Questions:

As Salamu Aleikum Imam,

Last year I went to a Norooz party and it was a very secular event to say the least. There was loud music, crazy dancing, and men and women were dressed to impress, to say the least. In fact, some of the girls dressed very revealing, and at one point a girl bent over and all I saw was skin.

My question is such parties permissible? I actually had a very good time and I want to go party again!

Yours truly,

Float like a butterfly sting like a bee

Time: Sunday March 21, 2010 at 8:51 am

Q: Can one celebrate nawrooz just cuz family Is doing it. It is just a get together to get men and women together for a good evening? Would this still be unislamic?

Time: Sunday March 21, 2010 at 6:32 am

Q: Would eating norooz food be haram? Why can a Muslim celebrate norooz but not New Years of American calendar? I am not living in Afghanistan and Iran. Do I make sense? (text)

Q: as salaamu alaikum

I have heard that Nowruz (which is Persian New Year) is bidah to celebrate according to some scholars? Could explain to us why this celebration is an act of bidah, if Persians are following a different calender than Hijri?

Time: Sunday March 21, 2010 at 11:13 pm

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Naturally there seems to be concern relating to this matter based on the inquiries sent to us during a very short span.

Sayidinah Umar bin Al-Khattab reports that once a Jew said to me, ‘O leader of the believers. There is a verse in your Book which is read by all of you and had it been revealed to us, we would have taken that day as a day of celebration.’  Sayidinah Umar inquired, ‘which is that verse?’ The Jew replied, ‘This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.’ (5:3) Sayidinah Umar replied, ‘Undoubtedly we know when and where this verse was revealed to the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). It was Friday and the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) was standing at Arafa. (Bukari)

Allah has given Muslims a perfect religion. Islam abrogates all previous religions and elements that conflict with its teachings.  It is the duty of a Muslim to attain perfection in all matters. Muslims must act in a manner that does not contradict their core religious values. Following traditions that contradict one’s Islamic values remains a bad example. Following a system other than Islam implies that Islam is incomplete and non-religious methods must be incorporated to attain satisfaction.

To love family even though they may not be Muslim is natural. Likewise, to love one’s country and culture is appropriate in Islam. To incorporate holidays or events that lack a religious basis is demeaning of one’s Islam and iman. Community/social events that are religiously sanctioned would be appropriate, ie family meetings and the like. However to incorporate a (sunnah) family-like meeting with that of the ‘nawrooz’ under the banner of Islam is an insult to Islam — regardless of how nice sounding the reasoning maybe. Families not regularly getting together should avoid doing so during this given time of the year so as to avoid creating a false impression that it may be a Nawrooz function. The weeks and days in the year for such events are plenty. This would be more spiritually rewarding and less of a mockery upon self and religion.

To be part of such a tradition or to witness such an event (knowingly) would be as if one has given support to it. This is just wrong in Islam. Food attained from such events would not allow for a positive/pious outcome related towards superior worship. For the hadith states: eat the food of the pious. Eating the food of party-makers under the tradition of disbelief is not an indication of piety by any standards!

The dress code norms you have made mention of, etc. is degrading to the dignity of every human. For Muslims to be part of such an environment is anti-Islamic in nature.

Because some may view it appropriate to celebrate the ‘Norooz’, and thus viewed it equally appropriate to celebrate the western New Year, Chinese New Year etc. is  false thinking. To youth, such celebrations are a poor example of maintaining a good religious identity and sends mixed messages that state: it is perfectly ok for culturally bound ‘religious’ adults to follow the holidays of other nationalities and countries that are not genuinely established through sunnah. Thereafter, for such adults to maintain reluctance in following celebrations of western nations is hypocritical at best. To echo a child’s sentiment: ‘If it is perfectly fine for my father and mother to follow the Nowrooz, then why is it wrong, oh Mom and Dad, for me to celebrate the Christmas and News Years with my friends?’

Contradictory messages facilitate in breaking down  personal values and demand retribution from the Creator. Parents owe religious standards and responsibility in the traditions they chose to impart towards their children, so as to minimize the long term shedding of painful tears. We should shun such practices with class and dignity. As believers, we should instill ourselves with the best of values and be the best of examples in all matters.

Allah Certainly Knows Best