Source: Fatawa Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam)
Question:
Is it permissible to congratulate someone on the arrival of the new Islamic year?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
The correct view regarding this matter is:
✔ If someone congratulates you for the new year, you may respond to his congratulation.
✘ However, you should not initiate congratulating others yourself.
Example:
Shar‘i Basis:
There is no evidence from the Salaf رحمهم الله that they congratulated one another on the occasion of the new year.
Historical Note:
It is also important to know that the month of Muharram was not originally designated by the Salaf as the start of the Islamic year. This arrangement began during the caliphate of ʿUmar رضي الله عنه.
Reference: Mawsū‘ah al-Liqāʾ ash-Shahrī wal-Bāb al-Maftūḥ, Question No. 853, 1st Edition, Maktab ad-Da‘wah wal-Irshād, ‘Unayzah, al-Qassim.
Regarding congratulating at the start of the Hijri year, he said:
① Initiating congratulation for the new Hijri year is not from the Sunnah, so it should be avoided.
② Responding if someone congratulates you is permissible and part of good manners.
③ Offering du‘a on such occasions with pure intention of goodwill and not as an act of worship is allowed.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
Ruling on Congratulating for the New Islamic Year
Question:
Is it permissible to congratulate someone on the arrival of the new Islamic year?
Statement of Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
The correct view regarding this matter is:
✔ If someone congratulates you for the new year, you may respond to his congratulation.
✘ However, you should not initiate congratulating others yourself.
Example:
- If a person says to you: “We congratulate you on the new year”
- You may reply: “May Allah grant you goodness and make it a year of blessings.”
- But do not start by giving the congratulation yourself.
Shar‘i Basis:
There is no evidence from the Salaf رحمهم الله that they congratulated one another on the occasion of the new year.
Historical Note:
It is also important to know that the month of Muharram was not originally designated by the Salaf as the start of the Islamic year. This arrangement began during the caliphate of ʿUmar رضي الله عنه.
Reference: Mawsū‘ah al-Liqāʾ ash-Shahrī wal-Bāb al-Maftūḥ, Question No. 853, 1st Edition, Maktab ad-Da‘wah wal-Irshād, ‘Unayzah, al-Qassim.
Statement of Shaykh ‘Abdul-Karim al-Khudayr
Regarding congratulating at the start of the Hijri year, he said:
- Offering supplications on occasions like Eid, with the intention that it is a du‘a and not an act of worship, carries no harm.
- Especially when done with feelings of love, affection, joy, and goodwill, such a supplication is permissible.
Statement of Imam Ahmad رحمه الله
- “I will not initiate congratulation, but if someone congratulates me, I will certainly respond.”
- This is because responding to greetings is obligatory.
- Initiating congratulation is neither Sunnah, nor has it been commanded, nor is it prohibited.
Summary of the Ruling
① Initiating congratulation for the new Hijri year is not from the Sunnah, so it should be avoided.
② Responding if someone congratulates you is permissible and part of good manners.
③ Offering du‘a on such occasions with pure intention of goodwill and not as an act of worship is allowed.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
