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Happy New Year!

It’s the Hijri New year today. Does not feel like it, in fact when I woke up today, I expected everyone to have a post about new year on their WhatsApp statuses. But I did not find any, Then I found out that we did not see the moon yesterday. And new year is on Thursday/Friday instead of Wednesday/Thursday, Depending on which part of the world you are in. 

In our Muslim culture here, celebrating any kind of date is frowned upon. Birthdays, New Years or even anniversaries. They are all connected with the idea that our deaths are coming closer. so why should we celebrate? and to be fair, it does make sense. with every passing day and every passing year. weather its our birthday or a new calendar year, we all are getting closer to our deaths. and none of us are prepared to what comes after death. 

Another reason that people give, for not celebrating any kind of “dates” is the idea of replication of non-Muslim culture. And that also seems true, at least in India, this idea of celebrating dates came first from the colonizing British people, and later Our Hindu brothers started adopting these celebrations, so celebrating these days meant that we are copying non-Muslims, which is a sin in Islam.  

I used to believe firmly to this idea too, because the reasons that the society gave were quite logical. Until a few years ago, When I read an article, It was written by a very knowledgeable mufti and he gave some different logic. he said that there is no sin in wishing each other a new year or a birthday as long as our intentions are correct. 

His logic being, when we say ‘Happy New Year’ we do not mean that I am happy I wasted another year. No we do not mean that. Instead we wish the person that he gets happiness in the upcoming year. and we wish good things to each other, that the upcoming year brings more happiness than ever and is better than all the years that have already passed. We wish that we get closer to Allah than we were in the past year, because ultimately that is what real happiness is.

After reading it, it was hard to argue with him. and the issue of Muslims copying non-Muslim culture.  Well, that still remains a bit valid. We can not go all in, and do everything they are doing. At the end we are meant to show them Islam and not to blindly follow them. But if a few friends come together, have tea and have fun. its not prohibited. again it depends on our intentions. If we intent to copy non-Muslim culture, its a sin. if we don’t then its fine. 

1st Muharram is the perfect for this change in mentality. its a day that only Muslims call as “new year day”. There is no danger of imitating non-Muslim culture. this is our own day and we should wish each other good things on this day and have fun. 
Its still not normal here, But on a personal level I have learnt to get over the idea that wishing someone a “Happy new year” is a sin. and this day suddenly reminded me of the article I read years ago. 

On that note,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!




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