You may ask yourself: What is the Islamic new year? Also, I know that you are curious to know about celebrations in Islam and its legitimacy. Actually, Muslims love joy and happiness. However, they don’t be distracted from the purpose of life. Keep reading to understand more.
Here we will learn the following:
- What is the Islamic new year?
- When Does the Islamic New Year Start?
- What do you need to know about the Islamic new year?
- Why do Muslims celebrate the Islamic new year?
- Does Islam celebrate The Islamic New Year?
- What is the ideal Model that Islam had established?
- How can you discover the core value of Islam?
- What is the pattern that Islam had established for true believers?
- Conclusion
What is the Islamic new year?
The Islamic New Year, also called the Hijri New Year, is the day that marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year and is the day on which the year count is incremented.
When Does the Islamic New Year Start?
The first day of the Islamic year is observed by most Muslims on the first day of the month of Muharram. The Islamic New Year takes place on the first day of the first month in the Muslim lunar calendar (Muharram).
What do you need to know about the Islamic new year?
It was during the era of Muslim leader Omar ibn al-Khattab when the Hijri calendar was established. It was narrated that al-Khattab had consulted the companions of the prophet on choosing from three events to mark the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
The options were the day and year of Prophet Mohammad’s birth, death, or Hijra (migration) to Medina. The companions agreed on using the date of the Prophet’s Hijra.
Why do Muslims celebrate the Islamic new year?
Celebrating the Islamic new year is not allowed. However, the Islamic New Year is a day of remembrance, honoring the beginnings and history of the Islam religion.
The question here is, why are Muslims not allowed to celebrate the Islamic New Year?
Simply because our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) didn’t celebrate it. The initiation of the Hijri calendar was established during the era of Omar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah Be Pleased with him).
Does Islam celebrate The Islamic New Year?
No, Islam doesn’t celebrate the Islamic new year. Instead, there are only two religiously sanctioned celebrations in Islam – Eid ul-Adha and Eid-al Fitr.
These were the only ones celebrated by Prophet Mohammed(PBUH), his companions, and the next two generations of Muslims who are referred to as the Pious Predecessors. Any supposedly Islamic celebrations are not practiced by the first three generations of Muslims known as impermissible innovation.
The following incident taking place at the Prophet’s time clarifies the situation towards celebrations in Islam, it was narrated by Anas Ibn Malik (may Allah Be Pleased With him)
قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -اَلْمَدِينَةَ, وَلَهُمْ يَوْمَانِ يَلْعَبُونَ فِيهِمَا. فَقَالَ: “قَدْ أَبْدَلَكُمُ اَللَّهُ بِهِمَا خَيْرًا مِنْهُمَا: يَوْمَ اَلْأَضْحَى, وَيَوْمَ اَلْفِطْرِ.
(Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 1134)
“When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came to Medina, the people had two days on which they engaged in games. He asked: What are these two days (what is the significance)? They said: We used to engage ourselves with them in the pre-Islamic period. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: Allah has substituted for them something better than them, the day of sacrifice and the day of the breaking of the fast”
Thus, celebrating a specific day every year needs Islamic instruction. However, to have a specific occasion like a wedding or something like that is out of this matter.
What is the ideal Model that Islam had established?
Islam is the religion of Allah, not Muhammad (PBUH). Hence, it goes with what Allah, our Creator, knows to reform and suit us. Islam doesn’t collect some instructions from here and some rituals from there. Imagine that this religion is of Muhammad, he could say let’s have a celebration like Christmas, or put some instructions that combine all the easy and lovable things in all religions, as this way would make people love this new religion and attract new followers.
How can you discover the core value of Islam?
There’s a prophetic Hadith narrated Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) in which he highlights two blessings to make good use of:
نعمتان مغبون فيهما كثير من الناس: الصحة، والفراغ.
(Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6412)
“There are two blessings in which many people incur loss. (They are) health and free time (for doing good)”.
In Islam, Muslims have to live with a purpose. It urges them to look for their time as the most precious wealth they have. The core of their life is to satisfy Almighty God (The Creator) to reform the corruption and contribute to the construction of this earth. Any religion is built upon just appearances and passiveness is for sure a falsehood.
What is the pattern that Islam had established for true believers?
Muslims love joy and happiness, however, they don’t celebrate The Islamic New Year and birthdays especially even, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad for many reasons.
Muslims take the instructions of Islam from either Quran, the Book of Allah, or the authentic sayings of Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him). Hence, Muslims don’t celebrate The New Islamic Year or birthdays as Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) didn’t.
Does it really matter?
Of course yes. It does matter if you really want to obey the Almighty God.
Conclusion
To conclude, the wise one should search for the core of life. Don’t be sufficient with superficial matters. Read Qur’an. It helps you to discover yourself and the purpose of life.
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