On the Permissibility of saying "Ramadan Kareem"

A number of people have been circulating the opinion that it is not correct to say "Ramadan Kareem" because kareem means "generous" and a month, being inanimate, cannot in itself be generous.

This is an error.

First of all, the word kareem means "noble" or "eminent", and not specifically "generous". Among the Arabs, a noble person is necessarily generous, and so the two meanings are often used interchangeably. Ibn Manthur says in his encyclopedic dictionary Lisan al-Arab:

والكَريم: الجامع لأَنواع الخير والشرَف والفضائل. والكَريم: اسم جامع لكل ما يُحْمَد، فالله عز وجل كريم حميد الفِعال ورب العرش الكريم العظيم. ابن سيده: الكَرَم نقيض اللُّؤْم يكون في الرجل... ويستعمل في الخيل والإبل والشجر وغيرها من الجواهر إذا عنوا العِتْق، وأَصله في الناس قال ابن الأَعرابي: كَرَمُ الفرَس أن يَرِقَّ جلده ويَلِين شعره وتَطِيب رائحته. 

Kareem is something that combines all forms of goodness, dignity, and virtue. Kareem is a general term for everything praiseworthy. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is Kareem, praiseworthy in actions and the Lord of the Noble (kareem) and Magnificent throne. Ibn Seedah says, "karam (nobility) is the opposite of ignobility (Ar. lu'm) and it exists in man ... and it is used for horses, camels, trees and other things like gems if they intend nobility, but the original meaning relates to people." Ibn al-A'rabi said, "the nobility (karam) of a horse is for it to have fine skin, soft hair and a pleasant smell."

Secondly, as is apparent above, kareem is a valid description for people, animals and inanimate things like trees and gems.

Thirdly, the Qur'an itself uses the word kareem to describe inanimate objects:

1. The entrance or gate into Paradise (4:31);
2. Provision (rizq) (8:4, 8:74, 22:50, 24:26, 33:31, 34:4);
3. A word or statement (17:23);
4. Allah's Throne (23:116);
5. A type, kind, or category (26:7, 31:10);
6. A position or station (26:58, 44:26);
7. A book or letter (27:29);
8. Recompense (33:44, 36:11, 57:11, 57:18);
9. Shade (56:44).

Thus, saying "Ramadan Kareem" is not problematic. To claim otherwise appears to be the result of a weakness in Arabic and an unfamiliarity with the Qur'anic usage of the word kareem.