New Years

[glo]

It would be nice to live somewhere that this kind of stuff is frowned upon rather than accepted as the norm. I HATE HATE HATE new years eve! It's so difficult to sleep when your walls are rattling due to loud music from the two different neighbours you're sandwiched between! And there's not a single thing you can do about it (I know these neighbours, rough, nasty people that you can't really negotiate with). It's the one time of year people can get away with such loud noise, because the police pretty much told me over the phone that noise patrol are off and the police said they probably wouldn't be able to get anyone to check it out... which they didn't.

Having unfriendly inconsiderate neighbours is a real problem! You have my sympathies.

I am lucky that our street is fairly quiet. People come out in the street at midnight and might let off fireworks, but that's it. No loud parties or music this year.

Invest in some good ear plugs. I'm a light sleeper and they work a treat for me!

 

[Amoeba]

Well, alhamdulilah it's the one and only time of year it really happens. Any other time of year it's quite quiet except sometimes, and usually when it gets loud it gets dealt with.

When it's loud music it's better to have something to drown it out as the bass travels through solid objects, such as the floor, the walls, the bed and your jaws. The sound gets to your ears whether they're blocked with earplugs or not. So I have this muckle electric fan that gets really loud when it's turned on, but it's just white noise so it's easy to sleep through. Very rarely do I hear the music over it (like last night).

I have a friend who has to deal with much worse so I should count myself fortunate.

 

[Woodrow]

Not a sound in the entire town except for the roaring wind that is still continuing. But does seem to be slowing down. Nothing like a good blizzard to reduce the sounds of any celebrations. All of the main highways in North Dakota are still closed. I don't think there were many if any celebrations up here.

 

[A-Believer-25]

As-salam 'alakum wa rahmatullah wa barakatu

Speaking of new years, how do we respond to people who wish us a "happy new year"? Since new years has nothing to do with religion, would it be haram to respond to the new years greetings?

Just wondering.

 

[glo]

I noticed on facebook that many Muslims wished a Happy New Year, even to other Muslims.

I commented on it, and was sent this reply:

The reality is that the Muslim New Year begins with the month of Muharram, which was observed a few weeks back. The year begins with spiritual exertion and fasting, to commemorate the exodus and delivery from Pharaoh's tyranny of the Prophet Moses (peace on him) and his followers.
For Shia Muslims, the year begins with sadness with the commemoration of the death of the Prophet's grandson, Hussain the great Martyr and his family.

So Muslims are deeply engrossed in the events marking the Islamic New Year. However, we are by large pragmatic people, and the reality is that the global calendar used is the Gregorian calendar: for the majority of Muslims, to celebrate the secular New Year is an acceptable way of marking the passage of time, so to celebrate it and wish well for all is not a secular 'unbeliever' project at all, but another opportunity to recognise the hand of God in all that we do. This takes me back to your earlier comment - each day is a blessing and a celebration!

 

[muslimah_91]

No i actually didn't watch the new Year programs this year!.....
2011,,,,,,wooo. its almost 2012...J/K....

 

[Tyrion]

No i actually didn't watch the new Year programs this year!.....
2011,,,,,,wooo. its almost 2012...J/K....

I was going to watch the countdown on TV, but I kinda got caught up with my video games... Some fireworks let me know when the clock hit midnight though, so it worked out in the end.

By the way, Happy New Year everyone.

 

[R Khan]

I dazed off during the countdown, now I have to wait for next year.

 

[Woodrow]

The snow finally stopped. I get to celebrate New Year's Day with a snow shovel. Here are our car and truck.

 

[PouringRain]

It was very quiet this new year's around here. I only heard just a few quiet pops from fireworks, so quiet that I barely noticed. I heard no parties, nor loud music.

As for our new year's eve...... we went to the kid's school's basketball game, and then afterwards we went to church. Our church had a candlelight service, which was very nice. Afterwards we went out for dessert. Then we came home. It was very late already. My oldest wanted to stay up, so I agreed to stay up with her, and we played a game. Just after midnight, she went to sleep and I came on-line briefly.

 

[Innocent Soul]

I noticed on facebook that many Muslims wished a Happy New Year, even to other Muslims.

I have also seen many muslims were wishing happy new year to everyone as if everyone wish each other eid mubarak. Its not that difficult not to celebrate new year. I was thinking whether it is permissible to promise ourselves that Inshallah I will so and so this year :><: . Example: Inshallah this year I will obey my parents and always say the truth.

 

[Amoeba]

I just feel weird saying "happy new year" because whenever I was forced to say it there was no sincerity behind it. It was just "what everyone else does so you have to do it to not be rejected by your parents" kind of thing. Plus I'm not even sure what there is to celebrate about it. It seems like an ordinary day to me, unless there's something behind it I'm missing?

 

[ardianto]

I was thinking whether it is permissible to promise ourselves that Inshallah I will so and so this year :><: . Example: Inshallah this year I will obey my parents and always say the truth.

Nothing wrong with make a promise "Inshallah, started from 2011 I will obey my parents and always say the truth" if you make this promise on January 1, 2011. But it is wrong if you made this promise on January 1, 2010.

 

[glo]

I just feel weird saying "happy new year" because whenever I was forced to say it there was no sincerity behind it. It was just "what everyone else does so you have to do it to not be rejected by your parents" kind of thing.

How can people force you to wish others a Happy New Year?

Plus I'm not even sure what there is to celebrate about it. It seems like an ordinary day to me, unless there's something behind it I'm missing?

I agree, Amoeba.
New Year's Day is just like every other new day - a fresh start full of new hopes, purpose and intentions.

Perhaps we should go round wishing people a happy new day every day - a day full of God's blessings and an opportunity to serve him and worship him?

 

[S.Belle]

I put on a facial mask popped some popcorn and watched Blindside...i honestly forgot it was New Years..just seemed like another day.

 

[Hamza Asadullah]

I'm not even sure what there is to celebrate about it. It seems like an ordinary day to me, unless there's something behind it I'm missing?

Asalaamu Alaikum, Here is some information on the origin of New Years day:

First observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago, New Year's celebrations were held in the Spring; many of these ancient festivals lasted for several days and specifically focused on giving thanks for another planting season, tributes to the Gods, and renewing vows to the community.

In European culture, the New Year's celebrations evolved from the early Babylonian influences and the conflict between the Catholic Church and the deeply rooted pagan festivals of old. Over time, the merger of pagan practices with Christian holidays, such with Christmas and Easter took place because the early church continued to observe its holidays with pagan celebrations. Originally New Year's Day was celebrated as the Feast of Christ's Circumcision.

In the first centuries, the Romans continued to recognize New Year's festivals. The early Catholic Church condemned the festivities as paganistic. But as Christianity became more widespread, the early church observed its holidays alongside pagan celebrations. Ultimately mergers of pracitces took place. Christmas and Easter are two familiar holidays inwhich pagan rituals were incorporated into Christian holidays. New Year's Day was no different.

During the Medieval Times, the Church continued to oppose celebrating New Years, but over the past 400 years, the practice of celebrating New Years has become a standard in the Western World.
January 1 as the Start of the New Year

Source:http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2556875/pagan_roots_of_new_years_day_customs.html

So along with Christmas and Easter, New Years day is just another festival originated from Paganism and hijacked by Christianity.

 

[Hamza Asadullah]

How can people force you to wish others a Happy New Year?


I agree, Amoeba.
New Year's Day is just like every other new day - a fresh start full of new hopes, purpose and intentions.

Perhaps we should go round wishing people a happy new day every day - a day full of God's blessings and an opportunity to serve him and worship him?

We should all begin our day with our minds focused on optimising each and every second of the day in pleasing our creator. Each and every second each of us have been allocated is more precious than we can ever comprehend but we as humans are heedless and we waste our precious seconds like we have plenty of time on our hands but our time is short and can end at any second.

One of the great companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) Ibn Masood said: “I have never regretted anything as a day spent of my life without doing good deeds.”

Therefore we should also think like this and spend every second of our lives doing good and pleasing our lord and refraining from anything that angers or displeases him.

 

[glo]

We should all begin our day with our minds focused on optimising each and every second of the day in pleasing our creator. Each and every second each of us have been allocated is more precious than we can ever comprehend but we as humans are heedless and we waste our precious seconds like we have plenty of time on our hands but our time is short and can end at any second.

One of the great companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) Ibn Masood said: “I have never regretted anything as a day spent of my life without doing good deeds.”

Therefore we should also think like this and spend every second of our lives doing good and pleasing our lord and refraining from anything that angers or displeases him.

Amen to that, Hamza.

Wishing you all a wonderful New Day, full of opportunities to serve and praise God in thought, word and deed!

 

[Ramadhan]

and about those who are doing Qyiaam!! From where they come up with such practice? Did the prophet prayed like that? whats wrong with those people?

in Jakarta at least, many of my friends were doing qiyaamulail at masjids on the night of 31 december.
They did it not because the date has special meaning or as a matter of celebration. They see in the Indonesian society people were celebrating new years eve with a lot of definitely unislamic festivities and events, so they want to counter the practices by spending the night in masjid, in sujoods, in dhikr, reciting qur'an, praying.
As long as they do not think the new years eve hold any special meaning, i don't see how spending the night in masjid in remembrance of Allah is wrong.

As for me, because it was a long weekend, my family and I spent the weekend on a mountain, and me playing with my nephews and nieces

 

[ardianto]

in Jakarta at least, many of my friends were doing qiyaamulail at masjids on the night of 31 december.

Not only in Jakarta, but also in Bandung and many cities.

They did it not because the date has special meaning or as a matter of celebration. They see in the Indonesian society people were celebrating new years eve with a lot of definitely unislamic festivities and events, so they want to counter the practices by spending the night in masjid, in sujoods, in dhikr, reciting qur'an, praying.
As long as they do not think the new years eve hold any special meaning, i don't see how spending the night in masjid in remembrance of Allah is wrong.

Comment from Ustadz Ahmad Sarwat :

"The event committee need to clarify explicitly if that event is not a rite in Ibadah, not Sunnah from Rasulullah SAW, and not part of Islamic Sharia"

This event has becomes a yearly tradition and according to some Ulama, has been turn into Bid'ah.

As for me, because it was a long weekend, my family and I spent the weekend on a mountain, and me playing with my nephews and nieces

Puncak Pass, isn't it ?.