Is Celebrating New Year Haram?
Celebrating New Year is considered haram in Islam because it is not part of our religion and it is an imitation of non-Muslims, which is prohibited for Muslims.
When it’s the New Year, it’s difficult to avoid the holiday spirit, and it may seem that everyone is celebrating equally.
It’s one of those topics where most schools of thought agree that celebrating New Year’s Eve is haram or forbidden.
Is Celebrating New Year Haram?
It is almost impossible to find examples of Muslims specifically celebrating this day in Islamic history.
The gregorian new year does not exist from an Islamic perspective. As Islam has its own calendar, discussing a different calendar may seem pointless.
Celebrating the New Year is a Jewish and Christian tradition, and doing so would be copying them, which is prohibited in Islam.
Ibn ’Umar (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“He who imitates any people (in their actions) is considered to be one of them.”
[Book 16, Hadith 35]
Due to this, it is not permissible for a Muslim to celebrate New Year.
In Islam, the two Eids encourage prayers, dua for those in need, and almsgiving.
Islam clearly tells Muslims that every religion has its own festivals and not to indulge in any of the celebrations which aren’t part of Islam.
Participating in the festival is participating in kufr, and participating in some of its minor issues is participating in some of the kufr’s branches.
Matter of fact, festivals are one of the most distinctive features of various faiths and among their most prominent symbols, so participating in them is participating in one of the most characteristic and prominent symbols of kufr.
Narrated Anas ibn Malik:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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 on them in the pre-Islamic period. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Allah has substituted for them something better than them, the day of sacrifice and the day of the breaking of the fast.
[Sunan Abi Dawud 1134]
Prophet (peace be upon himself) declared all the festivities haram and only advised Muslims to take part in these two Eids.
Celebrating the New Year, on the other hand, has no such effect. It is a celebration that promotes Western culture rather than seeking God’s face.
One more hadith helps us determine why celebrating New Year is considered haram.
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “You will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit (i.e., inch by inch) so much so that even if they entered a hole of a mastigure, you would follow them.” We said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! (Do you mean) the Jews and the Christians?” He said, “Whom else?”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 7320]
Allah has ordained that we use the lunar calendar in our worship, even if circumstances beyond our control force us to use the Gregorian calendar.
In the grand scheme of things, there is nothing to celebrate. In the eyes of Allah and Muslims, the New Year is just like any other day.
Even if we disagree with their celebration, we should show kindness and respect for their belief despite not participating. It is okay to return compliments, but not to initiate them.
Non-Muslims should be treated with kindness and respect, which is the spirit of Islam. It is important to be friendly and welcoming to attract more people to our faith.
On New Year’s Eve, you don’t think of people sitting at a gathering that could take place in a mosque or with the local Imam. Instead, they often replicate the celebrations of the holiday’s origin. In most cases, it is an Islam-free zone where dancing, music, drinking, and nudity are allowed.
All the above make it a haram act.
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Is Wishing Someone New Year Haram In Islam?
Many Muslim scholars believe that even wishing someone a Happy New Year is haram because the entire celebration is haram, as is wishing someone to engage in a forbidden act.
To wish someone a happy new year implies that a Muslim accepts or approves of the Kufr ritual. Although many scholars believe that if someone wishes you a Happy New Year you can wish him or her back as this will be showing kindness towards their faith and beliefs.
True Muslims should avoid this bad conduct and remember Allah. Celebrating New Year is not a Muslim tradition. It is not part of our belief. Let non-Muslims celebrate and enjoy their customs; we should not interfere with them.
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Why There Is No New Year In Islam?
There is a New Year in Islam as well but Muslims follow the lunar calendar rather than the solar one. Islamic New Year does not always fall on the same day of the Gregorian calendar because the Islamic lunar year is eleven to twelve days shorter.
What Is The Islamic New Year Called?
It is known as the Arabic or Hijri New Year. Muharram, the sacred month that begins each new year, is a time of mourning and reflection for many Muslims.
How Do Muslims Start The New Year?
The Islamic lunar calendar year begins on the First of Muharram, also known as the Islamic New Year. For many Muslims, it begins with the first sighting of the lunar crescent following the new Moon in Muharram.
Muharram is also a holy month and a month of reflection for Muslims due to its rich history. During Muharram, many Muslims pray, and this is how Muslims begin their New Year.
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Final Thoughts
New Year always have been celebrated among many nations and even at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was a holiday celebrated among the non-Muslims. Muslims are suggested to avoid any New Year celebrations as all of it is haram.
New Year celebrations involve nudity, dancing, music, fireworks, and drinking and all these are haram acts. Muslims are also not allowed to wish Happy New Year to others. However, scholars say that a Muslim can wish someone back in reply if someone wishes a Muslim first so as not to be rude.
Muslims have been given two annual festivals and we are supposed to celebrate only those two. Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al Adha.
And Allah Knows Best.
