English
The rites of the first night of Ramadan are as follows:
First: Watching the New Moon (Istihlal): It is highly recommended to watch the new moon of Ramadan at the first night of it. Moreover, some scholars have decided this act as obligatory.
Second: When your eyes fall on the new moon, you must not point to it; rather, you should turn yourself towards the kiblah direction, raise both your hands towards the sky, and address the new moon with the following words:
رَبِّي وَرَبُّكَ اللهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ،
Your and my Lord is Allah; the Lord of the worlds.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْاَمْنِ وَالْاِيْمَانِ،
O Allah, (please do) cause this crescent to carry with it for us security, faith,
وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالْاِسْلَامِ،
safety, Islam,
وَالْمُسَارَعَةِ اِلٰى مَا تُحِبُّ وَتَرْضٰى،
and expedition to whatever You love and please.
اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيْ شَهْرِنَا هٰذَا،
O Allah, (please do) bless us in this month,
وَارْزُقْنَا خَيْرَهُ وَعَوْنَهُ،
confer upon us with its goodness and aid,
وَاصْرِفْ عَنَّا ضُرَّهُ وَشَرَّهُ وَبَلَاۤءَهُ وَفِتْنَتَهُ۔
and save us from its harm, evil, ordeals, and sedition.
It has been narrated that when the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) would see the new moon of Ramadan, he would turn his face to the kiblah direction and say the following:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْاَمْنِ وَالْاِيْمَانِ،
O Allah, (please do) cause this crescent to carry with it for us security, faith,
وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالْاِسْلَامِ،
safety, Islam,
وَالْعَافِيَةِ الْمُجَلَّلَةِ وَدِفَاعِ الْاَسْقَامِ،
encompassing wellbeing, repulsion of ailments,
وَالْعَوْنِ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَالصِّيَامِ وَالْقِيَامِ
and assistance to offer prayers, observe fasting, do acts of worship,
وَتِلَاوَةِ الْقُرَاٰنِ،
and recite the Qur'an.
اَللّٰهُمَّ سَلَّمْنَا لِشَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ
O Allah, (please do) keep us sound for the month of Ramadan,
وَتَسَلِّمْهُ مِنَّا،
accept our deeds during it,
وَسَلِّمْنَا فِيْهِ
and save us during it,
حَتّٰى يَنْقَضِيَ عَنَّا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ
so that the month of Ramadan will not elapse
وَقَدْ عَفَوْتَ عَنَّا وَغَفَرْتَ لَنَا وَرَحِمْتَنَا۔
unless You have pardoned us, forgiven us, and had mercy upon us.
Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) is also reported to have said: When you see the new moon of Ramadan, you may say the following:
اَللّٰهُمَّ قَدْ حَضَرَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ،
O Allah, the month of Ramadan has commenced,
وَقَدِ افْتَرَضْتَ عَلَيْنَا صِيَامَهُ،
You have made obligatory upon us to observe fasting during it,
وَاَنْزَلْتَ فِيْهِ الْقُرَاٰنَ
and revealed the Qur'an in it
هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدٰى وَالْفُرْقَانِ،
as guidance for people and clear proofs of true guidance and distinction (between the right and the wrong).
اَللّٰهُمَّ اَعِنَّا عَلٰى صِيَامِهِ
O Allah, (please) help us observe fasting in it,
وَتَقَبَّلْهُ مِنَّا،
accept it from us,
وَسَلِّمْنَا فِيْهِ،
keep us safe during it,
وَسَلِّمْنَا مِنْهُ
help us observe it adequately,
وَسَلِّمْهُ لَنَا فِيْ يُسْرٍ مِنَكَ وَعَافِيَة
and keep it sound for us witheasiness and good health from You.
اِنَّكَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ،
You verily have power over all things.
يَا رَحْمٰنُ يَا رَحِيْمُ۔
O All-beneficent! O All-merciful!