The celebration of New Year’s festivities always sparks discussions within the Muslim community. Is it allowed or not to celebrate it? In this text, let’s explore together whether it is Haram to celebrate the New Year.

Is it permitted to celebrate the New Year?

Regarding the New Year’s celebration, opinions differ between supporters and opponents. Some people mention a cultural dimension, far from the religious aspect. Whether it is Haram or Halal depends on how it is celebrated. On the other hand, drinking alcohol and going to nightclubs remain banned by Islam. However, this does not prevent visiting family during the holiday.

Indeed, the New Year in the Gregorian calendar is a commercial celebration. One can see sales, discounts, etc., which makes this celebration prominent. Some aspects intrigue Muslims because the enthusiasm is not the same during the end of the Hijri year.

What does the religion say?

In Islam, only Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha are the celebrations allowed and considered as “festivals.” Thus, no other occasion, including the New Year of the Hijri calendar, should be celebrated by Muslims. The Hadith reported by Anas states: “When the Prophet SWS arrived in Medina, he found that people used to have fun during two days they had chosen in the year. He then told them: Allah has replaced these two days of celebration with two better ones: namely the day of Al-Adha and the day of Al-Fitr.”

Therefore, other celebrations, notably Christmas and the Gregorian New Year, are considered Haram in Islam. This is supported by Hadith Al-Bukhari: “There will come a time when many of my community will follow the habits of the Jews and Christians step by step to the extent that if they enter the hole of a lizard, they will follow them.”

In summary, the celebration of festivities such as the New Year in the Gregorian calendar is Haram for Muslims.