Rabi al-Awwal: Should We Congratulate Each Other?

Question

Some people circulate a narration about the start of Rabi‘ al-Awwal: “Whoever congratulates others for this blessed month, the Fire will be forbidden for him.” Is this authentic?

Bottom Line

This report is fabricated and has no basis in Islam.

Quick Answer

There is no authentic hadith about congratulating one another for the arrival of Rabi‘ al-Awwal. The supposed narration is fabricated, and attributing false words to the Prophet ﷺ is a major sin.

Key Points

• No scholar of hadith has traced this report to the Prophet ﷺ.
• Fabricated hadiths are often marked by exaggeration and strange wording.
• The Prophet ﷺ warned severely against lying about him.
• Congratulating each other for Islamic months has no foundation in the Sunnah.

Detailed Answer

The narration *“Whoever offers congratulations for this blessed month, the Fire will be forbidden for him”* is not found in any authentic collection and is clearly fabricated. It carries the hallmarks of false reports: odd wording, exaggerated promises, and lack of a chain of transmission.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever narrates from me a hadith, knowing it to be false, is himself one of the liars.” Sahih Muslim (Introduction, 1/7

Imam an-Nawawi explained that even narrating something thought to be false makes one fall into lying. Ibn al-Qayyim likewise noted that fabricated reports are often poorly constructed and filled with exaggerations.

What This Means for You

You should not spread this narration or congratulate others on Rabi‘ al-Awwal based on it. It is not part of the Sunnah, and relying on fabricated hadiths is harmful. Instead, focus on authentic practices established by the Prophet ﷺ.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Qur’an

1. Al-Hajj 22:30: Warning against falsehood.

Hadith

2. Sahih Muslim, Introduction (1/7): Lying about the Prophet ﷺ is forbidden.

Secondary Sources

3. An-Nawawi, *Sharh Sahih Muslim* (1/65).
4. Ibn al-Qayyim, *Al-Manar al-Muneef*, p. 50.