Shaban Aamaal
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Shaban al Mu’azzam – the 8th month of Hijri calendar has been
bestowed glory, honor, blessings, preference and excellence.
This month is attributed with the Lord of Prophets Hazrat Muhammad
Mustafa (peace of Allah be upon him & his progeny).
A saying of Holy prophet goes:
“Shaban is my month whoever keeps fast
in it, is worthy of heaven (Bahisht).
Aamal of this great month are of two types:
- Common aamal (not specified with any day)
- Specific aamal
Common Aamal:
-Hazrat Sadiq-e-Aal-e-Muhammad Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq (A.S) said the best
duaa in this month is ‘Istighfar’ (asking forgiveness from Allah).
A man asked him (Imam) how should he beg pardon from Allah? Imam replied
‘Say
for 70 times daily.
-Daily say 70 times:
Performing 70 times istighfar in this month is equal to 70,000 times
istighfar in other months.
-Keeping fast in this month is of great reward.
-Giving charity is from among the best aamal of the month.
A hadith of Imam Raza (A.S) goes: he who gives charity in this month even
it is half of a ‘date’ Allah will make haram the fire of hell for him’.
A man asked Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq (A.S) about the best amal of this month.
Imam replied: “istighfar and sadqa (asking forgiveness from Allah &
giving charity in His way).” -Recite thousand times, daily
-Offer two-rakaat prayer on every Thursday of this month. In each rakat
recite sura-Ikhlass 100times after sura Hamd and then 100 times salawat
after Salam. So that Allah Almighty fulfills the wishes/needs of the
world and hereafter.
-Recite plenty of salawat in this month.
-Recite daily at zawal time the salawat, which is reported from Imam
Zain-ul-Abedeen (A.S).
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Specific Aamal:
In the 1st night of this month to offer 12-rakaat prayer
with 2-2 rakaat is worthy of reward. In each rakat sura-Ikhlaas is to be
recited for eleven times after sura Hamd.
1st day of Shaban is very blessed day as the elder daughter of Lord of
the testamentary executors Hazrat Ameeral Momineen Ali ibne Abi Talib (A.S)
and Mistress of the Ladies of the worlds Hazrat Fatimah zahra (AS), Hazrat
Zainb (AS) was born in Medina Munawwera. Her grandfather Holy Prophet
Muhammad (peace of Allah be upon him & his progeny) named her Zainab –
being made up of 2 words: ‘Zain’ (beauty) and ‘ab’ (of father). Her holy
shrine is in Damascus, Syria.
Khateeb-e-Aal-e-Muhammad late Allama Azhar Hassan Zaidi said about her
(A.S): “if there was no Hussain then there would be no name of Islam today
but if there was no Zainab then there would be no name of Hussain.”
She was that great Lady of Knanwada-e-Muhammad-o-Aal-e-Muhammad (PBUT)
whose discerning addresses shook the foundations of Yazidi palaces.
Some aamal of this day are:
-To keep fast in the first day is of great excellence. A saying of Hazrat
Imam Jafer-e-Sadiq (A.S) goes that he who keeps fast in this day is worthy
of heaven. Holy Prophet said Allah orders in this day to get open the doors
of heaven so do good for the pleasure of Allah.
3rd Shaban is that auspicious and blessed day when the grand
son of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH & HP) Syedush Shuhada (Lord
of the Martyrs) Hazrat Imam Hussain ibne Ali ibne Abi Talib (A.S) was born
in Medina in the year 4 AH.
A saying of Holy Prophet about Imam Hussain, his 3rd successor shows the
great status he enjoyed in his (holy prophet’s) sight:
‘Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain’
When the good news of Imam Hussain’s birth reached the Holy Prophet, he
came to his daughter Fatima Zahra’s house, took the newly born child in his
arms, recited azan and iqamah in his right and left ears respectively, and
on the 7th day of his birth, after performing rites of ‘aqeeqa’, named him
al-Hussain in compliance with Allah’s command.
Abdullah ibne Abbas narrates ” on the very day of Imam Hussain’s birth,
Allah ordered angel Gabriel to descend and congratulate the Holy Prophet on
His behalf and on his own. While descending, Gabriel passed over an island
where the angel ‘Futrus’ had been banished due to his delay in executing a
commission assigned by Allah. He was deprived of his wings and expelled to
the island where he remained for several years praying and worshipping Allah
and asking for His forgiveness. When Futrus saw Gabriel, he called out
‘where are you going O Gabriel?’ To this he replied ‘Hussain, the grandson
of Muhammad is born and for this very reason Allah has commanded me to
convey His congratulations to His apostle.’ There upon Futrus said, ‘can you
carry me also along with you? May Muhammad recommend my case to Allah.’
Gabriel took Futrus along with him came to the Holy Prophet, offered
congratulations to him on behalf of Allah and himself and referred the case
of Futrus to him. The Holy Prophet said to Gabriel, ‘ask the angel to touch
the body of the newly born child and return to his place in heaven.’ On
doing so, Futrus re-obtained his wings instantly and praising the Holy
Prophet and his newly-born grandson, ascended towards the heaven.”
Some aamal to be performed in this day are:
-To keep fast;
-To recite Ziarat Imam Hussain;
-To take bath;
-To recite following dua;
-And that dua which Imam Hussain recited on Ashoor day when enemies
besieged him:
Shaban 4 is the Birth anniversary of Hazrat Ghazi Abbas
Alamdar (A.s). He was the son of Hazrat Ameer al Momineen Ali ibne
Abi Talib (A.S) and Hazrat Ummal Baneen (A.S) belonging to the brave tribe
of Arab ‘Bani Kalab’. On his birth Hazrat Ali (A.S) took him in his arms,
kissed him and said while weeping bitterly:
“Abbas will be the Alamdar (standard bearer) of my Hussain’s army and
will sacrifice his life for Hussain in the plain of Karbala.”
One of his titles is ‘Babul Hawa’ij’ (the door to fulfilling
needs).
He was known as ‘Qamar Bani Hashim’ due to his peerless beauty and grace.
The first phase of 14 years of his age was blessed with the gracious
patronage of Ameer al Momineen while the 2nd ten years with Imam Hassan
(A.S). After the martyrdom of Imam Hassan (AS) he was placed under the care
of Imam Hussain (A.S).
Ghazi Abbas was an embodiment of bravery, courage, tolerance,
intelligence, valour, boldness, bounty and modesty. At the time of his
martyrdom in Karbala he was 34 years of age.
Saying of Imam Hussain at his martyrdom “Now my back has been broken”
shows the great status of Hazrat Abbas in the sight of Syedush shuhada
(A.S). His Holy mausoleum in Karbala is the resort of all.
Shaban 5 is the birth anniversary of the 4th successor of Holy
Prophet (PBUH $HP), Hazrat Imam Zain ul Abedeen bin al Hussain (AS).
On 7 Shaban, Hazrat Qasim bin Hassan bin Ali ibne Abi Talib (A.S)
was born. His mother was Umm-e-Farwa (A.S). He kissed martyrdom in the plain
of Karbala at the age of 13.
Tehreek Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya Pakistan (TNFJ) has announced to mark
Shaban 1-7 as ‘Hafta-e-Wilae Muhammad o Aal-e-Muhammad’ throughout the
world.
11 Shaban is the birth anniversary of Hazrat Ali Akbar
(A.S) bin al Hussain ibne Abi Talib (A.S) and Hazrat Umm-e-Laila
(A.S). He was martyred in Karbala at the age of 18 in the year 61 A.H.
Keeping fast on 13 and 14 Shaban is desirable.
The night between 14 and 15 Shaban, known, as
‘Shab-e-Bara’at’ is the night of blessings and glory.
Hazrat Imam Jafer-e-Sadiq (A.S) reported that Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S)
was asked about the merit and excellence of this night then Imam replied, ”
It is one of those nights being bestowed with honour and dignity. In this
holy night Allah grants His servants and forgives them with His
graciousness, kindness and favour. So try to find out nearness to Allah. In
fact this is that glorious night that Allah Almighty swore by Him ‘not to
turn back any one empty handed.’
The honour of this night touches heights and elevation as in the same
night at the time of seher (pre-dawn) Hazrat Saheb al Asr-e-Wazzaman – the
12th successor of Holy Prophet was born in the year 255 A.H. in Samarah,
Iraq.
There are many Aamal reported to be performed in this night – some of
them are as under:
-To take bath;
-Cease to sleep and spend the night in ibadat, prayer, recitation of Holy
Quran and istighfar as was the practice of Hazrat Imam Zain ul Abedeen
(A.S);
-To recite ziarat of Imam Hussain (A.S) which is the best amal of this
night and a source of forgiveness of sins. It is reported from Hazrat Imam
Zain ul Abedeen (A.S) that he who wants to shake hand with the souls of one
lakh and 24 thousands prophets, should recite ziarat of Imam Hussain (A.S):
-To recite the following dua which is equal to the ziarat of Imam Saheb
al Asr-e-Wazzaman:
-To recite dua-e-kumail;
-To recite hundred times:
Imam Baqir (A.S) said he who recites this will be pardoned and Allah will
fulfill his all wishes of the world and hereafter.
-To offer 4-rakaat prayer with 2 Salams. In each rakat recite sura
Ikhlaas hundred times after sura Hamd. Then after prayer recite:
-To recite 10-rakaat prayer with 5 Salams. In each rakat recite sura
Ikhlaas ten times after sura Hamd. Then prostrate and recite following dua:
-To present Areeza-e-Hajaat in the bargah of Hazrat Saheb al Asr (ATF) at
the time of pre-dawn.
15th of Shaban is the day of glory, honour, dignity and blessings as it
is the Birth anniversary of Hazrat Imam-e-Zamana (Ajja lallahu farajahu). He
is the Imam of our era and a hadith of Holy Prophet (PBUH &HP) goes:
‘One who dies without knowing the Imam of his time, dies a death of
ignorance (Jahalat).’
Hazrat Imam Mehdi, al-Qa’em, Saheb-al-Asr Wazzaman (ATF) is our Imam,
Imam of our era and as the verse 71 of sura Bani Israel says:
“(Remember) the day (of Judgement) when we shall call every people with
their Imam.”
We will be called and presented with our Imam on resurrection day.
His mother was Hazrat Narjis (A.S). at the time of the martyrdom of his
father Hazrat Imam Hassan Askari (A.S) he was five years old.
The Imam has two disappearances, a short disappearance and the long
disappearance.
The short disappearance was from the time of his birth until the death of
the fourth deputy in year 329 hijri. The long disappearance began the year
329 hijri and is continuing until now, waiting for the command of Allah to
appear, so he can bring peace and justice to earth as it is now filled with
destruction and oppression.
The messenger of Allah Muhammad (PBUH & HP) said, ” If there was one
day left for the world, Allah the Almighty will prolong that day so that my
son, whose name is the same as mine, will arise. He will fill the world with
justice and fairness as it was filled with oppression and tyranny.
During the period of Imam’s occultation, maraje uzzam have been referred
to for the solution of worldly and religious problems. With the praise of
Allah Maktab-e-Tashayyo has this honour that ‘darwaza-e-ijtehad’ is open in
it.
Some aamal of this glorious day are:
-To wear new and fine dress;
-To keep fast;
-To recite ziarat of Hazrat Saheb al Asr (ATF)
-To pray for Imam’s haste appearance.
TNFJ has named this holy day as ‘Youm-e-Adl’, which is observed
throughout the world including Pakistan with respect, zeal and enthusiasm.
Mahafil, religious ceremonies and sacred jashans are held on this occasion.
Mukhtar Students Organization Pakistan (MSO) – the only representative
body of students – arranges different programmes to pay rich tributes and
present Areeza-e-Hajaat in the holy bargah of Imam al Asr (ATF). In this
Connection the main ceremony is held under the arrangements of MSO at Rawal
Lake in the capital city of Islamabad.
Luckily TNFJ web site was launched on the same day of glory in 2000
– so this is its 2nd anniversary. 
Compiled by Syeda Bint-e-Zahra, President Dukhtaraan-e-Islam
Pakistan
(This page was uploaded in October 2002 in HTML)
