Question

I am looking for the quote which states: “The 12 months of the year are like the 12 sons of Ya’qub (‘alayhis salam).”

 

Answer

You are probably referring to the quote cited by Imam Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullah) without any attribution to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). He has written:

“It has been said: ‘The twelve months [of the year] are like the sons of Ya’qub (‘alayhis salam). The rank and status of Ramadan over other months is just like the rank and status of Yusuf (‘alayhis salam) over his brothers. Just as Yusuf (‘alayhis salam) was the most beloved child to Ya’qub (‘alayhis salam), similarly, Ramadan is the most beloved month to the One who is Most Knowledgeable of the unseen.'”

(Bustanul Wa’izin wa Riyadus Sami’in, pg. 230)

Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahman As Safuri (rahimahullah) has also cited this quote from Bustanul Wa’izin. His version has some additional words at the end.

“The twelve months are like the sons of Ya’qub (‘alayhis salam). The rank and status of Ramadan over other months is just like the rank and status of Yusuf (‘alayhis salam) over his brothers. Just as Yusuf (‘alayhis salam) was the most beloved child to Ya’qub (‘alayhis salam), similarly, Ramadan is the most beloved month to Allah. Allah forgave the [brothers] due to the du’a of one, i.e., Yusuf (‘alayhis salam), similarly, Allah will forgive the sins of eleven months through the blessings of Ramadan.”

(Nuzhatul Majalis, pg. 201-202)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

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التخريج من المصادر العربية

بستان الواعظين ورياض السامعين: (ص: ٢٣٠)
تمثيل الشهور كأخوة يوسف:
قبل الشهور الإثني عشر كمثل أولاد يعقوب عليه وعليهم السلام، وشهر رمضان بين الشهور كيوسف بين إخوته فكما أن يوسف أحب الأولاد إلى يعقوب كذلك رمضان أحب الشهور إلى علام الغيوب.

نزهة المجالس ومنتخب النفائس: (ص: ٢٠١ ـ ٢٠٢)
قال ابن الجوزي رحمه الله تعالى في «بستان الواعظين»: مثل الشهور الإثني عشر كمثل أولاد يعقوب، فكما أن يوسف أحب أولاد يعقوب إليه كذلك رمضان أحب الشهور إلى الله، فيغفر الله لهم بدعوة واحد منهم وهو يوسف كذلك يغفر الله ذنوب أحد عشر شهرا ببركة رمضان.