Nisfu Syaaban Fasting – Intentions, Laws & Circumcision of Sya’ban Fasting

“O Allah, bless us in the months of Rajab and Shaban and bring us to the month of Ramadan.”

(HR Ahmad and At Tabrani)

Entering the Month of Sya’ban & Nisfu Sya’ban 1447H

Beginning of Shaaban (1 Shaban) = 20 January 2026 (Tuesday) *God willing, we will welcome the arrival of 1 Shabanan after the time has arrived Maghrib, January 19, 2026 (Monday).

15 Shaban (Nisfu Syaaban) = 3 February 2026 (Tuesday) *This means that the date of Nisfu Sya’ban night will be celebrated on that date the evening of February 2, 2026 (Monday)after entering the time Maghrib.

Please refer to the 2025 / 1446 – 1447 Hijriah Calendar issued by JAKIM for Malaysia in the following attachment:

When is the start date for the 2026 Shaban fast?

Muslims can start the Shaban circumcision fast starting on Shaban 1 (20 January 2026). Nisfu Syaaban (15 Shaaban) falls on Tuesday 3 February 2026 with the beginning of the evening after Maghrib on Monday 2 February 2026.

The Nisfu Syaaban circumcision fast will be held on February 3, 2026.

The month of Sha’ban is the month in which the Prophet SAW carried out the most circumcision fasts compared to other months. You can choose to fast on the following specific dates:

• Fasting Monday & Thursday: Throughout the month of Shaaban (eg: 22, 26, 29 January & 2, 5, 9, 12, 16 February).
• Ayyamul Bidh fast (13, 14, 15 Shaaban): Fall on February 1, 2 and 3, 2026.
• Nisfu Shaban fasting: Fall on February 3, 2026 (Tuesday).

Specialties of the Month of Sya’ban & Night of Nisfu Sya’ban

According to information from JAKIM, the night of the month of Shaban is our annual practice of raising angels to Allah SWT.

Therefore, we are advised to increase our pious practices, fast and ask forgiveness from Allah SWT.

The Virtue of Circumcision of Fasting in the Month of Shaban

Muslims are advised to increase their circumcision fasting in the month of Shaban.

This is based on a hadith:

From the hadith of Usama bin Zayd he said: I said, O Messenger of Allah, I have never seen you fasting in any month other than fasting in the month of Sha`ban. He said: It is a month that people ignore. It’s between Rajab and Ramadhan, which is the month of giving charity to the God of the worlds, so I want my charity to be handed over when I fast.

“From Usamah bin Zaid he said, I asked Rasulullah SAW;

“O Messenger of Allah, I have never seen you fasting in other months like (often) you fast in the month of Sha’ban.

His Majesty said: That month is a time of human negligence, namely between Rajab and Ramadan. This is the month in which the practice is elevated to God, the Lord of the worlds. I like my practice to improve when I fast.”

(Haddist Rewait dan-Nassai No: 2317) Status: Hasan

From Mu’az bin Jabal RA, that the Prophet SAW said:

Let’s take advantage of this opportunity to increase our pious deeds in the month of Shaban, including fasting and circumcision.

Intention of Sha’ban Circumcision Fasting:

I intend to fast the month of Shaban in the year of God Almighty

“Nawaitu sauma syahri sya’ban sunnatan lillahi Ta’ala.”

Meaning: I intend to fast and circumcise in the month of Sha’ban only because of Allah Ta’ala.

Nisfu Shaban Circumcision Fasting

Is it true that fasting is circumcised on the day of Nisfu Sha’ban?

Based on our search on the Maktabah Al-Bakri website, DR. ZULKIFLI MOHAMAD AL-BAKRI explains as follows:

There is a hadith narrated by Ibn Majah and al-Baihaqi in Shu’ab al-Iman about Nisfu Shaaban fasting. This hadith is rated as false by most hadith scholars. Because in this sanad there is a narrator named Abu Bakr bin Abdullah bin Abi Sabrah.

Ibn Majah narrated a hadith from Ali RA, that the Prophet SAW said:

If the night is in the middle of the month of Sha`ban, then get up that night and fast that day.

It means: “When the night of Nisfu Shaaban arrives, spend the night and fast during the day…”

[Riwayat Ibn Majah (1388) dan al-Baihaqi di dalam Syu’ab al-Iman (3542)]

However, Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali entered Brother al-Marif emphasize that Fasting on the day of Nisfu Shaaban is still recommended because it is included in the white day. (See Lota’iff al-Mariffp. 151)

Therefore, even though the hadith”When the night of Nisfu Shaaban arrives, spend the night and fast during the day…” is a false hadith, However, fasting on Nisfu Shaaban is still recommended because it is included in the hadith that recommends fasting on white days..

In fact, the month of Sha’ban is the most recommended month for fasting as per the hadith narrated from Aisyah R. Anha, she said:

Rasulullah SAW, used to fast until we said: He did not break the fast, and he broke the fast until we said: He did not fast. I have never seen the Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace. He completed his fast for one month except Ramadan, and I did not see him fasting longer than the month of Sha`ban.

It means: “When the Prophet SAW fasted we felt he would not break his fast (because he fasted continuously), and when he did not fast we felt he would not fast again. “I have never seen the Messenger of Allah fasting for a whole month other than Ramadan, and I have never seen him fasting as much as in the month of Sha’ban.”

*Reference source:

Prayer for the month of Shaban

Let us increase these prayers in the months of Rajab and Shaban, may Allah swt give us strength and restore our understanding so that we can worship more actively in the month of Ramadan which will soon arrive, in Shaa Allah.

The prayers are:

PRAYER 1

PRAYER 2

Also ask Allah SWT to give us good and sustainable health, so that we can worship Allah SWT at all times, especially in the month of Ramadan, in perfect condition and accepted by Allah SWT.

NISFU SYA’BAN INCLUDES 5 NIGHT PRAYERS – IMAM AS-SYAFI’E RA

Imam ash-Syafie said: “Prayers are obligatory on five nights: Friday night, Eid al-Adha night, Eid al-Fitr night, the first night of the month of Rajab and the night of the middle/half of the month of Sha’ban.”

Important dates in Islam 2026

Based on the Islamic calendar (Hijri Calendar) issued by the Department of Islamic Development of Malaysia (JAKIM), the following are the important dates for Islamic holidays in Malaysia that year. 2026 (1447H – 1448H):

USE:

The start date of Ramadhan, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and Hari Raya Aidiladha can be announced by Keeper of the Great Seal of Kings after the moon sighting activity (rukyah).

Public Leave:

• Muharram & Early Prophet’s Birthday: National holiday.
• Beginning of Ramadan: National holiday for the states of Johor, Kedah, and Melaka.
• Nuzul Al Quran: Public holiday in most states except Johor, Kedah, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah, and Sarawak.
• Aidilfitri & Aidiladha: This is a national holiday (across Malaysia).

Frequently asked questions about the 2026 Shaban Fast

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