New Year celebrations have been termed as ‘anti-Islamic’ by clerics.
Credit: DH File Photo
Lucknow: A prominent Muslim cleric on Monday issued a ‘fatwa’ (religious decree) against New Year celebrations terming them as ‘anti-Islamic’ and against the ‘shariat’ (Islamic laws) and asked the Muslims not to participate in the celebrations.
All India Muslim Jamat national president Maulana Shahbuddin Razvi released a video on Monday asking the Muslims to neither organise any function celebrating new year nor attend any such function.
‘’The New Year celebrations are illegal in the light of the shariat,’’ the cleric said in response to a query by community members, who sought to know if such celebrations were in accordance with the Islamic laws.
He said that according to the Islamic calendar, the New Year begins from the month of Muharram while the Hindu new year starts from the month of Chaitra,’’ Razvi added.
He said that celebrating the New Year on December 31st or January 1st was part of the Western culture, and not Indian.
The cleric warned the Muslims against celebrating the New Year and said that the Muslim clergy would strictly deal with those who take part in such celebrations.
Razvi also appealed to the Islamic scholars to spread this message among the people of the community.
Muslim clerics often issue ‘fatwas’ on matters relating to the ‘shariat’. These ‘fatwas’, though not legally binding but are followed by a large section of the people, are issued in response to questions.