The Greetings and Congratulations of 'Eid

Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah was asked about the greetings/congratulations of 'Eid[1] so he answered: "As for the greetings on the day of 'Eid, then it is by saying to one another when meeting after the prayer:

May Allah accept it from you and us and may Allah make it return to you, and other things of this nature. Indeed it has been reported that a group of the Companions used to do this. The A'immah, like Ahmad and others permitted this.

However Ahmad said: 'I do not initiate greeting anybody but if they begin I answer them and that is because answering a greeting is obligatory. As for initiating greetings (of 'Eid) then it is not from the requested Sunnah and neither is it from that which is prohibited. Therefore whosoever does it, has a precedent and whosoever leaves it, also has a precedent - and Allah knows best'"[2]

Haafidh Ibn Hajr said:[3] "We have related in "Mahaamiliyaat" with a chain of narration that is hasan, from Jubair bin Nufair, who said: The Companions of Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) used to, when they met on the day of 'Eid used to say to each other:

 “Taqabbala Allaha minnaa wa minkum”

“May Allah accept it from you and us.”

Ibn Qudaamah mentioned in al-Mughnee (2/259) that Muhammed ibn Ziyaad said: "I was with Abee Umaamah al-Baahilee and other companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and when they returned from the 'Eid they said to each other:

 “Taqabbala Allaha minnaa wa minkum”

“May Allah accept it from you and us.”

Ahmad said the chain of narration of the hadeeth of Aboo Umaamah is good,[4] as for the saying, by the general populous of Muslims, who say to each other; 'Hope you are well and you have a good year', and other similar sayings are rejected. Rather regarding this Allah - Mighty and Sublime says: "Do you exchange that which is better for that which is lower.''[5]