Question:

Is it permissible for us to greet “Happy New Year” to others? If not, then how should we respond to anyone who greets us?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Following points should be understood before this question is addressed.

1. Islam does not have any specific significance or celebration attached to Gregorian New Year.
2. Even in Islamic New Year (i.e. Muharram), we begin with somberness and heightened worship because it is one of the sacred months. The du’a at the time beseeches Allah for Aman, Iman, Salamah and pleasure of Allah. ^[1] Even so, there is no Sunnah established for greeting Islamic New Year.
3. Gregorian New Year (January) is rooted in either Pagan Customs or Christian imposition from St. Gregory XII. ^[2] Both of these have no significance for Muslims.
4. The common practice of non-Muslims celebrating this New Year, eventhough not with intent of above religious mindset, is still through means which primarily violate Shar’i values and rulings. Intermingling, music and merry making in unislamic mannerism are all rebuked in Islam.
5. Even if we view this New Year as merely a milestone for personal administrative reasons, it does not become a means for celebration or greeting. It is just another day from a Muslim standpoint.

From fiqhi perspective, if the day is commemorated as religious festival, then Allama Kasaani rahimahullah states in al Durr al Mukhtar:

 (والإعطاء باسم النيروز والمهرجان لا يجوز) أي الهدايا باسم هذين اليومين حرام (وإن قصد تعظيمه) كما يعظمه المشركون (يكفر) – الدر المختار  (6/ 754)

Translation: (And gifting in the name of nawruz and maharjan is not permissible.) i.e. gifts given in the name of these two days is Haram. (and if one intends honoring the day) like the mushriks honor it, (then he has done kufr).

Similarly Imam Zayla’ee rahimahullah gives a the understanding in more detail in Tabyeen al Haqa’iq:

(والإعطاء باسم النيروز والمهرجان لا يجوز) أي الهدايا باسم هذين اليومين حرام بل كفر، وقال أبو حفص الكبير – رحمه الله – لو أن رجلا عبد الله خمسين سنة ثم جاء يوم النيروز، وأهدى لبعض المشركين بيضة يريد به تعظيم ذلك اليوم فقد كفر، وحبط عمله، وقال صاحب الجامع الأصغر إذا أهدى يوم النيروز إلى مسلم آخر، ولم يرد به التعظيم لذلك اليوم، ولكن ما اعتاده بعض الناس لا يكفر، ولكن ينبغي له أن لا يفعل ذلك في ذلك اليوم خاصة، ويفعله قبله أو بعده كي لا يكون تشبها بأولئك القوم، وقد قال رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وسلم – «من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم»، – تبيين الحقائق شرح كنز الدقائق   (6/ 228)

Translation: ..((and Gifting in the name of Nawruz or Maharjan is not permissible.)) i.e. the gifts given in name of these days are haram, rather Kufr. Abu Hafs al Kabeer rh. says that If a person worships Allah for fifty years then upon the arrival of a day of Nawruz he gifts to some of the mushrikeen and egg intending honor/significance of that day, then he has made Kufr, and his good deeds shall be lost.

Author of Jami’ al-Asghar says that if he gifts another Muslim on the day of Nawruz and did not intend honoring that day, however it is what was customary among masses, then no Takfeer will be made upon him. However, it is appropriate for him not to do that on that specific day, rather do so before or after so that he does not emulate them people (who celebrate that day). For indeed Nabi ﷺ has stated, “Whosoever emulates a nation shall be from them“.

Allamah Ibn Abideen al-Shami rh. has mentioned that these Nawruz and Maharjan were two days of celebration of spring and autumn, which were honored by some of the non-Muslims wherein they would exchange gifts in them. This indicates that it was not even a universal celebration, rather that of some groups. ^[3]

The above has been stated in regard to celebrating and taking part in such festivities of other nations. However, the question posed here is in regard to greeting them on such an occasion like a New Year.

Once we establish that the occasion holds no significance in our mind from religious as well as worldly angle, then its greeting will either

• be initiated from one’s own end or
• as a common courteous response to someone greeting you.

Understand that initiation of such greeting is in-itself holds some veneration for the action, which is not permissible. Hence one should not initiate greeting to anyone with “Happy New Year”.

However, should someone greet you with “Happy New Year” then it would either be

• from a non-Muslim or
• a Muslim who is unaware of the issue.

While replying to either of these two, one’s response should be a genuine supplication and not mere following of customs.

For a Muslim who unknowingly greets you with “Happy New Year“, you may respond by saying “May Allah guide you well in the coming year” hoping that Allah opens his heart towards guidance of true Shar’i dictates. This will insha’Allah keep the interaction cordial and without offense. If the individual is someone whom you can easily educate, then you should do so by explaining that as Muslims we do not celebrate New Year.

When it comes to non-Muslims, once again our intention should be genuine for their wellbeing through guidance (hidaya) and not some customary celebration. The words we choose should not make us from among them in the sense of customary practice. Instead, if someone wishes you “Happy New Year” you could reply with “May God bring for you a much-desired goodness in the coming year” whereby through “goodness” you will intend guidance and hidaya towards Islam.

The aim and purpose should remain to avoid offending anyone, and still maintaining basic decency of interaction. While such greetings are being entertained, one must keep in mind that one does not exemplify any form of reverence or veneration for this New Year, lest one becomes accountable for harshness mentioned by the fuqaha’. We are Muslims, and we must hold on to our identity in every possible realm and sphere of our life. If this means that we exert on establishing such identity by choosing how we interact and greet people around us, then that is indeed our religious dictate.

Lastly, this answer is in relation to New Year, and should not be misconstrued for religious days like Christmas and Easter etc.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Faisal bin Abdul Hameed al-Mahmudi

www.fatwa.ca

[1]

المعجم الأوسط (6/ 221)
6241 – حدثنا محمد بن علي الصائغ قال: نا مهدي بن جعفر الرملي قال: نا رشدين بن سعد، عن أبي عقيل زهرة بن معبد، عن جده عبد الله بن هشام قال: «كان أصحاب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، يتعلمون هذا الدعاء إذا دخلت السنة أو الشهر: اللهم أدخله علينا بالأمن، والإيمان، والسلامة، والإسلام، ورضوان من الرحمن، وجواز من الشيطان»

[2]

https://www.infoplease.com/culture-entertainment/holidays/history-new-year

[3]

(رد المحتار) (6/ 754)
والنيروز أول الربيع والمهرجان أول الخريف وهما يومان يعظمهما بعض الكفرة ويتهادون فيهما – حاشية ابن عابدين

عمدة الرعاية بتحشية شرح الوقاية (6/ 501)
النَّيروز، أصله: نوروز؛ معرّب، وقد تكلَّمَ به عمرَ – رضي الله عنه -، فقال: كلُّ يومٍ لنا نوروز حين كان الكفارُ يبتهجونَ به. كذا في ((النهاية))، وهو أوَّل يومٍ من نزولِ الشمسِ في برجِ الحمل، وابتداءُ ربيع. كذا في ((مجمع الأنهر))(2: 63).
والمَهْرَجَان؛ هو معرب مهركان، وهو أوَّل يومٍ من نزولِ الشمسِ في الميزان، وابتداء خريف.
والنَّيروز؛ عند أهلِ التواريخِ متعدّد:
النَّيروز السُّلطانيّ: وهو أوَّلُ يوم يكون الشمسُ في نصفِ نهارِهِ في أوَّل درجة من درجات الحمل.
والنَّيروز الخوارزم شاهي: وهو يوم يكونُ الشمسُ في نصفِ نهارِهِ في درجتِهِ الثانيةَ عشرَ من الحمل.
ونَيروزُ العامّة: وهو أوّل فرورى ماه القديم.
ونيروز الخاصّة: وهو اليومُ السادسُ منه.
ونيروزُ المجوس: وهو الذي يدخلُ الشمسَ في الحوت.
والمَهْرَجَانُ أيضاً متعدّد:
مهرجانُ العامَّة: وهو اليومُ السادسَ عشرَ من مَهْرَمَاه القديم.
ومهرجان الخاصّة: وهو اليومُ الحادي والعشرون منه، وقد يسمَّى أوَّلُ كلِّ يومٍ يكونُ الشمسُ في الميزانِ مهرجاناً. كذا في ((شرح النقاية)) للعلاَّمةِ البِرْجَنْدِيّ.