On p. 232, Vol. 7, of Wasail al-Shi’a, and also on p. 69, Vol. 4 (old edition), of Al-Kafi, Imam Abu Ja’fer al-Baqir (as) is quoted saying, "Do not say ‘this is Ramadhan,’or ‘Ramadhan has
gone,’ or ‘Ramadhan has approached,’ for Ramadhan is one of the Names of Allah, the most Exalted, the most Great, and He neither comes nor goes; things that die come and go. Instead, you should
say ‘the month of Ramadhan, for [in this case] the month will simply be identified, whereas the Name belongs to Allah, Exalted is His mention, whereas the month wherein the Qur’an was revealed is
made by Allah a month for hopeful anticipation as well as of stern warnings.
Al-Majllsi quotes the same in his Biharal-Anwar, citing Ibn Babawayh alQummi’s Thawab al-A‘mal wa ‘Iqal al-A ‘mal. Imam al-Baqir (as) here is simply repeating what the Messenger of Allah
(pbuh) had said as quoted by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib, peace be upon him, thus: "Do not say ‘Ramadhan,’ for you do not know what Ramadhan really is; instead, you should say just as the Almighty
Allah has said in His Glorious Book ‘the month of Ramadhan,’ and whoever says ‘Ramadhan’ [only], let him both pay sadaqa (alms) and kaffara (atonement) so that his sin may be forgiven."
(AI-Saduq, in his Connotations of the News, quoting Hisham bin Salim. Also in Basaair al Darajat by Sa’ad ibn Abdullah).
