How to welcome Ramaḍān and decorating home for Ramaḍān?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

 (1)

السؤال: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Question: Assalāmu ʿAlaykum wa Raḥmatullāhi wa Barakātuh.

 ينتشر بين بعض الناس إظهار الزينة والأنوار، وما يسمى بالفوانيس

It has become widespread among some of the people that they put up decorations, lights, lanterns,

وتجميل بيوتهم بالستور والزخارف

and beautifying their homes by putting up curtains and designs.

يقولون ابتهاجا شهر رمضان

They say that they do it out of joy for [the arrival of] the month of Ramaḍān.

ومنهم من يخصص مكانًا في بالزينة والصبغ وكذلك سفرة الفطور والسحور

And some of them specify a place in their home for [putting up] decorations, and likewise the table for breaking their fast and for eating Sahur.

هل هذا جائز رعاكم الله؟

Is this permissible? May Allāh Safeguard you.

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الجواب: هذا لا أصل له، رمضان وغيره سواء في إصلاح أمور البيت 

Answer: This has no basis [in the religion]. The month of Ramaḍān is like any other month in how a person would maintain his home.

ولا يخص رمضان بشيء من ذلك

And Ramaḍān is not specified with anything of that.

لا يخص رمضان بتزيين البيت والستور وما أشبه ذلك والمظاهر

Ramaḍān is not specified with decorating one’s home and with putting up curtains and so on.

رمضان يخص بالعبادة والتوبة ومشاركة المسلمين في صلاة التراويح والتهجد، نعم.

Ramaḍān is specified with ʿIbādah (worship), Tawbah (repentance), and participating with the Muslims in praying al-Tarāwīḥ and al-Tahajjud prayers.

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(2)

Sheikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله said,

"I do not know of anything specific for welcome Ramaḍān except that the Muslim receives it with happiness, cheerfulness, great pleasure and thankfulness that Allāh has brought Ramaḍān to him, as well as being thankful for making him from the successful whom He has allowed to live during this month and be from those who compete in righteous actions.

Indeed, witnessing a new Ramaḍān is an immense blessing from Allāh and due to this fact the Prophet ﷺ used to give glad tidings to his Companions at the commencement of Ramaḍān, exemplifying it's merits and what Allāh Has Prepared from the fast rewards for those who fast and stand in prayer.

And it is legislated that the Muslim receives this noble month by making sincere repentance."

[الاختيار ات الفقهيت ص٢١٣]

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Sheikh Abdul Aziz In Baaz رحمه الله said,

"My sincere advice to the Muslims is that they welcome their great month of Ramaḍān with truthfulness by repenting from all various types of sin."

[Majmoo al Fatawah Wa Magalat Ibn Baaz 15/ 50]

(3)

Sheikh Ibn Uthyameen رحمه الله said,

“And what is upon us is to be pleased and happy with the arrival of Ramaḍān, and rejoice with its coming. And prepare for it with diligence and strive with righteous deeds. And that we profit from this opportunity with that which will draw us closer to Allāh, The Blessed and Most High.

Verily, a person does not know if he will reach the following Ramaḍān and what comes after it.

The seasons of goodness are like commercial seasons, just as merchants prepare for the buying and selling seasons by importing many different types of goods (to be sold for a profit), likewise it is befitting for us to prepare with a complete preparation for the arrival of Ramaḍān with righteous deeds and keeping away from the forbidden matters.”

[Fatawa Suaal 'ala al-Haatif, pg.629]

(4)

Welcome Ramaḍān with happiness! Rejoice the arrival of Ramaḍān !

Ibnu Rajab رحمه الله said: 

How would the believer not be happy when the doors of paradise have been opened?! How would the sinner not be happy when the doors of hell have been closed?! How would the sensible one not be happy with the time period the devils have been chained?! Who is the one that would liken this period with other periods?! 

Lataa-if Al-Ma'aarif (138). 

•Picture source: unsplash