- 20 Oct 2004, 21:58
#83
DO NOT SAY "RAMADAN" ONLY
On p. 232, Vol. 7, of Wasail al-Shi'a, and also on p. 69, Vol. 4 (old edition), of Al-Kafi, Imam Abu Ja'fer al-Baqir is quoted saying, "Do not say `this is Ramadan,' or `Ramadan has gone,' or ' Ramadan has approached,' for Ramadan is one of the Names of Allah, the most Exalted, the most Great, and He neither comes nor goes; things that die come and go. Instead, you should say `the month of Ramadan, for [in this case] the month will simply be identified, whereas the Name belongs to Allah, Exalted is His mention, whereas the month wherein the Qur'an was revealed is made by Allah a month for hopeful anticipation as well as of stern warnings." AlMajlisi quotes the same in his Bihar al Anwar, citing Ibn Babawayh alQummi's Thawab al A'mal wa 'Iqab al-A'mal. Imam al-Baqir here is simply repeating what the Messenger of Allah had said as quoted by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib, peace be upon him, thus: "Do not say Ramadan,' for you do not know what Ramadan really is; instead, you should say just as the Almighty Allah has said in His Glorious Book 'the month of Ramadan,' and whoever says `Ramadan' [only], let him both pay sadaqa (alms) and kafj°ara (atonement) so that his sin may be forgiven." (AI-Saduq, in his Connotations of the News, quoting Hisham ibn Salim. Also in Basaair al Darajat by Sa'd ibn Abdullah.) '
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