“Eid Mubaarak”
QUESTION:
What is the ruling with regards to saying “Eid Mubaarak”?
ANSWER:
Regarding the greeting of “Eid Mubaarak”, a common occurrence in our time, there are two views amongst the Fuqaha. Allama Shaami Rahmatullahi Alaihi quoting Ibn Ameer-e-Haaj has written that greeting with the words “Eid Mubaarak” should be included amongst the other famous Duas and regarded as Mustahab. However, Allama Ibn-Ul-Haaj Maaliki Rahmatullahi Alaihi has mentioned that this issue should be carefully considered before drawing a conclusion, as he is of the opinion that one should not greet others with the words “Eid Mubaarak” on the day of Eid.
The textual references of the Fuqaha have been quoted below:
واختلف فى قول الرجل لغيره يوم العيد تقبل الله منا ومنك – روى عن ابى امامة الباهلى وواثلة بن الاسقع انهما كانا يقولان ذلك قال ابن حنبل استاد حديث ابى امامة جيد وروى مثله عن ليث بن سعد وقال ابن حنبل لا باس به وذكر هذه المسئلة فى القنية واختلف العلماء فيها ولم يذكر الكراهة عن اصحابنا وعن مالك انه كرهه وقال هو من فعل الاعاجم وعن الاوزاعى انه بدعة والاظهر لا باس به لما فيه من الاثر – حلبى كبير ص 573
قوله لا تنكر وانما قال كذلك لانه لم يحفظ فيها شىء عن ابى حنيفة واصحابه. وذكر فى القنية انه لم ينقل عن اصحابنا كراهة. وعن مالك انه كرهها وعن الاوزاعى انها بدعة وقال المحقق ابن امير الحاج بل الاشبه انه جائزة مستحبة فى الجملة , ثم ساق اثارا باسانيد صحيحة عن الصحابة فى فعل ذلك , ثم قال والمتعامل فى البلاد الشامية والمصرية عيد مبارك عليك ونحوه , قال يمكن ان يلحق بذلك فى المشروعية والاستحباب لما بينهما من التلازم , فان من قبلت طاعته فى زمان كان ذلك الزمان عليه مباركا على انه قد ورد الدعاء بالبركة فى امور شتى فيؤخذ منه استحباب الدعاء بها هنا ايضا (شامى زكريا ص 49-50 ج2)
قد اختلف علمائنا رحمة الله عليهم فى قول الرجل لاخيه يوم العيد تقبل الله منا ومنك وغفر لنا ولك على اربعة اقوال (1) جائز لانه قول حسن (2) مكروه لانه من فعل اليهود (3) مندوب اليه لانه دعاء ودعاء المؤمن لاخيه مستحب (4) لا ىبتدئ به فان قال له احد رد عليه مثله , واذا كان اختلقهم فى هذا الدعاء الحسن مع تقدم حدوثه فما بالك بقول القائل عيد مبارك مجردا عن تلك الالفاظ مع انه متاخر الحدوث فمن باب اولى ان يكرهوه وهو مثل قولهم يوم مبارك وليلة مباركة وصبحك الله بالخير ومساك بالخير , وقد كره علمائنا رحمة الله عليهم كل ذلك — (المدخل ص 439 ج1)
From the above textual references, it is evident that a difference of opinion had always existed in the past with regards to greeting a person on the day of Eid with the words “Eid Mubaarak”. Those Fuqaha that had remained silent without commenting on the issue are also of the opinion that the maximum status which can be afforded to this greeting is “Mustahab” or “Mubaah.” The Fuqaha have clearly stated that if a “Mubaah” or “Mustahab” action exceeds its limits and boundaries, or the fear of people’s belief being corrupted exists, or a “Mustahab” or “Mubaah” action becomes a customary practice, then it is necessary to discard such an action and acting upon such a “Mustahab” or “Mubaah” becomes Makrooh in Shari’ah.
Hadrat Maulana Abdul Ghani Saheb Rahmatullahi Alaihi has written in his Kitaab “Al Jannatu Li Ahlis Sunnah”, and Hadrat Thanwi Rahmatullahi Alaihi has quoted in his Kitaab “Islaahur Rusoom”, many Ahaadith and Masaa’il of Deen similar to those quoted above. Some of these Masaa’il have been quoted below as an example so that one may easily understand:
“Al Jannatu Li Ahlis Sunnah” states a principle (which is also in the Hadith and explained by the Fuqaha), “To regard any “Mubaah” action as necessary and act upon it continuously is Makrooh, and punctuality in a “Mubaah” action is Bid’ah.” If a Mubaah action is changed in such a manner that the ignorant people start regarding it as a “Sunnah” as a result of constantly being punctual of the act, it becomes Makrooh. Just as we believe that we have to follow the Sunnah by adopting the practices of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, discarding of certain customary practices is also following the Sunnah.
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said:
ان الله يحب ان يؤتى رخصه كما يحب ان يؤتى عزائمه (مرقاة ص15 ج2)
“Verily Allah Ta’aala loves that His concession is acted upon just as the resolute things are acted upon.”
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لا تختصوا ليلة الجمعة بقيام من بين الليالى ,ولا تختصوا يوم الجمعة بصيام من بين الايام الا ان يكون فى صوم يصومه احدكم (مسلم)
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam mentions, “Do not specify the night of Jumuah for standing in the Ibaadah of Allah Ta’aala from amongst the nights, and do not specify the day of Jumuah to fast from amongst the other days, except if it such a fast that one of you (normally) fasts.
In Majma’mul Bihaar and Qastallani, the following text has been recorded under the Hadith of Hadrat Abdullah bin Masood Radiallahu Anhu:
لا يجعل احدكم للشيطان شيئا من صلاته يري ان حقا عليه ان لا ينصرف الا عن يمينه لقد رايت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كثيرا ينصرف عن يساره (متفق عليه)
“None of you should specify a portion of his Salaah for Shaytaan by thinking that it is necessary upon him to turn only to his right, for verily I have seen Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam very often turning to his left.”
He further quotes:
استنبط منه ان المندوب ينقلب مكروها اذا خيف ان يرفع عن رتبته انتهى
From the above it has been deduced that verily a Mustahab act becomes Makrooh when there is a fear of it exceeding its bounds and limits.
Allama Teebee Rahmatullahi Alaihi and Meeraat state the following under the above Ahaadith:
فيه وان من اصر على مندوب وجعله عزما ولم يعمل بالرخصة فقد اصاب منه الشيطان من الاضلال فكيف من اصر على بدعة او منكر
A person who insists on carrying out a Mustahab act and deems it necessary, and does not act upon the concession afforded to him by Shari’ah, has been misguided by Shaytaan. What is the condition then of a person who insists upon carrying out a Bid’ah or an evil?
From the above Hadith, the Fuqaha have deduced that a Mustahab action becomes Makrooh when there is fear of a Mustahab act being elevated beyond its status. They have also deduced that if a person insists that a Mustahab act must be carried out like a Waajib act and that it is not permissible to act upon the concession, then bear in mind that Shaytaan has misguided one (by creating such a mind-set).
Fathul Qadeer states:
والحق ان المداومة مكروه مطلقا سواء راه حتما او لا
And the reality is that insistence (upon a Mustahab or Mubaah) is Makrooh, irrespective whether he regards it as necessary or not.
Sharhul Wiqaaya states:
كره توقيت سورة بصلاة اى تعيين سورة لصلاة بحيث لا يقرا فيها الا تلك السورة انتهى
Specifying the recitation of a certain Surah in Salaah whereby only a specific Surah will be recited, is Makrooh
Fataawa Tartarkhaniyya and Fataawa Alamghiri states:
يكره للانسان ان يختص لنفسه مكانا فى المسجد يصلى فيه انتهى
It is Makrooh for a person to reserve a certain place in the Masjid wherein he performs Salaah.
Further they state:
تارك المستحب لا يلام (الجنة لاهل السنة ص141)
A person cannot be criticized for leaving out a Mustahab act
Hadrat Thanwi Rahmatullahi Alaihi has mentioned a few rules and principles for an act that is Mustahab or Mubaah. Under one of these Usool, the following has been written, “In Ibn Majah, the following saying of Hadrat Abu Abdullah is recorded, ‘It is Sunnah to give food to the family of the deceased on the first day, but if the masses regard it as a custom, then it should be abandoned as it becomes impermissible.’
Now think for yourself, the greeting of “Eid Mubaarak” which is common amongst us, has this greeting not ignored and neglected the conditions stipulated to act upon a Mustahab or Mubaah act? Or, is this greeting not used merely as a custom? Generally, people show such a great deal of importance in greeting one with the words of “Eid Mubaarak” that we do not attach such importance to Salaam which is Sunnah. This has reached such an extent that, leave alone the ignorant ones, even the learned people meet others by first saying “Eid Mubaarak” and thereafter make Salaam, whereas the virtues of Salaam prior to indulging in conversation is accepted by all.
The greeting of “Eid Mubaarak” has been afforded such importance that, if one does not greet others with the words of “Eid Mubaarak” due to some reason, then people will backbite about such a person and sever relations with him by not speaking to him, whereas we have already discussed above that if such corruption affects a “Mubaah” act then it is necessary to discard and shun such an act.
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb Rahimahullah