8 Islamic Guidelines Regarding Eid Greetings
Source: Fatawa al-Deen al-Khalis, Volume 1, Page 234
What is the ruling on exchanging greetings on the day of Eid and embracing or shaking hands after the Eid prayer? A clear religious guideline is required. Jazakum Allahu Khayran.
Alhamdulillah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
We must recognize that the best path is the Prophetic path (ﷺ).
Exchanging greetings, shaking hands, and embracing on the day of Eid was not the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
This practice, which has become widespread in our societies, falls under the category of innovation (bid‘ah).
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"من عمل عملاً ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد"
“Whoever does an act which is not in accordance with our matter, it is rejected.”
(Sahih Muslim)
In Al-Jawhar al-Naqi (3/319), under the chapter "The Statement of People on Eid: ‘Taqabbal Allah Minna wa Minkum", the narration of Muhammad ibn Ziyad (رحمه الله) is mentioned:
He said:
"I was with Abu Umamah al-Bahili (رضي الله عنه) and other Companions. When they would return after the Eid prayer, they would say to one another:
'تقبل الله منا ومنكم'
(May Allah accept [the deeds] from us and from you.)
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) considered the chain of this narration to be sound.
Imam al-Bayhaqi (رحمه الله) also cited several weak Hadiths with similar content in his Sunan.
Al-Haythami (رحمه الله) mentioned a Hadith under the chapter "Congratulating on Eid" in Majma‘ al-Zawa’id (2/206) and classified its chain as weak.
Imam Ibn Qudamah (رحمه الله) quoted in al-Mughni (2/250):
Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله) said:
“If a person says to another on the day of Eid, ‘تقبل الله منا ومنكم,’ then there is no harm in it.”
Harb (رحمه الله) narrates that Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله) was asked:
"What is the ruling on people saying ‘تقبل الله منا ومنكم’ on Eid?"
He replied:
“There is no harm in it.”
It was further asked:
“Is this also narrated from Wa’thilah ibn al-Asqa‘ (رضي الله عنه)?”
He said: “Yes.”
Then asked:
“Is it disliked to say this?”
He said: “No.”
Ibn ‘Aqil (رحمه الله) has recorded several Hadiths concerning Eid greetings.
Among them is the narration of Muhammad ibn Ziyad, which says:
“I was with Abu Umamah al-Bahili (رضي الله عنه) and other Companions. When they would return from Eid, they would say:
‘تقبل الله منا ومنك’”
Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله) considered the chain of this Hadith to be reliable.
‘Ali ibn Thabit said:
“I asked Imam Malik ibn Anas (رحمه الله) for thirty-five years about this matter, and he used to say:
‘This practice is well known in Madinah.’”
It is narrated from Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله):
He said:
“I will not initiate the greeting, but if someone says it to me, I will reply.”
He was asked:
“Does saying Eid greetings such as ‘Eid Mubarak’ have a basis in Shari‘ah?”
He replied:
During meetings on the day of Eid after the Eid prayer, saying:
“تقبل الله منا ومنكم” (May Allah accept from us and from you)
or
“أحاله الله عليك” (May Allah return it upon you)
has been transmitted from some of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
Jurists such as Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله) permitted this.
Imam Ahmad used to say:
“I do not initiate it, but if someone greets me, I reply—because replying is obligatory, whereas initiating is not Sunnah, nor is it forbidden.”
He added:
“Those who do it have precedents among the pious predecessors, and those who do not also have precedents.”
Finally, the author writes:
“I say: Causing noise in the mosque and embracing—especially when everyone is already gathered there—is an act of innovation and disobedience. It must be avoided.”
Saying “تقبل الله منا ومنكم” on the day of Eid is narrated from the Companions (رضي الله عنهم) and permitted by scholars.
The formalized practice of handshakes and embracing, as is common in our society, is considered an innovation (bid‘ah).
✔ It is better not to initiate Eid greetings, but responding if greeted is permissible.
Causing noise and crowding in mosques with unnecessary embracing and commotion should be avoided.
هذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatawa al-Deen al-Khalis, Volume 1, Page 234
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on exchanging greetings on the day of Eid and embracing or shaking hands after the Eid prayer? A clear religious guideline is required. Jazakum Allahu Khayran.
❖ Answer:
Alhamdulillah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
➊ The Practice of the Noble Prophet ﷺ and the Definition of Innovation
We must recognize that the best path is the Prophetic path (ﷺ).
Exchanging greetings, shaking hands, and embracing on the day of Eid was not the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
This practice, which has become widespread in our societies, falls under the category of innovation (bid‘ah).
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"من عمل عملاً ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد"
“Whoever does an act which is not in accordance with our matter, it is rejected.”
(Sahih Muslim)
➋ Practice of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم): “تقبل الله منا ومنكم”
In Al-Jawhar al-Naqi (3/319), under the chapter "The Statement of People on Eid: ‘Taqabbal Allah Minna wa Minkum", the narration of Muhammad ibn Ziyad (رحمه الله) is mentioned:
He said:
"I was with Abu Umamah al-Bahili (رضي الله عنه) and other Companions. When they would return after the Eid prayer, they would say to one another:
'تقبل الله منا ومنكم'
(May Allah accept [the deeds] from us and from you.)
➌ The View of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله)
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) considered the chain of this narration to be sound.
Imam al-Bayhaqi (رحمه الله) also cited several weak Hadiths with similar content in his Sunan.
Al-Haythami (رحمه الله) mentioned a Hadith under the chapter "Congratulating on Eid" in Majma‘ al-Zawa’id (2/206) and classified its chain as weak.
Imam Ibn Qudamah (رحمه الله) quoted in al-Mughni (2/250):
Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله) said:
“If a person says to another on the day of Eid, ‘تقبل الله منا ومنكم,’ then there is no harm in it.”
➍ The Narration of Harb (رحمه الله) and the Q&A with Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله)
Harb (رحمه الله) narrates that Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله) was asked:
"What is the ruling on people saying ‘تقبل الله منا ومنكم’ on Eid?"
He replied:
“There is no harm in it.”
It was further asked:
“Is this also narrated from Wa’thilah ibn al-Asqa‘ (رضي الله عنه)?”
He said: “Yes.”
Then asked:
“Is it disliked to say this?”
He said: “No.”
➎ The Report of Ibn ‘Aqil (رحمه الله) and the Practice of the People of Madinah
Ibn ‘Aqil (رحمه الله) has recorded several Hadiths concerning Eid greetings.
Among them is the narration of Muhammad ibn Ziyad, which says:
“I was with Abu Umamah al-Bahili (رضي الله عنه) and other Companions. When they would return from Eid, they would say:
‘تقبل الله منا ومنك’”
Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله) considered the chain of this Hadith to be reliable.
‘Ali ibn Thabit said:
“I asked Imam Malik ibn Anas (رحمه الله) for thirty-five years about this matter, and he used to say:
‘This practice is well known in Madinah.’”
➏ Initiating Eid Greetings: Imam Ahmad’s (رحمه الله) Stance
It is narrated from Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله):
He said:
“I will not initiate the greeting, but if someone says it to me, I will reply.”
➐ Fatwa of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله)
He was asked:
“Does saying Eid greetings such as ‘Eid Mubarak’ have a basis in Shari‘ah?”
He replied:
During meetings on the day of Eid after the Eid prayer, saying:
“تقبل الله منا ومنكم” (May Allah accept from us and from you)
or
“أحاله الله عليك” (May Allah return it upon you)
has been transmitted from some of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
Jurists such as Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله) permitted this.
Imam Ahmad used to say:
“I do not initiate it, but if someone greets me, I reply—because replying is obligatory, whereas initiating is not Sunnah, nor is it forbidden.”
He added:
“Those who do it have precedents among the pious predecessors, and those who do not also have precedents.”
➑ The Ruling on Embracing and Causing Commotion in the Mosque
Finally, the author writes:
“I say: Causing noise in the mosque and embracing—especially when everyone is already gathered there—is an act of innovation and disobedience. It must be avoided.”
❀ Summary:
Saying “تقبل الله منا ومنكم” on the day of Eid is narrated from the Companions (رضي الله عنهم) and permitted by scholars. The formalized practice of handshakes and embracing, as is common in our society, is considered an innovation (bid‘ah).✔ It is better not to initiate Eid greetings, but responding if greeted is permissible.
Causing noise and crowding in mosques with unnecessary embracing and commotion should be avoided.هذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
