Question: Is it permissible for a person to initiate the well-wishing for the new year to someone?
Response: If someone wished you well, then return the greeting to him, but don't you be the one to initiate the well wishing to anyone - this is the correct position in this matter. If for example someone said to you 'we wish you well for this new year', you should say "may Allah greet you with good and may He make it a year [filled with] good and blessings", however, don't you initiate the well-wishing to the people. This is because I do not know anything from the Salaf that they used to greet the people with well-wishes for the new year. Rather, know that the Salaf did not adopt Muharam as the beginning of the new year until the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khatab (radhi-yAllaahu 'anhu).
