IRSYAD AL-HADITH SERIES 82 UPDATED EDITION: RAMADHAN; ITS BEGINNING IS A BLESSING, MIDDLE FORGIVENESS AND ENDS WITH THE DELIVERANCE FROM HELLFIRE

irsyad al hadith 82

Question:

Assalamualaikum. What is the status which states that the beginning of Ramadhan is a blessing, middle forgiveness and ends with deliverance from hellfire?

 

Answer:

Waalaikumussalam.

Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.

Matan hadith

Among the matan of hadith related to this issue are:

أَوَّلُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ رَحْمَةٌ ، وَأَوْسَطُهُ مَغْفِرَةٌ ، وَآخِرُهُ عِتْقٌ مِنَ النَّارِ

“The beginning of Ramadhan brings about blessings, the middle forgiveness and ends with deliverance from hellfire.”

(See al-Jami’ al-Saghir, Hadith 2815)

وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ أَوَّلُهُ رَحْمَةٌ، وَأَوْسَطُهُ مَغْفِرَةٌ، وَآخِرُهُ عِتْقٌ مِنَ النَّارِ

“And in its (Ramadhan) beginning is blessing, middle forgiveness and ends with deliverance from hellfire.”

Narrated by Ibn Khuzaimah (1887)

The Status of the Hadith

Among the scholars who evaluated these hadith are:

Our Disposition or Opinion

After analyzing the opinions of scholars, we are inclined to stated that this hadith is very weak even though Imam Ibn Khuzaimah narrated this hadith in his sahih. However, although its status is very weak, it can still be practised in fadhail al-A’mal. The reason is throughout the month of Ramadhan there is blessings, forgiveness and deliverance from hellfire.

Meaning of the Hadith

The literal meaning of the hadith states that blessings start at the beginning of Ramadhan. This is seen through various forms of blessings and sustenance showered and experienced by the Muslim ummah. The same when they are focused and work hard in striving to attain the forgiveness of Allah SWT which will ultimately save him from hellfire.

Closing

To conclude, Ramadhan is the month of blessing, forgiveness and deliverance from hellfire. Thus, we as the Muslim ummah should strive in obedience in this month as well as in other months. Lastly, may Allah SWT make us from among His slave who receives blessing, forgiveness and deliverance from hellfire. Amin.

Wallahua’lam.