Zaid says that the customary Eid Day greeting of "Eid Mubaarak" is perfectly permissible.

Answer

There is no act/practice of the Mu'min which may be viewed in isolation of the Sunnah regardless of Fiqhi (juridical) classifications and technicalities. It is imperative to view every act in the light of the Sunnah, especially when it assumes religious hues. An act or statement may he initially perfectly legitimate, beautiful and acceptable, but if it is elevated to a pedestal superseding its Shar'i classification and status, it degenerates into bid'ah (evil and prohibited innovation). In fact, this degeneration into the confines of bid'ah is not restricted to permissible (Mubah) acts Even acts of the Sunnah will be classified 'bid'ah' on the basis of external corruptive factors which eliminate or alter its true Shar'i status. This is an acknowledged principle of the Shariah which all Ulama are supposed to know and understand. Thus, for the acquisition of a Shar'i ruling it is not sufficient to take into account only the innocence and beauty of the act/statement. Its relationship with the Sunnah has to be incumbency taken into consideration. "Eid Mubaarak" is an innocent and a beautiful statement of greeting or congratulation. Despite its initial beauty, this term has become cloaked with incumbency. It is regarded to be an essential practice to be discharged on the Day of Eid. In fact many people will commence with: "Eid Mubaarak" instead of the Masnoon Salaam. This statement as assumed an incumbent status which even overshadows the Masnoon Salaam. Furthermore it never was the Sunnah of the Sahaabah to greet with this term. Why then is there such emphasis on this practice? The very emphasis according to a practice which has no origin in the Sunnah betrays the bid'ah of the custom. Also revealing its bid'ah category, is the time allocated for its discharge. Several person travel in the same vehicle towards the Eidgah/Musiid for the Eid Salaat. No one exclaims 'Eid Mubaarak', However, immediately on the termination of the Eid Salaat and Khutbah, the "Eid Mubaarak" custom is set in motion. Similarly, when leaving home for the Eid Salaat the housefolk are not offered this greeting. But on return from the Eidgah, the 'Eid Mubaarak' custom is initiated. This is evidence for the existence of a custom accorded Deeni significance and accompanied by its own conditions - time and manner of acquittal-.

Those who do not engage in this custom are frowned on. The custom has thus transcended its Shar'i status and has entered into the confines of bid'ah It is a practice to be discarded. As for the permissibility mentioned in Fataawa Rahimiyyah, the honourable Hadhrat Mufti Sahib's focus was only on the; meaning of the words or the literal meaning which is undoubtedly beautiful. He did not apply the requisite Shar'i principles for his response. On the very same page where the fatwa of permissibility of 'Eid Mubaarak' appears, the honourable Mufti Sahib (rahmatullah alayh) has on the basis of the relevant Shar'i principle, proscribed even an established authentic practice of the Sunnah, namely, Musaafahah (Hand-Shaking) '' on specific occasions such as when sighting the new moon, and elsewhere specifically on the Day of Eid after Salaat. He describes such specification as baseless, without evidence. It would have been proper for the honourable Mufti Saheb to have applied the self-same principle on the basis of which he outlawed Musaafahah, to likewise proscribe the greeting of 'Eid Mubaarak'. The application of the Shar'i principle to 'Eid Mubaarak' has greater validity than its application to Musaafahah in view of the latter having a basis in the Sunnah while the former (i.e. 'Eid Mubaarak') is devoid of any such basis.

Bakr too is in error regarding his advice to mention some other dua. Just as 'Eid Mubaarak' has degenerated into a bid'ah, so too, will any other form of greeting and supplication assume bid'ah proportions if it becomes customary. The only correct attitude is to refrain from introducing any practice which has no origin and substantiation in the Sunnah of the Sahaabah. Anyone is free to say any words of affection and offer any dua without developing it into a custom which may be understood by others as a Masnoon act.