Celebrations and festivities are occasions of joy, fulfillment of life desire and happiness. They play distinctive roles in the life of all societies culturally and religiously.
Islam, which is a complete way of life, lays down rules for celebration and festivities, in order to eradicate the un-Islamic practices. In Qur’an 22:67 Allah says:
“For every nation, we have ordained religious ceremonies which they must follow.”
We currently seem to be in an unending season of celebrations and festivals!
First, it was the ‘Eid-ul-fitri [end of Ramadan fasting] in September. The [Nigerian] Independence Day celebration followed it in October. November had ‘Eid-ul-Adha.
Then the month of December came with several celebrations following themselves closely; the Christmas day and the Boxing Day. Before them, a new Hijrah Year (Muslim’s New Year) came and knowledgeable Muslims celebrated the first day of Muharram as their true beginning of New Year. Six days after Christmas day is the New Year of the Gregorian calendar.
As Muslims our attention is not on the number of festivals and celebrations that we have, rather our focus is on which of them is permissible to Muslims and which are not.
The 1st January ‘New Year’s Day is one of the most celebrated days around the world.
The Day is usually celebrated on the 1st of January every Gregorian year (starting from the night of 31st December) in most parts of the world, with some few exceptions. It is believed that it is counted from after the death of ‘Eesa [Jesus] [May Allah be pleased with him]. That is why AD [Anno Domini] is put at the back of the year in question meaning the number of years since Jesus ‘died’.
People have many false beliefs and myths about New Year’s Eve (December 31), as is the case with many such festivals. We hear of these beliefs from the western world, those whom the weak in faith among us want to emulate in even the smallest details, even in their myths, so that they can ‘belong’- a case of keeping up with the Joneses!
In this part of the world, prayers are offered in different places to usher in the ‘new year’ and Muslims have generally taken it for granted to participate or offer something similar.
However, the truth about this celebration is that it does not have anything to do with ‘Eesa [AS]. It was a celebration that was dedicated to one of the gods (named Janus) of idol worshipers in Rome from whose name January was derived.
The Microsoft Encarta encyclopedia, 2007 states: “January, first month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, consisting of 31 days. The name of the month is derived from Janus, the Roman god of gates and doors and hence of openings and beginnings. January was the 11th month of the year in the ancient Roman calendar; in the 2nd century BC, however, it came to be regarded as the first month. On January 1 the Romans offered sacrifices to Janus so that he would bless the new year.”
(Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007 © 1993-2006 [Microsoft Encarta [students 2007])
From what has been mentioned above, we can see that this celebration is not for Muslims because it does not have anything to do with Islam. In fact this celebration does not have anything to do with any of the heavenly revealed religions, rather it is pagan. Therefore, it is not correct for Muslims to celebrate or accord spiritual importance to this day in any guise whatsoever as others do.
Muslims are therefore strongly warned by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (SAW) to do away from imitating the non-Muslims in things that are characteristically connected with religion and faith.
He says: Whoever introduces any type of practices that is not part of this affairs of us (i.e. our religion) will have it been rejected from him. He also says: “He is not of us, he who imitates others ………… whoever imitates a people is one of them’’ (Abu Daud)
In the Sunnah: Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came (to Madeenah) and they had two days in which they would (relax and) play. He said, "What are these two days?" They said, "We used to play (on these two days) during the Jaahiliyyah (period of ignorance)." The Messenger of Allaah (SAW) said: "Allaah has given you something better instead of them: Yawm al-Duhaa (Eid al-Adha) and Yawm al-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr)." [Reported by Abu Dawood]
This indicates clearly that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade his ummah to celebrate other festivals.
The Holy Prophet(SAW) is reported to have said ‘’You would follow the ways of those who came before you, step by step, to such an extent that if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would enter it too ….. (Bukhaari and Muslim).
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his commentary on the aayah (interpretation of the meaning), "And those who do not witness falsehood (al-zoor)…" [al-Furqaan 25:72]: "As regards the festivals of the mushrikeen: they combine confusion, physical desires and falsehood, there is nothing in them that is of any religious benefit, and the instant
gratification involved in them only ends up in pain. Thus they are falsehood, and witnessing them means attending them."
The Holy Prophet(SAW) also said ‘’ Be different from the non-muslims’’ (Muslim)
Allah the Almighty says: ……. To each among you we have prescribed a law and a clear way …… if Allah had willed, He would have made you one nation (Q5:48)
In conclusion Muslims should bear it in mind that this religion is brought to us by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who has seriously warned against imitation of the non-believers and our disobedience to the prophet (SAW) disqualifies us from being his followers.
Allah says in Quran 59:7: …… and whatever the messenger Muhammad gives you take it, and whatsoever he forbids you abstain from it and fear Allah, verily Allah is severe in punishment. And He also says in Quran 24:63: And let those who oppose the messenger’s (Muhammad’s) commandments beware, lest some afflictions should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.
Allah’s forgiveness is assured us for those errors committed in our days of ignorance once we truly repent, but we must progress from knowledge with permissible deeds.
May Allah accept our acts of iba’dah in our quest to worship Him truly –amen.
A NASFAT EDUCATION SERIES (with further contributions from Suleman Fulani of Deen Communications Limited)