Should I offer congratulations for the new Islaamic year?

by Asma bint Shameem

ANSWER

🔺There's NO PROOF from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ or the Sahaabah that they would congratulate each other for the new islaamic year or 'celebrate' it in any way.

🔺In fact, there was NO “new year” at the time of the Prophet ﷺ. 

The Prophet ﷺ did NOT consider Muharram as the first month of the Islaamic year. 

They didn’t consider ANY month as the first month of the Islaamic year.

It was at the time of the khilaafah of OMAR radhi Allaahu anhu that they considered the beginning of an Islaamic year for HISTORIC and administrative purposes. 

They never placed any importance or special traditions to a new Islaamic year.

Rather, Muharram is a sacred month to increase in righteous acts; NOT for celebrating or commemorating it in any way.

🍃Shaikh al-Fawzaan said:

“This is an innovation, congratulating for the new year, it is an innovation;

or commanding of fasting or charity [for the purpose of the new year] ALL of this is innovation.

Allaah has not revealed evidence upon it”

[Al-Muntaqa min Akhbaar Sayyid al-Mursaleen – 39]

🍃 The scholars of the Standing Committee said about congratulating each other for the new year:

“It is not permissible to congratulate people on these occasions, since observing/celebrating them is not legislated.”

(Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah

Question #1 from Case #20795)

In other words, the first day of the new year is a NORMAL day, just like any other day.

No need to “celebrate” it.

No need to think it’s “special”.

In fact, if you think about it…

What’s there to celebrate anyway?

A year that has passed…

A year closer to the grave?

Rather, the passing of a whole year should be sobering reminder that we’re that much closer to that ultimate meeting with our Creator and Master, Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala.

How are we going to answer Him?

What if someone congratulates me? Then wha?

You can respond in kind words and duaas but you should NOT be the one initiating it.

🍃 Shaikh ibn ul-Uthaymeen said:

“If someone congratulates you then reply (i.e. make Duaa that Allaah makes it a good and blessed year), but do not do it yourself (i.e. do not begin it yourself by congratulating someone initially)….

I do not know that our pious predecessors used to congratulate each other for the arrival of the new year of Hijra…”

[Silsilatul Liqaa as-Shahry 20/44; via Sahab]

🍃 Imaam Ahmad said:

“I do not initiate the greeting but if someone greets me I return the greeting, because responding to the greeting is obligatory."

🔺Is there any specific duaa or dhikr to be read for the New year?

NO.

There’s nothing proven from the Prophet ﷺ or the Sahaabah that they read any special duaa “specifically” for the new year.

🍃The Prophet ﷺ would say a duaa at the beginning of EVERY new MONTH.

The authentic duaa at the beginning of ANY new lunar MONTH (and NOT the new “year”) is the following:

‎الله اكبراللَّهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالأَمْنِ وَالإِيمَانِ ، والسَّلامَةِ والإِسْلامِ ، وَالتَّوْفِيقِ لِمَا تُحِبُّ وَتَرْضَى ، رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكَ اللهُ

Allaahu Akbar. Allaahumma ahillahu ‛alaynaa bil-amni wal-eemaani, was-salaamati wal-islaami, wat-tawfeeqi limaa tuḥibbu watarḍaa, rabunaa wa rabbuk-allaahu

"Allaah is Most Great. O Allaah, let the new moon loom over us in peace and faith, safety and Islaam, and in agreement with all that You love and pleases You. Our Lord and your Lord is Allaah." 

(at-Tirmidhi- saheeh by al-Albaani)

He ﷺ said this duaa not only when when he saw the new moon of Muharram, but ALSO when he ﷺ saw the new moon of Safar and Rabi al-Awwal and Ramadhaan and Dhul Qa’dah etc etc.

This is the duaa for seeing the moon of ANY new month and NOT the duaa of the new year.

What about any special prayers or rak’aat for the new year or Nafl for the past year?

Again, there’s NOTHING proven from the authentic sources about any special rak’aat or nawaafil for the past year or the new year.

🍃Someone asked Shaikh Saalim Baamihriz about reading two rak’aat at New year.

He said:

“May Allaah bless you, this is from innovation, misguidance, and superstition which has no basis in the religion.

O brother, may Allaah bless you, the prayer is not legislated for these things.

The prayer is either obligatory and legislated or a Sunnah which the Messenger, clarified; upon him be prayers and peace.

As for making the prayer to be for the commencement of the year and to conclude the year, or to commence the day, or to conclude the day this is from the deviation of those who are astray and leading others astray; and every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the fire.

When the people distanced themselves from the Book and the Sunnah they fell into these innovations.

Akhee, had it been the Hijrī year, it would've been innovation and misguidance, so what do you think regarding the Gregorian year?!

Have Taqwa of Allaah, may Allaah  bless you and beware of these innovations.

The Muslim must worship Allaah in every instance, at all times, either by way of a legislative obligation or a clearly defined Sunnah known from the Prophet ﷺ.

As for these innovations and misguidance which the ignorant, astray commoners  introduce, beware of these deviations may Allaah bless you.

By Allaah, I am amazed that in a time in which knowledge is wide spread, the Sunnah is wide spread, and the people know the truth from falsehood, that there are people still upon these deviations and innovations.

Whenever and innovation is born a Sunnah dies.

So have Taqwa of Allaah.

This is from the innovations which pass upon the people every year. Every month they have an innovation; every year they have an innovation; in every condition they have an innovation.

Have Taqwa of Allaah, my brother. Acts of worship are only either obligatory or Sunan clarified by the Prophet, upon him be prayers and peace, and the pious predecessors. Leave off these innovations and stay far away from them.

Safeguard your religion and the safety of your Aqeedah and the Sunnah. May Allaah bless you, and Allaah’s Aid is sought.”

And Allaah knows best