Difference between Ramadan Mubarak and Ramadan Kareem??

[Ramadan-Kareem2015]

I have noticed at the Masjid that some muslims say Ramadan Mubarak; while other muslims say Ramadan Kareem during this blessed month.

What is the difference?

Is it based on what country they are from?

Based on which madhab they subscribe to?

Ethnicity?

good ques i want to know the difference too

Kareem is Sunnah? any proof?

From what i know Pakistanis mostly in my area use both. and kareem is mostly famous in the Arab world!

I seen a fatwa recently from the Salafis (Ibn 'Uthaymeen) stating that Ramadhan Kareem would mean the Shahr (Ramadhan) is Generous (Kareeem) while it is Allah who is Kareem.

So my question is, it is well known amongst the Arab world to call a noble brother "Ya Akhi al-Kareem", would this then be wrong? 


Praise be to Allaah.
There is nothing wrong with congratulating one another at the beginning of the month. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to tell his Companions the good news of the onset of Ramadaan, and urge them to make the most of it. Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘There has come to you Ramadaan, a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory on you to fast (this month). During it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are locked, and the devils are chained up. In it there is a night that is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is deprived indeed.’” (Reported by al-Nisaa'i, 4/129; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/490)

And Allaah knows best.


The Alif Lam (Lam Ta'reef) in "Akhi al-Kareem" isn't to say "My Brother The Kareem" if that is what you have understood, rather it is translated as "My Generous Brother", other forumlas are used like: Akhi al-Fadhil, Akhi al-'Azeez, Akhi al-Habeeb etc.

So those who say: "Ramadhan Kareem (Trans: Ramadhan is Generous) is incorrect because Allah is Kareem / Akram and not Ramadhan" though essentially true have in reality misunderstood people's intentions, because of the fact we use it for people without thinking twice. Furthermore Allah has made the month of Ramadhan a very generous one, by making our Nawafil Ibadah equal to a Fardh act and our Fardh acts equal that of 70 and the Night of Qadr being Afdhal than Alfi Shahr (Thousand Months), in other words we are getting rewards without Hisaab (Bi-Ghayri Hisaab).

This is why i feel that Sh. Ibn 'Uthaymeen's (Rahimahullah) fatwa is a bit excess and should not be acted upon.

Wallahu A'lam