A Mother’s Preparation for Ramadan
In the mountain village of Leepa Valley, a mother, a daughter and a wife, Farzana rises before dawn. Her home is quiet except for the soft crackle of a wood stove and the whispers of her children sleeping under a single blanket. Farzana prays for hope in the month of Shaban.
Ramadan is only weeks away, but Farzana’s thoughts are already on how she will feed her family when the fasts begin. The cost of flour has doubled, the local market is miles away, and her husband’s seasonal job ended when heavy snow blocked the roads.
Yet, as she lights her small lantern, her lips move with gratitude. “Alhamdulillah,” she says. “Allah always provides.”
Last year, she remembers, a food pack from Kashmir Welfare Foundation arrived during Sha’ban — rice, lentils, dates, and oil. It was the first proper meal her family had shared in weeks.
“That parcel felt like a miracle,” she recalls. “It reminded me that even in hardship, Allah sends His mercy through the hands of others.”
Across Azad Kashmir, millions of families share Farzana’s story. According to the AJK Bureau of Statistics 2024, the region’s 4.46 million people live mostly in rural areas (82%). Access to healthcare is limited, with only one doctor for every 3,886 residents, and food insecurity remains high.
For mothers like Farzana, Sha’ban isn’t just the month before Ramadan — it is the month of hope, when faith, fasting, and charity prepare hearts for mercy.
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Understanding the Month of Shaban
Sha’ban is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar, a bridge between the sacred months of Rajab and Ramadan. It is the time the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to fill with voluntary fasting and remembrance of Allah.
Aisha (RA) reported:
“I never saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) complete a month of fasting except Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more in any month than he did in Sha’ban.”
(Bukhari 1969; Muslim 1156)
This devotion shows that Sha’ban is a month of spiritual training — a warm-up for the soul before the blessings of Ramadan arrive.
Why Fasting in Shaban Matters
Imagine preparing for a marathon without ever practising. Likewise, entering Ramadan without spiritual preparation can leave us drained instead of uplifted.
Fasting during Sha’ban is our opportunity to train body and soul for the sacred month ahead. It builds endurance, renews sincerity, and clears the heart from worldly distractions.
1. Spiritual Preparation
Through voluntary fasts and extra prayers, we cultivate Taqwa (consciousness of Allah). It is a time to reflect: are we fasting merely to reach Iftar, or to seek Allah’s pleasure and mercy through self-discipline, forgiveness, and giving?
2. Physical Preparation
Sha’ban helps the body adapt to fasting hours. Those who fast beforehand often find the first days of Ramadan easier. It is a gift of mercy, easing us gently into devotion.
3. Building Better Habits
Studies suggest habits form between 21 and 66 days — almost the length from Sha’ban to the end of Ramadan. Start Qur’an reading, Tahajjud, or Sadaqah now, and you’ll find consistency effortless when Ramadan arrives.
4. Immense Reward
Every du’a, every fast, and every act of charity in Sha’ban holds multiplied reward. The Prophet (ﷺ) taught us this du’a:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allahumma innaka Afuwwun Tuḥibbul-ʿAfwa faʿfu ʿannī
“O Allah, You are the Forgiver, You love to forgive, so forgive me.” (Tirmidhi)
5. Mental and Emotional Strength
Fasting builds patience and gratitude. It calms the mind, teaches empathy, and reminds us that true comfort lies in Allah’s closeness, not in material ease.
6. Waking for Tahajjud
Use Sha’ban to nurture the habit of rising for Tahajjud. In the stillness of the night, whisper your hopes to Allah — for forgiveness, for Ramadan, and for the ummah.
Give Before Ramadan Begins
Across the valleys of Kashmir, families like Farzana’s are praying for a blessed Ramadan but fear entering it hungry.
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Shaban in the Light of Mercy
The Prophet (ﷺ) called Sha’ban “the month in which deeds are raised to Allah.” It is a time to seek forgiveness, mend relationships, and increase acts of goodness.
Allah (SWT) commands:
“So race to all that is good.” (Al-Baqarah 2:148)
When you give Sadaqah in Sha’ban, you don’t just feed the hungry — you race toward goodness before Ramadan arrives.
How Your Charity Transforms Lives
According to the 2024 AJK data:
- 4.46 million people live across ten districts of Azad Kashmir.
- Rural communities (82%) face limited health and income opportunities.
- One doctor serves nearly 4,000 residents.
- Maternal mortality is still 104 per 100,000 births.
When you donate through Kashmir Welfare Foundation, your charity supports sustainable solutions — feeding families now while empowering them for the future.
Parveen Kausar, Trustee at Kashmir Welfare Foundation, explains:
“Sha’ban is the month of quiet mercy. We see families prepare for Ramadan with nothing but faith. When your donation arrives, you become part of their answered du’a.”
Shaban & Ramadan 2025 Achievements
- 1,000 families received food packs before Ramadan.
- 12 water wells built across rural villages.
- 4,000 patients treated through medical camps.
- 600 orphans sponsored for education and welfare.
- 120 widows trained for income generation.
🕊️ This year, you can help us reach even more families before Ramadan 2026 begins.
Building Momentum for Ramadan
Sha’ban is momentum. It’s our chance to revive the Qur’an in our homes, give Sadaqah daily, and pray for those in need.
Here are simple ways to prepare spiritually and charitably:
- Fast voluntarily. Choose Mondays and Thursdays or alternate days.
- Give a little every day. Even £1 daily Sadaqah creates ongoing barakah.
- Pray Tahajjud. Use its quiet moments to make du’a for the ummah.
- Reflect and repent. Let go of grudges and purify your heart.
- Plan your Zakat. Calculate early so it reaches families in time.
UK Gift Aid Reminder
If you’re a UK taxpayer, you can increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost through Gift Aid.
That means £40 becomes £50 — enough to feed two families instead of one.
Tick the Gift Aid box and let your mercy multiply this Sha’ban.
How Your Giving Echoes Across Generations
Every pound you give is a seed of hope. It turns into water for a well, food for a fasting child, or medicine for the sick. Your donation becomes Sadqah Jariya — ongoing reward for as long as it benefits others.
When Farzana breaks her fast this Ramadan, she will remember the donors who gave in Sha’ban — those who sent kindness before the moon was sighted.
Shaban FAQ
1. What is Sha’ban and why is it important?
Sha’ban is the month before Ramadan, a time for fasting, forgiveness, and spiritual training to prepare the heart for the holy month.
2. Can I give Sadaqah or Zakat in Sha’ban?
Yes. Giving charity in Sha’ban is highly rewarded and helps families prepare for Ramadan in advance.
3. What is the best dua to recite in Sha’ban?
The Prophet (ﷺ) often recited “Allahumma innaka Afuwwun Tuḥibbul-ʿAfwa faʿfu ʿannī” – “O Allah, You are the Forgiver, You love to forgive, so forgive me.”
4. How does Kashmir Welfare Foundation use my donation?
Your donations fund food packs, clean water, medical aid, orphan support, and widow relief projects across Azad Kashmir.
5. Can I Gift Aid my donation for extra reward?
Yes, UK taxpayers can tick the Gift Aid box to add 25% more to their donation at no extra cost.
Ready, Set, Shaban
Sha’ban is your spiritual warm-up. Before the crescent of Ramadan appears, race towards goodness. Feed the hungry, quench thirst, and ease burdens in the name of Allah.
When the adhan of the first Ramadan echoes through the mountains, let a family in Kashmir raise their hands in du’a for you.
Donate Now and Multiply Your Mercy
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