Congratulating on the Day of Eid or Before It

Question:
In these days, messages have spread among people via mobile phones containing the prohibition of congratulating on Eid, one or two days before Eid, and that it is from religious innovations? What is your opinion, O your eminence?

Answer:
I do not know of this statement; they have promoted it, and I do not know of any basis for it. How can one congratulate on something that has not yet occurred? Congratulating is done on the day of Eid or after the day of Eid, although there is no evidence for it; but Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) says: I do not initiate it, but I respond to whoever initiates it with me and congratulates me. And congratulating is permissible, on the day of Eid or after the day of Eid, but before the day of Eid, I do not know that it occurred from the Salaf and that they congratulate before the day of Eid. How can one congratulate on something that has not yet occurred? Congratulating is done on the day of Eid or after the day of Eid, although there is no evidence for it; but Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) says: I do not initiate it, but I respond to whoever initiates it with me and congratulates me.