The Blessed Month of Sha'ban
The Holy Prophet says, “Sha’ban is my month; hence, Paradise will be incumbently decided for one who observes fasting on one day of my month.”
3rd of Sha’ban – Birth anniversary of Imam Hussain
4th of Sha’ban – Birth anniversary of al-Abbas
5th of Sha’ban – Birth anniversary of Imam Ali Zayn ul- Abideen
11th of Sha’ban – Birth anniversary of Ali al-Akbar
14th of Sha’ban – Birth anniversary of al-Qassem ibn Imam Hassan
15th of Sha’ban – Birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi
Merits
It is recommended to repeat as much as possible the invocation of blessings (salawat) upon the Holy Prophet and his Household.
It is also recommended to observe fasting on Thursdays in Sha`ban. In this respect, a hadith reads that the skies decorate themselves each Thursday in Sha`ban and the angels pray Almighty Allah, saying, “O our God, (please do) forgive those who observe fasting on this day and respond to their prayers.” The Holy Prophet is also reported as saying, “If one observes fasting each Monday and Thursday in Sha`ban, Almighty Allah will grant forty of his needs—twenty appertained to the worldly life and twenty to the Hereafter.”
According to narrations, the best words that are advisably said in Sha`ban are the implorations for the forgiveness of Almighty Allah (i.e. istighfar). Hence, to implore for Almighty Allah’s forgiveness seventy times a day in Sha`ban is equal to imploring for His forgiveness seventy thousand times a day in the other months.
It is recommended to give alms in this month even if it is as small as a half date. Almsgiving in this month brings about rescue from Hellfire.
In this respect, it has been narrated that when Imam al-Sadiq was asked about the merits of observing fasting in Rajab, he answered, “Why do you not ask about the merits of observing fasting in Sha`ban?”
“What is then the reward of one who observes fasting on one day in Sha`ban?” asked the narrator. The Imam answered, “The reward will be Paradise. I swear it by Allah.”
The narrator then asked again, “What are the best deeds that should be done in Sha`ban.” The Imam answered, “Almsgiving and imploring for forgiveness are the best deeds in Sha`ban. Verily, if anyone of you gives alms in Sha`ban, Almighty Allah will breed that alms in the very same way as you breed your small camels. Hence, this alms will be as huge as Mount Uhud on the Resurrection Day.”
General Invocations for the Month of Sha’ban
It is recommended to say the following imploration for forgiveness 70 times each day in Sha`ban:
I implore for the forgiveness of Allah and I pray Him for approval of my repentance.
It is recommended to recite the following imploration for forgiveness 70 times each day in Sha`ban:
I implore for the forgiveness of Allah. There is no god save Whom, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful, the Ever-living, the Everlasting, and to Him I turn repentant.
It is recommended to repeat the following litany 1000 times in Sha`ban: The reward of one who repeats this in Sha`ban is that one is awarded the reward of serving (Almighty Allah) for 1000 years.
There is no god except Allah and we serve none except Him, being sincere to Him in obedience, though the unbelievers are averse.
Source: Duas.org