Ruling on offering congratulations on the occasion of Eid, and shaking hands and embracing after the prayer

ro     ur     hi - 

Allah says,

And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant.

Surah Nisa, Ayat-86.

۩ Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr Al-Asqalani (rahimahullah) said: 

“We have related in “Mahaamiliyaat” with a chain of narration that is hasan, from Jabyr ibn Nufayr who said: ‘When the companions of Allah’s Messenger (sulAllahu alaihi wa salaam) met on the day of ‘eid, they would say to each other, ‘Taqaballahu minna wa minkum (may Allah accept from you and us ).”

Fath ul Bari, volume-2, page-446.

۩ Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked: What is the ruling on offering Eid greetings and is there a particular wording to be used?

He replied:

“It is permissible to offer greetings and congratulations on Eid, and there is no specific greeting. Rather the greetings that people customarily use are permissible so long as no sin is involved.”

He also said:

“Some of the Sahaabah offered greetings and congratulations on the occasion of Eid. Even if we assume that they did not do that, it has now become something customary that people are used to doing, congratulating one another on the occasion of Eid and on completing the fast and qiyaam.”

And he was asked: what is the ruling on shaking hands, embracing and congratulating one another after the Eid prayer? 

He replied: 

“There is nothing wrong with these things, because people do not do these things as acts of worship intended to draw them closer to Allaah, rather they do them because they are customary, and to honour and show respect to one another. So long as there is nothing in sharee’ah to indicate that a custom is forbidden, then the basic principle is that it is permissible.”

Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 16/208-210.

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