With the coming of Shaban we are reminded that our beloved guest, Ramadan, will soon be here. We prepare our innermost self for the arrival and pray that Allah (swt) will bring us once again to that sacred meeting.

“Sweep out the chambers of your heart, make it ready to be the dwelling place of the beloved.” – Shabistari

‘A’ishah (ra) said: “The Messenger (saw) used to fast until we thought he would never break his fast, and not fast until we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allah fasting for an entire month except in Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more than he did in Sha’ban.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim).