Q. What is the ruling on saying “Ramadan Mubarak” as some say it is “sunnah” and some say it is a “bidah” (innovation)?

A. To welcome the month is good ‘alhumdulliah’ and prophet (saw) used to inform the people about  this blessed month. Hadith (Musanand Ahmad, vol. 2, page 230, hadith 7148, repeated in Sunan Al Nasai) “The prophet (saw) always used to tell the people when the month was approaching. “O people the blessed month of Ramadan is approaching you and Allah (swt) has prescribed you to fast in this month. “Ramadan Mubarak”  is mostly said in Indian sub-continent, by the Indians and Pakistanis. Mubarak means “barakat” (blessing) as it is actually an Arabic word. But when used by Indians or Pakistanis, it is a type of congratulation. Like someone passes an examination people congratulate by saying “Mubarak” in Urdu. So when Ramadan comes, they say “Ramadan Mubarak”. According to me it not a “bidah” (innovation). It is good they are calling this month a blessed month. What word you choose is “mubah” (optional) like in Indian subcontinent people say “Ramadan Mubarak”, in gulf countries people call it “Ramadan Karim”. So all these words are good, holy month, blessed month. So people should wish each other and remind each other of this blessed month.

Q. What should we do when Ramadan approaches?

A. First thing we should do is to thank Allah (swt) for making us witness this blessed month once again. Thank him for his mercy and ask for his forgiveness so that all our previous sins are forgiven. And we have to thank him for all the “niyamat” he has given us and blessings and all the love. Allah says in Quran (Surah Al-Baqara, Ch. 2, V. 185): “Ramadan is the month in which Quran was revealed as a guidance  for mankind and signs for guidance and judgment between right and wrong.” And Allah firther says in the Quran (Surah Al-Baqara, Ch. 2, V. 183): “O you who believe, fasting was prescribed to you as it was prescribed to people who came before you so that you may learn self restrain.” Word used is “tatakoon”. So that you learn God Consciousness, piety, righteousness, “taqwa” is increased. This is the month in which a person can become more righteous. This is the time when our “taqwa” can be at the height. This month is a sort of annual training. Like a machine requires servicing. If you allow me to call a human being the most complex machine in the world, doesn’t it need servicing? It is spiritual and moral training for human being. Purification of body, mind and soul. Increase our taqwa, increase our patience. And we can derive the benefits and guidance from the Quran.

Q. What was the preparation of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to welcome Ramadan?

A. There is hadith in sahih al bukhari (vol. 3 book of fasting, hadith 1969) “aisha (r. a) related that the Prophet ﷺ never fasted a complete month except in Ramadan and he didn’t fast in any month as many days as he fasted in the month of shabaan” thus from this hadith we come to know that Prophet ﷺ used to welcome or prepare for the month of Ramadan by fasting many days in the previous month, i.e. the month of shabaan. And further if you read in Tirmidhi (Book of supplications, Hadith 5431) which says that Talha (r.a) says on the authority of his father that whenever the Prophet ﷺ saw the new moon he always used to pray to Allah سبحانه و تعالى and say “O Allah bless us in this month (and he used to mention the name of the month) keep us stead fast in faith in this month. This is how Prophet ﷺ used to pray to Allah سبحانه و تعالى whenever he used to see the new moon. It wasn’t specifically only for the new moon of the Ramadan but it was for all the new moons he used to see. He used to mention about coming of this blessed month to the people. Prophet ﷺ addressed the people in hadith (Musanad Ahmad, vol 2, page 230, hadith 7148) “O people this blessed month is approaching you and Allah سبحانه و تعالى has ordained on you to fast in this month. Gates of the heaven will be opened in this month and gates of hell will be closed and the devil will be chained, and in this month there is a night which is better than a thousand months and whosoever is deprived of Allah’s سبحانه و تعالى blessing in this month, he is truly the deprived person.