Praise be to Allaah.
It was narrated that that Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased
with them) used to congratulate one another on the occasion of Eid by saying
Taqabbal Allaahu minna wa minkum (May Allaah accept (this worship)
from us and from you). It was narrated that Jubayr ibn Nufayr said: When the
companions of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) met one another on the day of Eid, they would say to one another:
“Taqabbal Allaahu minna wa mink (May Allaah accept (this worship)
from us and from you).” Al-Haafiz said: Its isnaad is hasan.
Imam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: There is
nothing wrong with one man saying to another on the day of Eid: Taqabbal
Allaahu minna wa mink (May Allaah accept (this worship) from us and from
you). This was narrated by Ibn Qudaamah in al-Mughni.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah was asked in al-Fataawa
al-Kubra (2/228): Does the common Eid greeting that is on people’s lips
– “Eid Mubaarak” etc – have any basis in sharee’ah or not? If there is a
basis for that in sharee’ah, what should we say?
He replied:
With regard to the greeting on the day of Eid, which people
say to one another when meeting after the prayer, “Taqabbal Allaahu minna
wa minkum wa ahaalahu Allaah ‘alayka (May Allaah accept (this worship)
from us and from you and may you live to see another Eid)” etc, this was
narrated from a number of the Sahaabah who used to do that and allow others
to do so too, and from the Imams such as Imam Ahmad. But Ahmad said: I do
not initiate this greeting with anyone. But if someone greets me in this
manner I return his greeting. That is because returning a greeting is
obligatory, but initiating this greeting is not a Sunnah that is enjoined,
but neither is it forbidden. The one who does it has an example and the one
who does not do it also has an example. And Allaah knows best.
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.