New Year According to Islamic View: from Mubah (Permitted) to Haram Law
YOGYAKARTA - There are so many celebratory activities held to enliven the new year's eve. However, how is the law of celebrating the new year according to the view of Islam?
Quoted from the journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the Faculty of Sharia of the State Islamic University (UIN) Mataram entitled "Comparative Study of the History and Rules of the Gregorian Calendar: Julian and Gregorian", it is explained that the Gregorian calendar is currently generally used by mankind.
The Gregorian calendar is the calendar most widely used by Westerners, namely the calendar system established by Pope Gregory XIII. This calendar was introduced to the world between October 4 and 15, 1582.
This calendar is a modification of the Julian Calendar which was first proposed by Aloysius Lilius from Naples-Italy and approved by Pope Gregory XIII. The calendar year calendar system is based on the Gregorian year. The calculation starts from the birth of Isa al-Masih.
Therefore, this calendar is also called the Gregorian calendar which refers to Isa al-Masih. For the Indonesian people, this term is more popular than other terms.
Regarding the law of celebrating this new year, there is a difference among scholars. Some scholars prohibit it, while others consider it permissible.
One of the opinions of scholars who allow the celebration of the new year of the Gregorian calendar is the Grand Master of Al-Azhar Asy-Syarif and the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Sheikh Athiyyah Shaqr (died 2006 AD). According to them, the celebration of the new year of the Gregorian calendar is only valid as long as it does not contain or lead to elements of sin.
1. The following is the explanation of the compilation of fatwas of Al-Azhar scholars:
English:
And after that, this is the way of the enjoyment of the life of the people who were my people, then they became my religion, so what is the ruling of the Muslims in it? There is no doubt that the enjoyment of the life of the people of the life of eating and drinking and descending is a permissible matter as long as it is in the permissible frame, which does not commit a sin and does not violate the prohibition and does not lead to a corrupt mind.
"The Russian Emperor, Alexander III once sent a goldsmith 'Karl Fabraj' to make a steel hat for his wife in 1884 AD. The process took 6 months. The hat was inlaid with agate and gems. Its white color is from silver and its yellow color is from gold. Every year he gave his wife a similar hat until her husband was overthrown by the communist group's uprising in 1917 AD. Initially, this event was a celebration of 'Sham Ennesim' (Egyptian national festival that marks the beginning of spring) which is a local Egyptian tradition then turned into a religious tradition. Then how is the law to commemorate and celebrate it for a Muslim?
English:
Having fun with the beauty of life, namely eating, drinking, and cleaning oneself is something that is allowed as long as it does not violate the sharia, does not contain elements of debauchery, does not damage honor, and does not depart from a corrupted akidah." [Wizarah Al-Auqof Al-Mishriyyah, Fatawa Al-Azhar, juz X, halaman 311).
In line with this opinion, the leading hadith expert from Haramain, Syekh Sayyid Muhammad bin Alawi Al-Maliki (died 2004 AD) also allowed this celebration of the New Year. He argued that the new year is part of a tradition that has nothing to do with religion.
The explanation he poured into his book as quoted below:
English:
Our habits are to gather for the revival of a group of historicalaccounts such as the birth of the Prophet and the remembrance of theIsra' and Mi'raj, and the night of the middle of Sha'ban, and themigration of the Prophet and the remembrance of the descent of theQur'an, and the remembrance of the Battle of Badr, and in our opinion thatthis matter is customary, there is no connection to it in religion, so it isnot described as being permissible or Sunnah, just as it is not opposed tothe origin of the principles of religion, because the error is in theacceptance of something that is not permissible.
"It has become a tradition for us to gather to revive various historical momentum, such as the Prophet's birthday, the commemoration of the Isra Mi'raj, the night of Nishfu Sya'ban, the new Hijriyah year, the revelation of the Qur'an and the commemoration of the Battle of Badar. According to my opinion, these commemorations are part of a tradition, which has no correlation with religion, so it cannot be categorized as something that is ordained or sunnah. However, it is also not contrary to the basics of religion, because what is worrying is the emergence of a belief in the ordination of something that is not ordained." [Sayyid Muhammad bin Alawi Al-Maliki, Mafahim Yajibu an Tushahihah, [Surabaya: As-Shafwah Al-Malikiyyah], pages 337-338.
English:
"One of the scholars who prohibited the celebration of the new year of the Gregorian calendar is Al Imam Ibnu Tammiyah. The following is his statement:
"As for congratulating the religious symbols of the infidels that are specific to them, then the ruling is haram."
Hadits yang diriwiyatkan oleh Al Baihaqi.
Umar bin Khattab ra said,
"Do not visit the polytheists in their churches on their great days, for indeed the wrath of Allah will descend upon them." (HR. Al Baihaqi, no: 18640)
In both statements, it was clearly stated that saying congratulations or participating in celebrating the big days of the polytheists (Barun Year, Christmas, Valentine's Day, etc.) is prohibited by Muslims. New year's moments or other moments are haram because they mix between the true and the false, although they have more harm than the positive side.
VOI.id - According to the Islamic view, it is forbidden to celebrate New Year's Day, Christmas, Valentine's Day, etc.: This is a review of the new year according to the Islamic view. Hopefully useful. Visit VOI.id for other interesting information.