AhlulBayt News Agency: A prominent Indian cleric has described the closing days of the lunar month of Sha’ban as a “golden opportunity” for believers to reform their conduct, purify their hearts, and prepare spiritually for the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan.
Hojatoleslam Sayyid Naqi Mehdi Zaidi, Friday prayer leader of Taragarh in India, made the remarks during his weekly sermon, urging worshippers to seize a decisive spiritual moment before entering what Muslims regard as the “divine banquet” of Ramadan.
Imam Reza’s Guidance for the End of Sha’ban
Citing a well-known narration from Ali ibn Musa al-Rida, the cleric recalled that the Imam, addressing Abu Salt al-Harawi on the last Friday of Sha’ban, emphasized that most of the month had already passed and urged believers to compensate for their shortcomings in the remaining days.
According to the narration, Imam Reza outlined eight key recommendations for making the most of the final stretch of Sha’ban:
- Increasing supplication and intimate prayers
- Abundant seeking of forgiveness (Istighfar)
- Greater recitation of the Holy Qur’an
- Sincere repentance in preparation for Ramadan
- Prompt settlement of debts and restoration of people’s rights
- Purifying the heart from rancor and hostility toward fellow believers
- Abandoning sin and embracing God-consciousness (Taqwa) with reliance on God
- Frequently reciting the supplication:
“O Allah, if You have not forgiven us in the past days of Sha’ban, then forgive us in what remains of it.”
Zaidi stressed that these recommendations form a comprehensive program of ethical and spiritual reform.
Sha’ban as the End of the Moral Year
The Indian scholar described Sha’ban as the “end of the moral year” for believers. Just as individuals define fiscal or academic years in worldly life, he said, spiritually conscious individuals regard Ramadan as the beginning of a new ethical cycle.
“In that sense, Sha’ban becomes the final opportunity to review one’s spiritual record, rectify errors, and enter Ramadan with a renewed covenant with God,” he said.
He likened the spiritual preparation to students intensifying their studies before final examinations. “Just as students strive to prepare for decisive tests, believers in these days must strive to repay debts, fulfill neglected obligations, abandon sins, and make amends for missed duties.”
The Shabaniyeh Sermon: A Roadmap for Ramadan
Zaidi also referred to the famous Shabaniyeh sermon delivered by Muhammad, describing it as a comprehensive charter outlining the duties and etiquettes of believers during Ramadan.
He highlighted key moral and social recommendations emphasized in the sermon:
- Refining one’s character, as good conduct ensures stability on the Sirat (the bridge of the Hereafter)
- Showing compassion to subordinates and dependents
- Protecting others from one’s harm
- Honoring orphans
- Maintaining kinship ties
- Assisting the needy and giving charity
- Increasing supplication at the times of prayer
- Seeking forgiveness to liberate the soul from the burden of sin
According to the cleric, Ramadan is not limited to ritual fasting but represents a holistic program of ethical reform, social responsibility, and intensified worship.
Spiritual Discipline and the Crescent Moon
He further stressed that welcoming Ramadan should be accompanied by sincere repentance, structured spiritual planning, and heightened devotion.
Referring to classical Islamic sources, including narrations transmitted by Sayyid Ibn Tawus in his work Iqbal al-A‘mal, Zaidi noted that the Prophet’s demeanor would visibly change upon sighting the crescent of Ramadan, becoming more devoted to prayer and supplication as the month progressed.
He emphasized that extended prostrations, increased Qur’anic recitation, and abundant remembrance of God are among the defining features of the holy month.
“Reciting a single verse of the Qur’an in Ramadan carries the reward of completing the entire Qur’an in other months,” he said, citing traditional narrations.
Condemnation of Violence Against Shias in Pakistan
In the final part of his sermon, Zaidi expressed deep sorrow and anger over continued violence targeting Shia Muslims in Pakistan.
He strongly condemned the attacks, offered condolences to the families of victims, and called on the Pakistani authorities to swiftly identify and prosecute those responsible.
“Justice must be upheld, and perpetrators must face real and lawful punishment,” he said.
Ramadan as a Season of Ethical Reconstruction
Concluding his remarks, the Indian cleric described Ramadan as a transformative season for moral reconstruction, intensified worship, social solidarity, and inner purification.
He urged believers to enter the holy month with clear intention, disciplined planning, and a sincere commitment to reform—so that the blessings of Ramadan may translate into lasting personal and societal change.
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