The New Hijrah Year: To Celebrate Or Not To Celebrate?

By 

Ibn 'Abdillaah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

Yes, we do recognise Muharram 1st as the first day in Islamic calendar. We thank Allaah for leading us into a new Islamic year just as we thank Him every morning for waking up as Muslims. There is no proof from the Sunnah that Muharram 1st is a 'Eid (Festival) in Islaam. We should not beg for a public holiday in this regard. There is no proof that the best generation of Muslims used to engage in one kind of celebration or the other on this day. There is also no proof that our past predecessors used to exchange greetings on this day. So, let us fear Allaah and stick to the way of the Rosul صلى الله عليه وسلم and his companions رضي الله عنهم In a very clear hadith, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said (apart from Fridays), we have just two 'Eids ('Eid el Fitr and 'Eid el Adha). 

Responding to a question relating to this, the Standing Committee for Fatwaa in Saudi Arabia said:

لا تجوز التهنئة بهذه المناسبات؛ لأن الاحتفاء بها غير مشروع

“It is not permissible to congratulate people on these occasions, since observing/celebrating them is not legislated.” http://www.alifta.com/Fatawa FatawaChapters.aspx?View=Page&PageID=151&PageNo=1&BookID=12

Sheikh Saalih Fawzaan حفظه الله was also asked whether it is permissible to engage in any form of celebration regarding the new hijrah year or exchange pleasantries and greetings regarding it, and he said:

لا، هذا بدعة فلا يجوز أنه يخصص آخر السنة الهجرية بمعايدة أو بتهنئة أو بذكر أو بدعاء، ما يجوز هذا، ما كان السلف يفعلون هذا، نعم.

“No, this is bid’ah (innovation), it is not permissible to specify the end of the Hijri year as a holiday, or as a time for specific greetings, phrases of remembrance, or supplications. This is not permissible. The Salaf (early rightly-guided generations of Muslim predecessors) did not do this.” http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/14214

In one of his Friday sermons, Sheikh Saalih Fawzaan حفظه الله gave an elaborate warning about this issue, saying:

عباد الله من البدع التي حدثت في هذا الزمان في هذا الوقت بالذات، ما ينشر في بعض الجولات، أو في الانترنت، أو يتناقله الناس في هذه الأيام التي هي آخر السنة الهجرية بداية السنة المقبلة، يوصون بعبادات ما أنزل الله بها من سلطان، يوصون الصيام في آخر العام، يوصون بالتوبة، يوصون بأشياء هذا ما أنزل الله به من سلطان لا يخص، لا تخص هذه الأيام بشيء لأنه لم يرد فيها دليل من الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم، وكل محدثة بدعة، وكل بدعة ضلالة، فاحذروا من هذه الترويجات وهذه الشائعات وحذروا منها، فإنها شر وتجر إلى شرور، وإلى بدع أخرى، فلا يتساهل في أمر البدع…

Servants of Allaah! Among the innovations that have occurred in this day and age specifically is what is spread through cellphone messages or on the internet, and passed on by people [personally] among themselves as well, in these days at the end of the Hijri year and the beginning of the new one. They encourage certain acts of worship for which Allaah sent down no authority. They encourage fasting at the end of the year, as well as repentance and other matters which Allaah sent down no authority for. These days are not to be observed as anything special, as no evidence for this has come from the Messenger (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace). Every newly invented matter [in the Religion] is a bid’ah (innovation), and every innovation is misguidance. So be warned of these matters being promoted and spread, and warn [others] of them, as they are evil and drag [people] into other evil things and innovations. Lenience is not appropriate as it relates to matters of  innovation…http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/13562

Therefore, the best way to mark the Hijrah is to migrate from disbelief to belief, from bid'ah to sunnah, from sins to righteousness, and from disobedience to obedience of the dictates of Allah and His Rosul صلى الله عليه وسلم. Hijrah should not be from your homes to strange gatherings for any unprescribed tahajjud or celebration. Don't say: "are we going there to worship or mention the name of shaitan?". You many not be there worshipping shaitan, but shaitan is happy with you because you are not upon guidance when you practice innovations. 

Let us note that in this new month, we are encouraged to do more good deeds like fasting, reciting the Qur'an and other adhkaar, nawaafil etc. It is not prescribed that you can single out 1st of Muharram for a special fast. I have seen some posts to this effect recently. Let us beware!

The best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, the worst acts or speeches are the ones newly invented in Islaam after the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his companion رضي الله عنهم. And every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is hellfire [Hadith Sahih] 

May Allah guide us aright.