The Ruling on Congratulating the Arrival of Ramadan
byIslamic Ship-
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Question:
What is the ruling on welcoming Ramadan, announcing its arrival, and exchanging congratulations among friends?
Answer:
Ramadan is a great and blessed month that brings joy to Muslims. The Prophet May God bless him and grant him peace and his companions used to rejoice in its arrival, and the Prophet May God bless him and grant him peace would give glad tidings to his companions about it. Therefore, if Muslims express happiness, welcome Ramadan, and congratulate one another upon its arrival, there is no harm in doing so. This practice was also followed by the righteous predecessors, as Ramadan is a significant and blessed month. It is a time of expiating sins, erasing misdeeds, and competing in righteous deeds and acts of goodness. Yes, it is permissible.
Just as people congratulate one another on the birth of a child, a good home, returning from travel, or safety and well-being—these are all customary exchanges among Muslims and are permissible. Similarly, Allah mentioned in the Quran regarding a woman who willingly gives something to her husband:
"Then consume it in happiness and health." (An-Nisa: 4)
The Prophet May God bless him and grant him peace used to give glad tidings to his companions about Ramadan, saying: "The month of Ramadan has come to you, a blessed month, a month in which sins are forgiven, and supplications are answered. Show Allah goodness from yourselves, for the wretched one is the one deprived of Allah’s mercy." And he May God bless him and grant him peace said: "Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven. And whoever prays during it with faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven."
There are many phrases that can be used to congratulate someone on the arrival of Ramadan, including:
May Allah bless you in this blessed month.
May the arrival of Ramadan bring you joy and blessings.
Congratulations on reaching this holy month! I pray that Allah grants you strength for fasting and prayer.
Blessed Ramadan to you! May Allah make it a month of goodness and blessings for you and the entire Muslim Ummah.
We ask Allah to grant you rewards and forgiveness in this month.
