Is it true that the month of Ramadhaan is divided into three parts; the beginning is mercy, the middle is forgiveness and the end is ransom from the Fire? And are there specific duaas to be read?

by Asma bint Shameem

ANSWER

That is not the correct understanding regarding this blessed, BLESSED month.

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala’s Bounty is immense, immeasurable and limitless.

The WHOLE, ENTIRE month of Ramadhaan is FULL of Mercy and Forgiveness and His Favors.

And He Subhaan Allaah ransoms whoever He wants from the Fire EVERY SINGLE DAY of this beautiful month; not just in the last ten days...

🔺PROOF:

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“When the first night of Ramadhaan comes, the devils and mischievous jinn are chained up, and the gates of Hell are closed, and none of its gates are opened.

The gates of Paradise are opened and none of its gates are closed.

And a caller cries out: ‘O seeker of good, proceed; O seeker of evil, desist.`

And Allaah has people whom He frees (from the Fire), and that happens EVERY DAY.” (at-Tirmidhi 682; saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi)

🍃 And the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whosoever fasted with faith during Ramadhaan, while seeking its reward from Allaah, will have whatever he has done [from sins] forgiven [i.e. he will have his past sins forgiven].” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

Notice that the Prophet ﷺ did not specify a particular “asharah” when this forgiveness takes place.

🔺 And as for making specific duaas during this time, there is NO PROOF that each asharah has specific duaas to be said in them.

Rather you can make ANY duaa at ANY time.

We CAN NOT limit a certain time or place or number or manner to a certain act of ibaadah UNLESS there’s PROOF of that from the Qur’aan or authentic Sunnah.

🍃 Imam ash-Shaatibi said: 

“The word bid‘ah (innovation) refers to invented practices in religion that are similar to prescribed practices, the purpose of which is to go to extremes in worshipping Allaah, may He be glorified…

That includes committing oneself to specific manners and wordings, such as reciting dhikr in unison, taking the day of the birth of the Prophet ﷺ as a festival, and so on.

It also includes committing oneself to doing specific acts of worship at specific times when that particular time is not specific for that act of worship.”

(al-I‘tisaam 1/37-39) 

🔺But isn’t there a hadeeth about the month of Ramadhaan divided into three parts?

The hadeeth about the month of Ramadhaan divided into three ‘parts’ or ‘asharah’ is NOT AUTHENTIC.

The scholars of Hadeeth have graded it as “Dha’eef” or “WEAK”.

Shaykh al-Albaani has graded it as “REJECTED” in Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth al-Da’eefah wa’l-Mawdoo’ah, vol. 2/262. no. 871.

🔺So what’s a ‘weak’ hadeeth?

A weak hadeeth, in simply words, means that it’s highly DOUBTFUL that the Prophet ﷺ EVER SAID THAT or DID THAT or EVER APPROVED of that.

So if it’s something doubtful, why do it?

🍃 Didn’t the Prophet ﷺ himself tell us:

“Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt, for truth leads to reassurance and lies lead to uncertainty.” (at-Tirmidhi - saheeh by al-Albaani).

The ONLY hadeeth that is AUTHENTICALLY narrated about a SPECIFIC duaa In Ramadhaan is what the Prophet ﷺ taught Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa.

🍃 Our Mother Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

“I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, if I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say on that night?’

He said:

Say:

‎"اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعف عني”

“Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afwa fa’affu ‘anni “

"O Allaah, You are forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me.”

(at-Tirmidhi 3513; saheeh by al-Albaani)

So go ahead and make all the Duaas you want in this month, THROUGHOUT this blessed month, without limiting or restricting it to certain parts or ‘asharah’.

Remember, with Allaah lie the TREASURES of the Heavens and Earth.

His Bounties are PLENTY...

His Mercy...LIMITLESS...

His Forgiveness...

UNSURMOUNTABLE...

And Allaah knows best.