Is it permissible to fast the entire month of Sha'ban, and is the hadith regarding the virtue of the middle night of Sha'ban authentic?

Question:
He asks: Is it permissible to fast in the month of Sha'ban from its beginning to its end? And is the hadith regarding the virtue of the middle night of Sha'ban an authentic hadith?

Answer:
The entire month of Sha'ban is not to be fasted, nor is most of it to be fasted, nor is it to be completed. No month is completed in fasting except the month of Ramadan. Likewise, the month of Muharram, for it is recommended to fast it in its entirety. So, it is obligatory to fast the entire month of Ramadan, and it is a pillar of Islam, except for making up missed days, or except for... and except for making up missed days. And the month of Muharram, if one fasts it in its entirety, this is a recommended practice (sunnah). As for the month of Sha'ban, it is not to be fasted in its entirety, but rather most of it is to be fasted.