The Ruling on National Holidays and Congratulating People on Them
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
The questioner says: In some countries, there are holidays on the occasion of independence, for example, or what is called the national day. Are these holidays prescribed or permissible? What is the ruling on congratulating people on them? Likewise, what is the ruling on congratulating people on the arrival of the Hijri year?
Answer:
These holidays are religious innovations; they are all invalid, whether they are for birthdays or otherwise, they are all invalid. It is not permissible to observe them or to celebrate them. It is obligatory to leave them off, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do this, nor did his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all). So it is obligatory to leave them off. As for if a person congratulates you and you say, “May Allah reward you with good, and we ask Allah for success,” there is no harm. But it is better not to initiate the congratulation for a new job or the like. However, if he says to you, “Congratulations,” and you say, “May Allah reward you with good, and may Allah bless you,” there is nothing wrong with that, if Allah wills. As for celebrating by holding gatherings or eating food or the like of that, it is not permissible.
The questioner says: In some countries, there are holidays on the occasion of independence, for example, or what is called the national day. Are these holidays prescribed or permissible? What is the ruling on congratulating people on them? Likewise, what is the ruling on congratulating people on the arrival of the Hijri year?
Answer:
These holidays are religious innovations; they are all invalid, whether they are for birthdays or otherwise, they are all invalid. It is not permissible to observe them or to celebrate them. It is obligatory to leave them off, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do this, nor did his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all). So it is obligatory to leave them off. As for if a person congratulates you and you say, “May Allah reward you with good, and we ask Allah for success,” there is no harm. But it is better not to initiate the congratulation for a new job or the like. However, if he says to you, “Congratulations,” and you say, “May Allah reward you with good, and may Allah bless you,” there is nothing wrong with that, if Allah wills. As for celebrating by holding gatherings or eating food or the like of that, it is not permissible.
Source
أسباب الثبات أمام الفتن — islamhouse.com (57:27)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.