Good Use of Sha'ban

Making Good Use of Time When People are Negligent which is the case with the month of Sha'ban as discussed in "Fasting in Sha'ban" Section.

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The previously discussed hadith also indicates that it is Mustahabb (recommended) to make good use of the times when people tend to be negligent, by doing acts of worship.

A group of the Salaf used to fill the time between Maghrib and ‘Isha with prayer, saying that it was a time when many people were negligent.

Another example is the remembrance of Allah (dhikr) in the marketplace, because this means one is remembering Him in a place where people tend to be negligent and among people who are negligent.

There are a number of benefits that come from making good use of times when people are often negligent, and using these times for worship, including the following:

It is more concealing of one's good works, and hiding and concealing voluntary (Nafl) actions is better, especially fasting, because it is a secret between a slave and his Lord.

Hence it was said that there is no element of showing off in fasting.

One of the Salaf used to fast for years without anybody knowing about it; he would go from his home to the marketplace carrying two loaves of bread, which he would give away in charity, and he would fast. His family thought that he ate the bread, whilst the people in the marketplace thought that he had eaten at home.

The Salaf thought it was Mustahabb for a person who was fasting to do things that would conceal the fact that he was fasting.

It was reported that Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“When you get up in the morning and you are fasting, then apply perfume.”

Qatadah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

“It is Mustahabb for the [man] who is fasting to apply perfume so that there will be no sign that he is fasting.”

By the same token, doing righteous deeds at times when people are distracted and negligent is more difficult.

One of the indications of how virtuous a deed is, is how difficult it is:

If everyone is doing a certain action, it is easy, but if most people are negligent, this makes it more difficult for those who do remember Allah.

Muslim (no. 2984) narrated from the Hadith of Ma’qil ibn Yasar, may Allah be pleased with him:

“[The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:] ‘Worship at times of tribulation (Fitnah) is like Hijrah to me.’”

(The phrase “worship at times of tribulation” refers to

"times of upheavals and trials, when people follow their own desires, and those who adhere to Islaam are doing something difficult.)"