast of Ramadan, but what about the pre-dawn fasting that takes place in the month of Shaaban?

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Fasting is a shield.” It protects us from the Fire, and it prevents us from committing sins.

In Arabic, we say “fasting is a shield” because it protects us from Hell by preventing us from committing sins. We also say that fasting is a weapon: It’s a weapon for our heart, for our tongue and for our ears. The Prophet Muhammad said: “The best fast after Ramadan is Fasting Dhul-Qadaa” or the 11th month of the Islamic calendar.

Fasting during this time was not an obligation upon Muslims until after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In other words, there were no specific days during which Muslims were obligated to fast during this month; rather, they were encouraged to do so. However, today we find that many Muslims take this opportunity to fast as an opportunity to make up missed days from previous years – if they missed any days throughout the year due.

Last modified: October 12, 2022