The Month of Ramazan

The Month of Ramazan

1. A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Abu Nasr, from Hisham Bin Salim, from Sa’d, 
(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja'far (عليه الصلاة والسلام), said,

 ‘We were eighty men in his (عليه السلام) presence, so we mentioned ‘Ramazan’’.

So he (عليه السلام) said:
‘Do not be saying, ‘This is Ramazan’, nor ‘Ramazan is gone’, nor ‘Ramazan has come’, for ‘Ramazan’ is a Name from the Names of Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) Mighty and Majestic.

 ‘It’ neither comes nor does ‘It’ go. But rather it is the transient (thing) which comes and goes.

But, you should be saying, ‘Month of Ramazan’, for the ‘Month’ is an adverb to the Name, and the Name is a Name of Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى), Mighty is His (جل جلاله) Mention, and it is the Month in which the Qur'an (الكريم) was Revealed, Made to be an example and a Festival’.

[Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 4 H 2]


2. What is preferred? To break your fast then pray? or to pray first, then break your fast?

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s), about breaking fast if it is before or after Salat (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘If he (the Imam) is afraid of keeping them from their dinner, first it is breaking fast with them; otherwise, first is Salat (prayer), then it is breaking the fast.’”

Sanad: (al-Kafi) Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the above hadith; (Wasa’il/al-Faqih) Muhammad bin ali bin al-Hussain, from al-Halabi who said the above hadith;

Source: al-Kafi, Volume 4, Chapter 64, Hadith #3 (See First Image below); Wasaa’il al-Shia, Volume 10, Page 150, Hadith #13079 (See Second Image below)

Grading: al-Majlisi graded the al-Kafi sanad as Hasan/Good (حسن) [Mira’at al-Uqool, Volume 16, Page 270 (See Third Image below)]; al-Khoei graded the Wasa’il/al-Faqih sanad as Sahih/Authentic (See Link)

Abu Ja`far (as) said: “In [the month of] Ramadhan, pray and then break your fast unless you are with people who are waiting to break their fast. If you are with them, do not act contrary to them and break your fast [with them] then pray, otherwise – begin with your prayers.” The Narrator asked: “and why is that?”, so he (as) replied: “Because two obligatorily actions have been presented to you – the breaking of fast, and prayers – and the more meritorious is the prayers.” He then said: “Praying while you are [still] fasting, so your prayers are written after you complete your fast, is more beloved to me.”

Sanad: Ali bin Al-Hassan, from Abd al-Rahman bin abi Narjaan, from Hamaad bin Eassa, from Hareez, from Zurarah and Fudhayl who said the above hadith

Source: Tahdheeb al-Ahkaam, Volume 4, Page 185, Hadith #570; Wasaa’il al-Shia, Volume 10, Page 150, Hadith #13080

3. Welcoming The Month Of Ramadhan

i] Imām Ja'far ibn Muhammad  al-Sādiq (a.s.) said:
“A person who sprays a handful of Rose water on his face on the first of Holy Month of Ramzan will find freedom from worries. Washing the face with Rose water enhances its beauty and removes worry and Poverty"
[Reference:  Tehzibul Islam Page 79 ]

ii] Imām Muhammad  ibn ‘Alī al-Baqir (a.s.) said:
" One who recites Surat Al-Fath (Surah No 48) three times in first night of Ramazān al Mubarak will not be needy for sustenance throughout the year ."

iii] Holy Prophet Muhammad  al Mustafā (S.A.W.W) said:
"On the first night of Ramazān al Mubarak one should take a bath, recite Ziyarat of Imam Hussain (a.s.) & recite Dua-e-Hilal."