Darulifta Ahlesunnat
(Dawateislami)
Question
What do the scholars of Islam say about the following
matter: Regarding the arrival of Ramaḍān,
a narration explaining how Paradise becomes wājib
upon whosoever is the first to congratulate someone concerning the arrival of Ramaḍān is commonly spoken of. Does such a
narration exist? And can it be shared further?
بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ
الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
The
blessed month of Ramaḍān has innumerable
virtues. To congratulate others on its arrival and mention its virtues is not
only permissible, but also proven to have been done by the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ
وَسَلَّم. The following is narrated in Musannaf
Ibn Abī Shaybah and Musnad Imam Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal, on the authority of sayyidunā
Abū Hurayrah رضی اللہ عنہ:
واللفظ
للاول:’’ قال نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو يبشر اصحابه: قد جاءكم رمضان شهر
مبارك، افترض عليكم صيامه، تفتح فيه ابواب الجنة و تغلق فيه ابواب الجحيم وتغل فيه
الشياطين، فيه ليلة القدر خير من الف شهر، من حرم خيرها فقد حرم
Whilst
giving glad tidings to his Companions (upon the arrival of Ramaḍān),
the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ
وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم declared:
Without
doubt, the blessed month of Ramadan has just come to you. Its fasts have been
made been farḍ upon you. In this month the
doors of Paradise are opened, the doors of Hellfire closed and devils are
shackled. In it is Laylat ul-Qadr, which is superior
to a thousand months. Whoever remained deprived of goodness in this, is truly
deprived.
Commenting
on this hadith, ʿallāmah ibn Rajab Ḥanbali رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes, قال بعض العلماء: هذا الحديث اصل في تهنئة الناس بعضهم
بعضا بشهر رمضان - “Some scholars have said this hadith is proof for people to
congratulate one another in regards to Ramaḍān.”
As
for the narration mentioned in the question, I have not come across it nor have
I heard it from scholars. Such statements are generally fabricated, and
deliberately ascribing a fabricated statement to the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ
وَسَلَّم
is haram. We find severe warnings related
to this in ahadith, one of which is found in both Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhāri
and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim. Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah narrates how the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ
وَسَلَّم
said, من کذب علی متعمداً فلیتبوا مقعدہ من النار - “Whosoever
ascribed a lie to me knowingly should make his abode in Hellfire.”
Furthermore,
one should not forward everything he hears without verifying it, as the hadith
describes a person who does so as a liar For example,
observe the following hadith found in Ṣaḥīḥ
Muslim, “Relaying everything he hears is enough for a man to be considered a
liar.”
Therefore,
it is absolutely necessary to refrain from sharing messages or posts consisting
of such narrations.
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ
وَسَلَّم