Ramadan

The Meaning of the Word Ramadan

Published

July 22, 2012

Imām ar-Raghib said:

رمضان هو الرمض أي شدة وقع الشمس، والرمضاء شدة حر الشمس، و رمضت الغنم: رعت في الرمضاء فقرحت أكبادها. و سمي رمضان لأنه يرمض الذنوب أي يحرقها.

Ramaḍān is taken from the word ramad which means that which is intensely or vehemently heated by the sun. And the word ramdhaa means the intense heat of the sun. [The Arabs used to say about] the sheep that they were ‘burned (ramidat) while they were grazing under the scorching heat of the sun to the extent that their livers became damaged (by the intense heat of the sun). Ramaḍān was named such because it burns the sins of the believers. [1]

Imām al-Zamarkhshari wrote:

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لما نقلوا أسماء الشهور عن اللغة القديمة سموها بالأزمنة التي وقعت فيها فوافق هذا الشهر أيام رمض الحر فسمي رمضان

‘’When they changed the names of the months from the ancient language, they named them according to the seasons in which they fell, and this month fell in the days of intense heat and that is why it was named Ramaḍān’’. [2]

Imām Qurtubi narrates:

إنما سمي رمضان لأنه يرمض الذنوب أي يحرقها با لأعمال الصالحة

‘’It (this month) was named Ramaḍān because it burns the sins of people with righteous deeds’’. [3]

How does Allāh burn our sins?

The Prophet is reported to have said: “…Whoever draws nearer (to Allāh) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time…” [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah]

Therefore one of the main ways in which Allāh eradicates and deletes our sins and wrong doings is by multiplying our deeds in the month of Ramaḍān and erases our sins because the hasanat (good deeds) eliminates the sayyi’aat (bad deeds).

May Allāh destroy by the light of His raḥmah all our past sins, and may He make all of us among His servants who receive the glad tidings of forgiveness.

Please keep me in your sincere du‘ā’s and forgive any mistakes I may have committed.

[1] Mufradat al-Qur’an by Imām ar-Raghib p 203

[2] Al-Kashaf 1/171, Zad al Maseer 1/187, Majma’ al-Bayan 1/275, Qurtubi 2/171

[3] Tafseer al-Qurtubi 2/271, Fatul Bayan 1/293

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Related Topics:burning of sins forgiveness in Ramadan meaning of ramadan ramadan Ramadan name Ramadan2012

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Sh. Abdullah Hasan

Sh. Abdullah Hasan holds an Imam Diploma, BA, and Ijaza Aliyah in Islamic Studies from a European seminary. Disciplines include fiqh, usul al-fiqh, Ifta, and other traditional subjects. He also has a diploma in Arabic from Zarqa Private University and studied at the college of fiqh wa usuluhu at the same university, receiving private training from renowned Scholars in Jordan and the Middle East. With a background in counselling and psychology, he has provided therapy for individuals, couples, and families for over a decade. He holds certificates and diplomas in person-centred psychotherapy, marriage and youth counselling, and SFBT psychotherapy. Sh. A. Hasan is currently pursuing a doctorate in applied psychology after completing a Master's degree in the same field, and also Masters Programme in Medical Psychology. His expertise also extends to Zakat and Islamic philanthropic studies. Having served as an Imam in various UK Muslim communities, Sh. A. Hasan is deeply committed to community and people development. He brings over 10 years of experience in management, leadership, and training within the third sector. Currently, he serves as a teacher of Islamic psychology and counselling, a Consultant Counselling Psychologist at Gift Foundation. Additionally, he provides Chaplaincy counselling from multiple mosques in London, UK. Sh. A. Hasan is the founder of significant initiatives such as Imams Against Domestic Abuse (IADA), the British Imams, Scholars Contributions and Achievements (BISCA Awards), and the British Institutes, Mosques, and Associations (BIMA Awards). He is a member of The Association of Islamic Mental-Health Specialists (AIMS) and actively contributes to numerous other community organisations and projects, nationally and globally.

13 Comments

birkah.wordpress.com

July 23, 2012 at 9:35 PM

Can you please comment on the authenticity of this:

The Prophet
is reported to have said: “…Whoever draws nearer (to Allāh) by
performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall
receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other
time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall
receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time… ”
[Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah]

JKhair.

Reply
- Shaheed
  
  July 29, 2012 at 9:11 PM
  
  Check comments section
  
  Reply
- Ibrahim Panambur
  
  June 5, 2016 at 12:58 PM
  
  Ya Allah forgive any mistake I may have committed
  
  Reply
Shaheed

July 29, 2012 at 9:09 PM

We can leave out the guess work about the “authenticity”of and obscure hadith if we just use the Quran as our only source of guidance.

Reply
fasting

July 31, 2012 at 11:35 AM

this article is a nice one and it help me a lot.
islamquranhadith.com

Reply
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Somnath

June 27, 2015 at 4:14 PM

Is Ramadan has a link with Ram incarnation of Almighty. I believe all religion is one and are interlinked

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Cis

September 22, 2015 at 7:15 AM

Ramadan is the month of mercy. and ,Successor of the Prophet Muhammad in Ramadan was killed.his name is amam Ali.

Reply
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ibrahim mustapha

May 26, 2017 at 10:41 AM

Allah help the muslim umma

Reply
Ladeed Shaji

April 10, 2019 at 2:02 PM

Assalam aalikum I’ve a doubt regarding the word Ramadan.
The word ” Ramadan” comes from ramad (means intense heat) so does it necessarily mean that every time Ramadan will be in scorching sun if it’s so there were many instances Ramadan also came in winter season!?

Reply