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I was recently told that saying Ramadan Kareem or Ramadan Mubarak is a bida`a.

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I was recently told that saying Ramadan Kareem or Ramadan Mubarak is a bida`a. Is that true and can you tell me more about where it came from? Shukran. 

 

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Answer:

 

Ramadhan kareem greeting

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

It has been reported in an authentic narration that the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “Whoever introduces a ‘bida’ (innovation) in this deen brought by me, it will be rejected.”

 

A bida or innovation is something which is added to the deen of Islam which was revealed to, and practiced by the Messenger of Allah (saws). It especially concerns the rites and rituals of worship, or any deed of worship which was not performed by the Messenger of Allah (saws), but was added after his death. It also concerns any innovated deed which one does and believes that by doing this innovated deed, he is eligible to earn more reward from Allah Subhanah.

 

Your Question: I was recently told that saying Ramadan Kareem or Ramadan Mubarak is a bida`a. Is that true and can you tell me more about where it came from?

If a believer is happy and pleased at the advent of the Blessed Month of Ramadan, and meets and greets his fellow believing brethren and says these terms as a sign of his happiness and gratefulness at being blessed with the opportunity to worship their Lord in this blessed month, or simply greets his believing brethren with such terms without associating them as a part of the deen, there is absolutely no harm and it would not in any way constitute a ‘bida’ or innovation.

 

But if one believes that to say such greetings as ‘Ramadan Kareem’ (Ramadan is generous) or ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ (Ramadan is blessed) at the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan to their believing brothers and sisters is a part of Islam, or must be said at the start of Ramadan, or that saying such greetings would earn them a special reward from Allah Subhanah, or to make them a part of the deen of Islam, etc., then such a belief would indeed be considered a ‘bida’ or innovation.

 

The casuals greetings the believers make amongst each other at the advent of Ramadan or Eid as a sign of their happiness or gratefulness does not constitute a ‘bida’ or innovation; unless of course one thinks or believes that such greetings must be said, or that the saying of such greetings are a part of the rites of Islam, etc.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

Burhan

 


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