[PF:147818] Ruling on offering Congratulations at the Beginning of the Hijri year

In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate  

"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"

 

Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

  

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu

 

 

 

Ruling on offering Congratulations at the Beginning of the Hijri year

 

What is the ruling on offering congratulations on the occasion of the Hijri new year and saying "Kull 'aam wa antum bi khayr" or praying for blessing, or sending a card with best wishes for blessings in the new year?

 

 

 

If someone offers you congratulations, then respond to him, but do not initiate such greetings. This is the correct view concerning this matter.

 

So if a person says to you, for example, "Happy New Year", then you can say, "May Allaah make it a good and blessed year for you."

 

 

But you should not initiate such a greeting, because I do not know of any report that the salaf [early generations of Islam] congratulated one another on the occasion of the new year, rather the salaf did not regard the first of Muharram as the first day of the new year until the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him. 

 

Praying for another Muslim in general terms, in phrases that are not meant as a kind of ritual  on special occasions such as Eid, is acceptable, especially if what is meant by this greeting is friendship and to show a friendly face to ones fellow Muslim.

 

 

Imaam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "I do not initiate the greeting but if someone greets me I return the greeting, because responding to the greeting is obligatory.

But being the first to offer congratulations is neither Sunnah nor forbidden.

(islam-qa) 

 

 

 

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