Muslims worldwide celebrate the holy month Ramadan with four weeks of fasting and prayers.
During this sacred period, Muslims wish each other a happy Ramadan, just as Christians do for Christmas.
However, there’s some debate over which is the best greeting to use.
Ramadan Kareem! or Ramadan Mubarak!
Muslims tend to use Ramadan Mubarak that translates to “have a blessed Ramadan”.
On the other hand, others like using Ramadan Kareem is another phrase often used, however, there is some debate as to whether it is appropriate.
Kindly you should stand by corrected……its wrong to say "Ramdhan kareem" you can refer kareem to Allah and its one of His 99 names……otherwise saum Mubabar
— Hamdi Mahat (@HamdiMahat) May 6, 2019
Some say that the phrase, which means “may Ramadan be generous to you”, goes against the teachings of Islam because Ramadan itself cannot be generous.
As Saudi Arabian scholar Sheikh Al-Uthaymeen explained, “it should be said ‘Ramadan Mubarak’, or whatever is similar to it, because it is not Ramadan itself that gives so that it can be Kareem (generous), in fact, it is Allah who placed the grace in it, and made it a special month, and a time to perform one of the pillars of Islam”.
Others argue that Kareem is acceptable because the wording reflects the blessings that God gives to his followers during the month.
Jordan’s Iftaa’ Department, which is responsible for religious decrees, last year ruled: “Describing Ramadan to be honourable does not, in fact, attribute the quality to the month.
“Rather, the word comes from the fact that God gives his worshippers blessings during the month.
“It’s thus acceptable to call the thing by the name of its reason or cause. The ruling could be seen as an example of synecdoche, in which a part of something is taken to stand for its whole, or vice versa.
Wishing all Muslims the blessings of the holy month!
Ramadan Mubarak!
