Khaberni - Al-Azhar Al-Sharif clarified the ruling on fasting in the second half of the month of Sha'ban and explained the difference among scholars between permissibility and prohibition based on narrations and legal evidence.
Al-Azhar Al-Alami for electronic fatwa received a question that read: Is it permissible to fast on some days in the second half of the month of Sha'ban?
Through its official website, the center answered, explaining that Allah Almighty said in His Noble Book: "Indeed in the Messenger of Allah, you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much." [Al-Ahzab: 21]. It added that the Prophet ﷺ used to fast a lot during the month of Sha'ban, as Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated: "I never saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fasting in any month more than he did in Sha'ban," a hadith agreed upon, covering fasting the entire month indiscriminately.
Al-Azhar clarified that the issue of starting the fast after mid-Sha'ban differed among scholars after they agreed on its permissibility in the first half. This is due to multiple narrations about fasting in the second half. Some hadiths confirm fasting most days of the month indiscriminately as before, while others permit fasting in the second half for those accustomed to fasting, based on Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: "Do not precede Ramadan by fasting one or two days unless it is a person who is in the habit of fasting regularly; then he may fast that day." A hadith agreed upon.
There are also hadiths indicating the impermissibility of fasting in the second half; from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: "When Sha'ban is halfway through, do not fast," narrated by Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi and others.
Al-Azhar commented that the Shafi'i scholars reconciled these hadiths and declared it prohibited to fast voluntarily in the second half of Sha'ban except in specific cases, which are: if fasting is a person's habit, or is connected to fasting in the first half, or if it is a fast of atonement or fulfilling a vow, including for supererogatory or atonement; in these cases, there is no prohibition on fasting.
As for the majority of scholars, they have gone to the extent of permitting volunteer fasting in the second half of Sha'ban, even for those not accustomed to it and not connected to the first half, and only dislike fasting on the day of doubt. And they said that the hadith reported from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him: "When Sha'ban is halfway through, do not fast" is weak.
