Fasting became Obligatory on a Monday
Monday not only has the virtue of being the day in which Allah's Messenger (SAW) arrived in this world but it is also the day in which the fasts of Ramadaan became obligatory.
'On Monday, the second day of Sha`baan in the second year of Hijrah, Allah (SWT) made fasting in Ramadaan obligatory upon the believers'. (Risaalah Ramadaan)The Obligation to fast occurred in the Second Year of Migration
Remember also that the command to fast in Ramadaan was revealed in Madeenah in the second year of Hijrah. It is narrated from Ibn `Abbaas that the first two things given to the believers after migration were the Baitullah becoming the Qiblah and the fasts of Ramadaan.
'Verily, Ramadaan became obligatory in Sha`baan in the second year of Hijrah'. (Athaaf Ahlul Islaam)He fasted Nine Ramadaans
The above fact proves that the Prophet (SAW) observed Nine Ramadaans after fasting had become obligatory. This is beacause he lived 10 years of his apparent life in Madeenah and Ramadaan became obligatory in the second year of Hijrah. Imaam Ibn Hajar Haitami writes that some Huffaaz of Hadeeth have clarified:
'The Prophet fasted 9 Ramadaans'The Prophet's Ramadaan before Obligatory Fasting
It is important to remember that the Prophet's relationship with Ramadaan did not begin with the obligation to fast. He had a connection with it before this. It was during this month that he would achieve seclusion in Mount Hira and connect with his Lord, using it as a source of tranquility and focus. Furthermore, it was during Ramadaan while in the cave of Hira that Jibreel brought Allah's (SWT) eternal message:
'Read in the name of thy Lord who created'. (Soorah `Alaq)Ibn Is-haaq narrates from `Ubaid bn `Umair:
'Each year the Prophet would go to Month Hira for a month in search of solitude and it was in that same month that he announced his Prophethood and that was the month of Ramadaan' (As Seera tu n Nabawiyyah vol. 1, p235)In describing the revelation of Qur'aan, Allah has confirmed in a number of places that it was revealed in Ramadaan:
'The month of Ramadaan, in which the Qur`aan was revealed' (Soorah Baqarah)
'Verily, we revealed it in the night of Qadr'. (Soorah Qadr)Remember that as mentioned previously, fasting in Ramadaan became compulsory in Madeenah (and the revelation of Qur'aan began in Ramadaan before the Migration to Madeenah).
Dr Muhammad `Abdu Yamaani writes:
'We should be able to infer from the above, how deep and important the Prophet's relationship is with Ramadaan and he observed it before his Prophethood and before the revelation of verses'.Shaykh Atia Muhammad Saalim states:
'The Prophet's relationship with Ramadaan was not that of other people. His relationship with Ramadaan predated fasting. One could say that he had a relationship with Ramadaan both before his announcement of Prophethood and after'.Love for the Blessed Ramadaan
The Prophet's initial act was to love Ramadaan and make du`aa' for its attainment. It is in Imaam Tabaraani's Awsat and Musnad Bazaar that as soon as he would see the moon of the month of Rajab, he would supplicate:
'O Allah make Rajab and Sha`baan blessed for us and grant us Ramadaan'.The words narrated by Anas are:
When Rajab would enter he would supplicate 'O Allah make Rajab and Sha`baan blessed for us and make Ramadaan blessed for us'. (Musnad Ahmad 259)Tabaraani narrates from Anas that when the months of Rajab and Sha`baan would begin he would supplicate:
'O Allah make Rajab and Sha`baan blessed for us and grant us Ramadaan'.After narrating these words, Ibn Rajab writes that one learns from this that one should supplicate for blessed times to get closer to one's Lord by undertaking more good deeds in them.
'In this hadeeth is evidence of the goodness of making du`aa' to stay alive and find good times in which one can undertake good deeds. For a believer increased lifetime is a source of good and the best person is the one whose life is long and (whose)deeds (are)good'.Look at what our pious predecessors did after they became aware of both these practice of the Prophet (SAW) and the status of Ramadaan.Ya`laa bn Fadl writes:
'They (the Companions and Taabi`een) would spend six months supplicating to attain Ramadaan and spend the other six months pleading for its acceptance' (Lataaif ul Ma`aarif)Preparing for Ramadaan in Sha`baan
The Prophet (SAW) would prepare for Ramadaan in the month of Sha`baan. It is narrated from `Aaishah thatapart from Ramadaan the month in which he fasted the most was Sha`baan.
'The Prophet would fast the most in Sha`baan'.One of the wisdoms in this practice mentioned is that in Sha`baan is the night of Baraa'ah (15th night) in which deeds are presented in the court of Allah (SWT). The Prophet (SAW) wanted his deeds to be presented in the state of fasting, just as has been mentioned in hadeeth.
However, another wisdom in fasting in Sha`baan mentioned by the Muhadditheen is that he prepared for Ramadaan in Sha`baan because Sha`baan is a forerunner for Ramadaan and its actions should also be those of Ramadaan:
'In order to attain the barakah of Ramadaan (this practice was to) ensure complete preparation and the satisfaction of the nafs upon the complete obedience of Allah (SWT)'.In this way, it is similar to the Sunnah Prayers before the Fard. The Muslim uses the Sunnah Prayers to turn his mind towards the court of Allah (SWT) in peparation for the Fard Prayer. The practice of the Sahaabah supports this reasoning. Anas sheds light on the practice of the companions:
'As soon as Sha`baan entered the Muslims would turn towards the Qur'aan. They would also take Zakah out from their wealth and (by it) strenghten the poor and destitute for the fasts of Ramadaan'.
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