The Messenger of Allah's
(Peace be upon him)
sermon on the Last Day of Shabaan
Salmaan (Radhiallaho Anhu) report On the last day of Shabaan Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wasallam) addressed us and said: O people there comes over you now a great month, a most blessed month in which lies a night more greater in virtue than a thousand months.
It is a month in which Allah has made fasting compulsory by day and has made sunnah the Taraaweeh by night. Whosoever intends drawing near to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for such person shall be the reward like the one who had performed a Fard[compulsory act] in any other time and whoever performs a Fard, shall be blessed with the reward of seventy faraaidh[compulsory acts] in any other time.
This is indeed the month of patience and the reward for true patience is Jannah (paradise). It is the month of sympathy with one's fellowmen. It is the month wherein a true believer's rizq[provisions] is increased.
Whosoever feeds another who fasted, in order to break the fast (at sunset), for the feeder there shall be forgiveness of sins and emancipation from the fire of Jahannam (hell) and for such feeder shall be the some reward as the one who fasted (who he fed) without that persons reward being decreased in the least.
Thereupon we said, 'O messenger of Allah, not all of us possess the means whereby we can give a fasting person to break his fast' Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wasallam) replied Allah grants the same reward to the one who gives a fasting person to break the fast a mere date or a drink of water or a sip of milk.
This is a month, the first of which brings Allah's mercy, the middle of which brings His forgiveness and the last of which brings emancipation from the fire of Jahannam.
Whosoever lessens the burden of his servants (bondsmen) in this month; Allah will forgive him and free him from the fire of Jahannam.
And in this month four things you should continue to perform in great number, two of which shall be to please your Lord, while the other two shall be those without which you cannot do. Those which shall be to please your Lord, are that you should in great quantity bear witness that there is no deity to worship except Allah (i.e. recite the Kalimah Tayibbah Laa Ilaaha illallah) and make much Istighfaar (beg Allah's forgiveness with Astaghfirullah) and as for those without which you cannot do, you should beg of Allah entrance into paradise and ask refuge in Him from Jahannam.
And whoever gives a person water to drink, Allah shall grant that giver to drink from My fountain, such such a drink whereafter that person shall never again feel thirsty until he enters Jannah.
[HADITH-BAIHAQI]
