We are on the countdown to Ramadan, only a month away as the preceding month of Sha’ban arrived on January 20. Sha’ban is the eighth month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar.

I consider the month of Sha’ban the hidden treasure of the Islamic calendar because it holds a delicate and often misunderstood position. Nestled between Rajab, one of the sacred months, and Ramadan, the most revered month of the year, Sha’ban can feel like the middle child — quietly overshadowed, competing for attention, and frequently overlooked.

Yet, as is often the case with the middle child, beneath the surface lies depth, resilience, and an untapped richness that only becomes apparent to those who take the time to notice.

In many families, the eldest child is celebrated for responsibility and achievement, while the youngest is doted upon for novelty and charm.

The middle child, by contrast, may struggle for recognition — neither first nor last, often assumed to be fine without much attention. Sha’ban suffers a similar fate.

Rajab captures attention because of its sacred status, and Ramadan commands devotion due to its obligations and blessings. Sha’ban, quietly positioned between them, is too often treated as a mere passage rather than a destination.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), however, corrected this perception. Usāmah ibn Zayd (ra) reported that he asked Prophet Muhammad, why he fasted so much in Sha’ban.

He replied: “That is a month people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which deeds are raised to the Lord of the worlds, and I love that my deeds be raised while I am fasting.” (Nasa’i)

This statement alone elevates Sha’ban from obscurity to significance. Its neglect is precisely what makes it valuable.

Worship performed when others are inattentive carries sincerity, humility, and depth. Sha’ban teaches us that spiritual worth is not determined by visibility or popularity, but by intention and consistency.

Like a middle child striving to find their place, Sha’ban must “compete” with its neighbouring months. The downside of this competition is that many believers enter Ramadan unprepared — physically exhausted, spiritually scattered, and emotionally burdened — because they failed to use Sha’ban as a time of preparation.

This neglect often results in Ramadan beginning with enthusiasm but ending in fatigue, regret, or inconsistency. Sha’ban is meant to be the bridge, not the bypass.

One of the defining features of Sha’ban is that it is a month in which deeds are presented to Allah.

This annual presentation invites reflection: what will be raised on my behalf? A heart filled with resentment? Deeds weighed down by heedlessness? Or sincere efforts marked by repentance and growth?

The fifteenth night of Sha’ban (Laylat al-Bara’ah) further reinforces this theme. Many narrations indicate that Allah’s mercy is widely extended on this night, forgiving His servants except those who persist in shirk, harbour deep hatred, or sever family ties.

While scholars differ on specific rituals, there is agreement that the night calls for self-accountability, forgiveness, reconciliation, and du‘a — not extravagance or innovation.

Sha’ban is also the training ground for Ramadan. The Prophet fasted more in Sha’ban than in any other month outside Ramadan, demonstrating wisdom in gradual spiritual conditioning.

Just as an athlete prepares before a marathon, the believer uses Sha’ban to condition the soul — through fasting, prayer, Koran, and remembrance — so that Ramadan is entered with strength rather than shock.

To gain the fullest benefit from Sha’ban, we should:

• Increase voluntary fasting, even if only a few days

• Clear the heart of grudges, envy, and unresolved conflicts

• Repair family ties, as mercy flows where relationships are mended

• Re-establish consistency in prayer, dhikr, and Koran — even in small amounts

• Set clear intentions for Ramadan, turning vague hopes into purposeful plans

Sha’ban teaches us a powerful lesson: what is overlooked is not necessarily unimportant. Like the middle child who develops quiet strength and independence, Sha’ban cultivates sincerity, preparation, and depth — qualities essential for a meaningful Ramadan.

Those who honour Sha’ban do not rush into Ramadan unprepared. They arrive already softened, already aware, already turning towards Allah. And in that readiness lies the true success of the blessed month that follows.

Sha’ban is not merely the month before Ramadan — it is the month that decides how Ramadan will be carried out.

When the month of Sha’ban began, Muslims would increase their focus on the Mushaf — meaning they spent more time reading and reciting the Koran from the physical written copy.

They also made sure to pay the zakah (the obligatory charity on their wealth) during this month, so that poor and needy people would have support and resources ready for Ramadan, the month of fasting.

As this narration from: Laṭa’if al-Ma’arif states:

May the days of Sha’ban continue to inspire us to seek and obtain every benefit that Ramadan has to offer.

May our efforts in Sha’ban prepare us to have a successful Ramadan.

O Allah, allow us to reach Ramadan in safety, health, and peace.

Open our hearts to sincerity, purify our intentions, and make our worship pleasing to You.

Grant us the strength to fast with devotion, to pray with humility, and to recite Your Book with understanding.

Bless us with a Ramadan that transforms our character, elevates our faith, and brings us closer to You.

Make us among those whose deeds are accepted, whose hearts are softened, and whose lives are renewed by Your mercy.

Ameen

Bermuda let us continue to remember those less fortunate than us. We pray that their burdens will be eased and relief reaches them swiftly and permanently.

As salaam alaikum (peace be upon you).

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah Team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam