The Ruling on Congratulating the New Hijri Year

Question:
In these days, through modern technology, there is a widespread practice of advising one another to seek forgiveness and repent at the end of the Hijri year, and of exchanging congratulations for the arrival of the new year?

Answer:
Answer: All of this is a religious innovation (bid'ah). There is no new year; this is merely a conventional designation, not a new year. Every day can complete a year of one's life, as can every month or every week, according to one's birth date. It is not restricted to the month of Muharram. Rather, this is a conventional matter. 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) consulted the Companions because letters would come to him from his governors without dates, and he did not know when they were written. So he consulted his Companions. The Gregorian calendar existed, but they did not want to imitate the Jews and the Christians. So their opinion agreed that they should date things by the migration (Hijrah) of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), because it is the greatest event in Islam. They made it the beginning of the Hijri calendar for the sake of benefit and necessity. Therefore, the Hijri year is not singled out for congratulations, nor is it singled out for supplication, because this has not been transmitted. So it is a religious innovation (bid'ah). Yes.