Is there a hadith about announcing the month of Ramadan?

Ramadan is a sacred and cherished month that Muslims eagerly await and are sad to see end. The beginning of the month is especially significant, so people are keen to announce its arrival as soon as possible. However, not everyone knows how reliable or accurate such announcements are. In recent years, a saying has spread: “Whoever announces the start of Ramadan, the Fire of Hell will be forbidden for him.” This is often attributed to the Prophet as a hadith, but in reality, it is not a hadith and is a false attribution to the Messenger of Allah. Here are some points to clarify this:

First, such a statement is not found in any hadith collections, nor is there an isnad (chain of narrators) going back to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). In the science of hadith, it is a fundamental rule that every hadith must have an isnad. Any statement without an isnad cannot be called a hadith. One of the great hadith scholars, Abdullah ibn Mubarak (may Allah have mercy on him), said: “Isnad is part of the religion. If it were not for isnad, anyone could say whatever they wished.”

Second, the beginning of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the new moon. Today, most Muslim countries use this method. Therefore, announcing the exact date of Ramadan in advance, before the new moon is sighted, is not correct. In countries like Russia, Turkey, and Central Asia, the start of the lunar months is determined in advance based on data from international astronomical research centers. In such cases, it is proper for each person to follow the announcement (fatwa) made by their country’s religious authority.

Third, the idea that simply announcing the start of Ramadan would save someone from Hellfire is not in line with the principles of Sharia. Entering Paradise or being saved from Hell depends on fulfilling the obligations set by Sharia, not on such acts.

Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti (may Allah have mercy on him), quoting the hadith scholar Ibn Jawzi, said in his work on hadith sciences: “If you see a hadith whose meaning is unreasonable, contradicts authentic texts, or goes against the main sources, know that it is fabricated.” He further explains: “By ‘main sources,’ we mean musnad and well-known hadith collections.” (Tadrib al-Rawi, 1/327).

Falsely attributing words to the Prophet (ﷺ), knowingly or unknowingly, is a major sin. Such actions may actually cause the person spreading the so-called ‘hadith’ to enter Hell. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever knowingly lies about me, let him take his seat in the Fire.”

(Bukhari, Tirmidhi)

In another hadith:

“Whoever narrates a hadith from me thinking it is false, he is one of the liars.”

(Muslim). Scholars have warned against fabricating or spreading false hadiths. Anyone who has done so should repent and seek forgiveness from Allah.