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 wasallam). 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: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar