Derived from: Fatawa Ulama-e-Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Volume 1
He replied:
The correct view on this matter is:
➤ If someone congratulates you, respond with a du‘a.
➤ But do not initiate the congratulation yourself.
For example, if someone 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.”
However, do not be the first to offer congratulations, because there is no evidence from the Salaf (righteous predecessors) that they would offer such greetings at the start of the new year.
Source:
This fatwa is taken from Mawsu‘ah al-Liqa’ al-Shahri wa al-Bab al-Maftooh, Question no. 853, first edition, published by Maktabat al-Da‘wah wa al-Irshad, ‘Unayzah, Qassim.
“I will not initiate the greeting, but if someone congratulates me, I will reply. Responding is obligatory, like replying to a salam. However, initiating congratulations is not a Sunnah—it is neither commanded nor prohibited.”
➤ If someone congratulates you, respond politely with a du‘a.
➤ It is not a Sunnah nor a known practice from the righteous predecessors.
➤ The act should not be regarded as a religious ritual or form of worship.
❖ Question
What is the Islamic ruling on offering congratulations for the Islamic New Year during the month of Muharram? Please provide a response in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah.❖ Answer
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله was asked about the ruling of congratulating others on the Islamic New Year and what response should be given if someone congratulates you.He replied:
The correct view on this matter is:
➤ If someone congratulates you, respond with a du‘a.
➤ But do not initiate the congratulation yourself.
For example, if someone 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.”
However, do not be the first to offer congratulations, because there is no evidence from the Salaf (righteous predecessors) that they would offer such greetings at the start of the new year.
❖ Historical Context
It is important to note that the designation of Muharram as the start of the Islamic year was instituted during the caliphate of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA). The Salaf did not celebrate or consider it a religious occasion.Source:
This fatwa is taken from Mawsu‘ah al-Liqa’ al-Shahri wa al-Bab al-Maftooh, Question no. 853, first edition, published by Maktabat al-Da‘wah wa al-Irshad, ‘Unayzah, Qassim.
❖ Clarification by Shaykh Abdul Kareem al-Khudayr
He mentioned that offering du‘a or kind words on occasions like Eid or the start of the Hijri year is not inherently an act of worship. Therefore, if such a gesture is meant to express affection, warmth, and joy, then there is no harm in doing so.❖ Position of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal رحمه الله
Imam Ahmad said:“I will not initiate the greeting, but if someone congratulates me, I will reply. Responding is obligatory, like replying to a salam. However, initiating congratulations is not a Sunnah—it is neither commanded nor prohibited.”
❖ Conclusion
➤ Do not initiate Islamic New Year congratulations.➤ If someone congratulates you, respond politely with a du‘a.
➤ It is not a Sunnah nor a known practice from the righteous predecessors.
➤ The act should not be regarded as a religious ritual or form of worship.
