• One of the most important things is to prepare for doing righteous deeds before the month of Ramadan. The scholars designated the month of Rajab as the start of the preparations for the month of Ramadan. • It is as if the year is a tree; its leaves begin to appear in the month of Rajab, its fruit begins to appear in the month of Sha`ban, and the people pick its fruit during the month of Ramadan. • So the individual should prepare himself by doing righteous deeds in Rajab, and pay extra attention to making them perfect in Sha`ban, so that he will be able to do them in a perfect manner in Ramadan.

Whoever fasts six days of Shawwal will have recorded for him a reward as if he had fasted a whole year. For more, please see the detailed answer.