What R U Doing For New Year Eve

[NaSra]

KeeptheFaith


May Allah guide us all. All I know is that everyday we wake up from sleep is a gift from Allah. Isn't Allah so kind? Look how many people comitt the worst sins, and each day they wake up again and they do another new sin again. Allah can cause the earth to suck them in and they can never be seen again within the blink of an eye, but what does Allah do? He gives them another chance, chance after chance yet they continue on the same road. Thinking that there will always be another day. When we stop holding onto the rope of the quraan and the sunnah of RasuLuLah we'll become corrupt and we'll do all kinds of haram. You try to keep your garment white, ( thats an expression) it means to stay away from haram, small and big. But how will you do that? If you don't fear Allah in your heart and you don't want to follow the sunnah, you'll do everything. I know I would astaqfuruAllah. I mean if I wasn't a muslim, and didn't have an understanding of the quraan and sunnah of our beloved prophet, why should one follow islam? because you fear your father? Because your community will tell your fmaily? I know many muslims who live such lives believe it or not. Who are we fooling here? Nothing but ourselves.


How patient is Allah? La hawla waLa quwata iLa Bilah

[laian]

Assalamu alaikum everyone,


JazakAllah khair sister Muslimah for your reminder, even though I just now read it, a little late but I've been sick so I spent Dec 31 night sleeping.


I just wanted to say to keepthefaith that I understand your point about not wanting to make a bad impression of muslims by refusing to return non-muslim's happy new years. But, if any of you know a revert, and there are plenty even on this board, then you will know that we are SO strict and picky when it comes to practicing Islam, in particular when it comes to differentiating between our old religion and old lives, and our new beliefs. Being raised as a Christian and in the western society these holidays are so ingrained into our lives, they become second nature. And it's awful to imitate the unbelievers, let alone imitate them thoughtlessly by saying, oh there's no harm in wishing someone a happy new year.


Me personally, I refuse to say merry christmas, happy new year, happy birthday, or any kind of holiday greeting. The only thing I say to someone on a holiday is EID MUBARAK! It's especially tough when christmas time comes (and alhamdulillah that it is over), because everywhere you go you hear christmas songs, and I grew up with those songs and I find myself starting to hum along, or even start humming them after I've left the store, because it is SO ingrained in me, from birth, and I really have to fight hard to stay focused and not sing those silly christmas songs. So that's even more reason for me to adamantly refuse to have anything to do with any holiday.


You are right keepthefaith that we are judged by our intentions, but the way I see it is it is more important to differentiate ourselves as muslims than to try to "blend in" in order to avoid making bad impressions.


And anyway, pretty much all of the holidays celebrated these days are all from pagan origin (even new years), and even the christians should not be celebrating pagan holidays. I know a *few* christians who are aware of this and they dont celebrate christmas or easter, etc... but most christians do, which is sad. And I for one do not want to join them in celebrating pagan holidays, not even in the tiniest way.


Anyway, sorry to go on, it seems like I always make long posts but I would like to know if there are any other reverts who share my view on this? It may be a minor point, but to me it's major because a huge part of my muslim identity is getting RID of my past christian/western society life.


But I'm glad to hear that everyone seemed to have survived the holiday season, and I am especially looking forward to Eid coming in a few weeks inshaAllah, I love going to Eid prayer when the masjid is the most crowded, and all with people in worship... it is an amazing sight, and an amazing feeling to participate in that kind of celebration, the way it should be done subhanAllah... alhamdulillah for Islam!

[Rock]

Assalamu alaikum


I tried to find a hadith or fatwa concerning this matter (sharing non-muslems their celebrations/muslems celebrations of social or private occasions).I found a fatwa forbid sharing non-muslems the celebration of their religious occasions because this means the acceptance of this occasions).


for social and private celebrations I have a slant, I am not quite sure is it correct or not and I want to share this slant with you.


I know that prophet Muhammed(pbuh) told us that muslemes have two feasts(elfetr and aladha)but I think he did not forbid happiness and celebrations in other days,but bad celebrations are forbidden in the Quran and hadith.


**Refer to Al MU-MINON 1-3


1-Successful has been the outcome achieved by those in whose hearts reigns piety,


2-Who habitually exercise humility and low estimate of them selves when standing before God in spiritual union and devotion.


3-Who refrain from small or idle talk,gossip and slander,


**Refer to Fateh Al Bari there is a hadith means


that prophet Muhammed(pbuh)told some of the sahaba a story about a wolf eaten one of the goats in the day of lion ( this day in which people before islam are celebrating and drinking forgetting their animals so the lions eat some of them)and when the owner of the goat run after the wolf, the wolf look at him and said there is no one to take care of your goats in this day except me.Muhammed(pbuh) said at the end of the story:I believe in that and the sahaba said and we believe in what Muhammed believes.


I saw that this story was a type of education by which prophet Muhammed (pbuh) want to tell us that celebrations which forget us our responsibility are forbidden.


I think that it is not forbidden to celebrate in any occasion if there is no contradiction between this occasion and our believe ,and without talking or doing any forbidden things.


and I think that sharing non-muslems their happiness consider a type of good relations which may lead them to islam.

[Anyabwile]

I think that sharing non-muslems their happiness consider a type of good relations which may lead them to islam.

Personally i don't agree at all with the above, to me new years and anything which imitates Kafir i don't go with. At the Masjid a few weeks ago a Hidith was read out, i can't remember it exactly, anyone feel free to correct me in anyway. But a Hadith was read out, where The Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) said. "If any one of my people imitate the Non belivers then they <b>are</b> the non belivers" My wording is probably wrong but this should trigger off the hadith to anyones mind if they recognise it.


To me christmas, which it is known to be today, the celebration of the "birthday" of the son of God. Is most blasphemous to me as a Muslim, and so are the Christians. Saying that The Most High Allmighty has had a son. Like he's some big man in the sky, chilling out. It's disgusting. Of course some Muslims even think i am too "extreme" for thinking this. I have nothing against Christians as people, as i was an Agnostic once, which is worse. But now i am a 100% practising Muslim i find the main core of their beleif offensive. Let's see what the Creator of existance, The Most High, The supreme Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) has to say about us joining is with those who say he has a son:


<b><i>They say: "Allah hath begotten a son!" - Glory be to Him! He is self-sufficient! His are all things in the heavens and on earth! No warrant have ye for this! say ye about Allah what ye know not?" "Say: "Those who invent a lie against Allah will never prosper." "A little enjoyment in this world!- and then, to Us will be their return, then shall We make them taste the severest penalty for their blasphemies."</i></b> (The Noble Quran 10: 68-70)


And also...


<b><i>"Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, "Allah hath begotten a son": "No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying what they say is nothing but falsehood! " </i></b>


(The Noble Qur'an 18: 4-5)


And...


<b><i>"They say: "(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten a son!" "Indeed ye have put forth a thing most monstrous!" "At it the skies are ready to burst, the earth to split asunder, and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin" </i></b>(The Noble Qur'an 19: 88-90)


So, if anyone still feels confident joining in Christmas celebrations (New Year included, it's not our year is it) If anyone who says they are Muslim still wants to join in these kind of celebrations after reading the words of God above, and still feels confident on Judgement day that they have pleased The Most High by doing so? Then good luck to you. Me personally...i'll steer well clear of it thank you. When i was wished Merry Christmas or New Year. My get out route, while still remaining polite was "Well it's come around quick this year" and then left it. This way you're not hurting feelings, or joining in a celebration thats saying our Lord almighty has had a son, like some old dude with his wife. Disgusting. Let me leave it with this....


<b><i>"Say: He is Allah, the One and Only" "Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;" "He begetteth not, nor is He begotten" "And there is none like unto Him."</i></b>(The Noble Qur'an 112: 1-4)


Subhan-Allah, Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin


May Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) give me the strength in my Deen next year to respond to any greetings of merry Christmas. With something like "You are offending me with this, please turn around and walk away from me" Are you going to care about Hurting Christians feelings when it is just you and Allah? (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) They won't be there to show how much they appreciated you saying Merry Christmas then.

[laian]

Assalamu alaikum everyone,


Anya, I don't think rock was referring to christmas when he talked about sharing in non-muslim celebrations, because he mentioned that he thought it was not forbidden only if the celebration did not contradict our belief. But I just wanted to point out that when it comes to new years, it's not just that we dont have the same year, thats not the reason not to celebrate it. The reason is that the celebration has pagan origins, and also the manner in which it is celebrated is haram. Any holiday that has a set day of the year, such as easter, christmas, new years, probably has pagan origins because the pagans followed the seasons of the year in their worshipping long before the gregorian calendar came into use.


Some good things to celebrate are things like the birth of a baby, or a wedding, though only one celebration at the time of the event is appropriate, not yearly celebrations on that date. So it is no problem to congratulate someone on their wedding, whether muslim or not, but as anya expressed and I feel the same way, to even acknowledge the christian/western holidays by returning a happy new years or a merry christmas, to me its like saying that I recognize the validity of the occasion, which of course I do not. it is not something I take lightly.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


just wanted to say Mash aAllah may Allah Increase your Eman

[Anyabwile]

Anya, I don't think rock was referring to christmas when he talked about sharing in non-muslim celebrations, because he mentioned that he thought it was not forbidden only if the celebration did not contradict our belief. But I just wanted to point out that when it comes to new years, it's not just that we dont have the same year, thats not the reason not to celebrate it. The reason is that the celebration has pagan origins,

Assalamu Alalikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh Laian


I didn't say the rock was referring to Christmas specifically, this is why in my response i put (or new year) in brackets if you notice, and then i mention it next to Christmas on another occasion. It's still supposed to be, as is understood in this day and age now, it is still the year/calander that is supposed to be based around Christ in some way. This is why i put the Qur'an verses up. Christmas / New Year it's still originally based on him, or a year based around his so called birthday, so it seemed relevant to display what God would think about us celebrating the change of a new year which is based on his begotten son. And even if was not based around Christs birthday and a seperate celebration from him, i still stand by what i said, it's not our celebration, it's Kafir celebration. But it is in someway based around Christ. Living and abiding by the year, like when signing forms, or whatever we have no choice of course, but to celebrate, or join in the coming of a new one? When rock said

I think that it is not forbidden to celebrate in any occasion if there is no contradiction between this occasion and our believe ,and without talking or doing any forbidden things.and I think that sharing non-muslems their happiness consider a type of good relations which may lead them to islam.

Now because he said this In response to a topic where we are talking about new year, because he didn't indicate any other celebration, it's only natural to assume he was speaking about new year. Because this is the topic.


So new year is a Kafir celebration, and as it said in the Hadith, unless i have got this wrong, someone correct me. As The Messanger (Peace be ipon him) said in the Hadith even to imitate the Kafir in anything, whether it's Pagan or not, is to be one of them. New year is a huge celebration by Kafir, regardless of whether it's our year or not, or if it's Pagan or not, it's not a Muslim celebration, so, if we are following the ways of The Prophet (Peace be upon him) then no matter what the reason, we shouldn't celebrate New Year.


So if a Muslim simply wishes to decline celebrating new year because "it's not their year" this would seem to me a Valid reason, as valid as the whole Pagan thing you go into, which they really wouldn't need to go into to explain their reasons, simply saying it's not our year in my eyes would be enough. The fact is, it's a Kafir celebration. Same with st george day over here in UK, or anything like it. If it's not Islamic personally, i'm polite on the day not interested and avoid it. How many Kafir congratulate you on Eid? If it's a lot then Allhumdullilah. However you need to come to the UK to see the flip side. It's not even known by them, i know because i was Kafir myself, and i never knew when it was or what it was.


Regardless, what ever the reason for not celebrating new year a muslim gives, it's all the same. It is not an Islamic celebration, so we shouldn't join in. I agree with this thought, I go by the Hadith. If the Hadith wasn't there, this would still be my way of thinking because i am so proud to be Muslim anyhow. The thought of having to comprimise my beliefs to seem polite joining in with non belivers celebrating some loopy thing or another....<b>not interested.</b>


Subhan-Allah, of course obviously Allah Knows best. May he forgive me for my errors.


Asalam Alaikum

[Rock]

First I want to thank sister muslimah for her reminding us to be among a group who remembers Allah when He is at most Forgotten,I am not against this type of celebration but I strongly recommended.


I have a ward to brother anyabwile but before that, I want to tell him that I am so happy for his strong faith.


First I did not discuss the non-muslims faith,I completely disagree with them and wish all of them to convert to islam,I am talking about sharing them the celebration of un-religious feast,and I mean specifically the answer of


KeePtHeFaitH question(Am I kafeer when I celebrate new year? Or when I say to non-muslim just happy new year?).


Do you know that "happy new year "is type of doha(asking Allah) and may God give them happiness by guiding them to the islam in this year.


Do you know that it is forbidden for muslims to forbid any thing the god permit,who dare to do that?


Actually I am not sure if I am correct or not,and I will try to ask who know.


God bless you all.

[laian]

Assalamu alaikum,


I just want to say briefly what I said in my earlier posts, perhaps it was not clear or maybe some missed it, so I will be brief.


The celebration and wishing of a happy new year stems from pagan traditions, so it is in fact a religious celebration. not of the christian religion, but of the pagan religion. christians have adopted it as something they celebrate, as with christmas and easter. So to join in the celebrations or wishing happy new year is to participate in a pagan holiday.


wasalam

[Anyabwile]

The celebration and wishing of a happy new year stems from pagan traditions, so it is in fact a religious celebration. not of the christian religion, but of the pagan religion. <b>christians have adopted it as something they celebrate</b>, as with christmas and easter. So to join in the celebrations or wishing happy new year is to participate in a pagan holiday.
wasalam 

Errr ok right but regardless...Christians have adopted it as something they celebrate. Which goes back to what i've been saying. So, if we join in with something Christians have adopted as somethng they celebrate. Christians as we know them being those who say God is three Gods, and he has come down to earth made love and had a son. Do you think going by the verses i quote above from the Noble Qur'an, that Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) will be pleased with us if we join in with something...in your own words...<i>Christians have adopted as somethng they celebrate?</i> It doesn't matter the Pagan history of it is irrelevant, Pagan or not, who really cares about that. I just fear Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) and reading how he feels about these people, i don't want to go near anything they are celebrating <b>personally.</b> The Kafir have adopted it, and celebrate it, so should we be joining in? Considering how Our Lord feels about it? Read the verses again and tell me Insha Allah. What i'm trying to say is, i don't see the relevance of informing me if it's Pagan or not, it doesnt matter, if it's something the Christians now celebrate, then we should not. This is what i was saying to Rock...New Year, Christmas, doesn't matter, the Kafir celebrate it. Would Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) be pleased with us if we joined in too?


Jazakallahu khayran