Question: We have read in Saheeh Al-Jaami’ Al-Hadeeth (397) authenticated by (Shaykh) Al-Albaanee and collected by As-Suyootee (398) upon the authority of Abee Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) that he said that the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “If the first half of Sha’baan has past, then do not fast until it is Ramadhaan.” And there is present another hadeeth collected by As-Suyootee (8757), and it was authenticated by Al-Albaanee in Saheeh Al-Jaami’ (4638) that upon the authority of ‘A’isha (رضى الله عنها) that she said: “The most beloved of months for the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to fast in was Sha’baan, and his fasting in Sha’baan was continuous like his fasting in Ramadhaan.” So how do we reconcile between these two hadeeths?

Answer: With the name of Allaah and All praise is due to Allaah. To proceed:

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to fast the month of Sha’baan in its entirety except for a few days as has been established from the hadeeth of ‘A’isha and Umm Salamah. As for the hadeeth in which there is a prohibition upon fasting after the first half of Sha’baan has past, then it is Saheeh as the brother, Al-‘Allaamah, Ash-Shaykh Naasir Ud-Deen Al-Albaanee has mentioned. And what is intended by it, the prohibition, is upon the commencement of fasting after the first half (of Sha’baan) has past. As for the one who fasts most of the month or the month entirely, then he has reached the Sunnah. And Allaah is the grantor of Tawfeeq (success).