Sha'ban

Overview

Sha'ban is the eighth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar and the immediate precursor to Ramadan. The name Sha'ban derives from the Arabic root meaning to branch or disperse, traditionally referring to pre-Islamic Arabs who would scatter in search of water during this month. In the Islamic spiritual calendar, Sha'ban is regarded as a month of intensified preparation for the rigors of Ramadan.

Notable Observances

The fifteenth night of Sha'ban — Laylat al-Bara'ah, called Shab-e-Barat across South Asia — is one of the most widely observed nights of the Hijri year, traditionally regarded as a night of divine mercy and the inscription of the coming year's records. The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have fasted more in Sha'ban than in any month other than Ramadan itself, and many Muslims continue this practice. Mosques across South Asia, Iran, Turkey, and the Levant host nightlong vigils on the fifteenth.