The earlier Salaf –may Allah have mercy on them– never celebrate holidays except the holidays that have been determined by the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wasallam.
However, some people have made new holidays that have absolutely no shari'ah from Allah ta'aala. They have prayed with the Jews and Christians, because their Christians celebrate the Christian New Year, and some Muslims also follow their culture and celebrate the Islamic New Year. To the extent that some countries make this day an official holiday just to celebrate the Hijri New Year. 1
Celebrations like this are not in our Shari'ah, and even the scholars have denied this practice.
Definition of "Al-'Ied" (Holy Day) in Language and Terms
Al-Jauhari Rahimahullah said: “(العِيْدُ) the origin of the word is from (عَادَ يَعُوْدُ) which means to return. Named the feasts ('Idul Fitri) and ('Idul Adha) because the two holidays are repeated every year."2
As for the meaning of "Al-'Ied" (holiday) in terms, it is a certain time that is held in it a celebration (whether it's annual, monthly, weekly, and the like), or certain places where often visited by people to hold celebrations.3
And at these times, there are those which are indeed prescribed by Allah, such as the holidays of 'Eid al-Fitr and 'Eid al-Adha, and there are those for which there is no argument in the Shari'at.
The Attitude of Ulama Towards Celebration of Holidays That Are Not Shari'ah
Syaikhul Islam Ibnu Taimiyah Rahimahullah explained that routine celebrations that are held weekly, monthly, or yearly which are not prescribed in Islam are actually considered bid'ah.4
And he also said that those who celebrate the birthday of the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wasallam, either they do it because they want to emulate the Christians who celebrate the birthday of Prophet Isa 'alaihissalam, or they do it because they love the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wasallam, Allah will not reward them for their bid'ah practices.
Because this was never done by the salaf, even though there were motivating factors in them (namely love for the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wasallam) and there was no barrier for them to celebrate it. If it is really something good, then the salaf radhiyallahu'anhum has more right to do that, because their love for the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wasallam is greater than our love.5
The First Time To Celebrate Hijriyah New Year
Al-Maqrizi explained that the first to celebrate the new Hijriyah year was Daulah Fatimiyyah (one of the Shia sovereigns spreading the Shi'i isma'iliyyah sect).
At the beginning of each new year, their Caliph came out in special attire with a crown and a sword at his waist, surrounded by 3000 horsemen. On that day, the people received the dirhams given by the Khalifah, they took them in order to seek blessings from the Khalifah.6
Likewise, what was explained by Hasan As-Sandubi that the first to celebrate the Hijri New Year was Al-Fatimiyyun, they were also the ones who held the bid'ah birthday of the Prophet, and other celebrations that were previously unknown in Islamic law.
Our Attitude Towards the Celebration of the Hijri New Year
We know that the first person to hold this celebration was one of the enemies of the Islamic community, who sacredly made certain places to be used as places of pilgrimage, made a pact with the enemies of Islam in the crusade to bring down the Muslims.
From this it is clear that celebrating such celebrations is not permissible, moreover this was never done by the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wasallam, and his companions never did it either. And if it were good, then they would be the first to do it.
On the other hand, celebrating the Hijriyah new year is a form of tasyabbuh with the disbelievers who celebrate their Christian new year. And praying with unbelievers is forbidden.
Sayings of Ulama About the Law of Celebrating the Hijriyah New Year
Syaikhul Islam Ibnu Taimiyah Rahimahullah said: “The Prophet shallallahu'alaihi wasallam had sermons, agreements, and important events on certain days, such as his migration events, his entry into the city of Medina.
And these days have never been made into holidays, the Christians did the same as the events of the Prophet Isa 'alaihissalam as holidays for them, as well as the Jews. And actually the holiday is part of the Shari'ah, so what Allah Shari'ah prescribes is what is followed. And if not, then it is not permissible to make bid'ah cases in this religion. 7
Even though there were many important events that occurred during the time of the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wasallam such as the migration, the liberation of the city of Mecca and others, but none of them were made by the Shari'a as a holiday.
Therefore, making birthdays as holidays is a new matter in Islam which is evil and hated, Allah has never prescribed it, and it is not part of Allah's religion at all.
If celebrating it is good, then the salaf will definitely do it soon because they are the people who are most passionate about doing good. 8
Likewise, what was said by Lajnah Daimah, Al-Imam Abdul Aziz bin Baz Rahimahullah and Shaykh Al-Utsaimin Rahimahumullah, they all said that holidays other than 3 holidays in Islam (Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Friday) are legal is bid'ah, never known by the salaf.
In fact, there are several holidays which are taken from the customs of the disbelievers, so in addition to these practices being bid'ah, this is a form of resembling the enemies of Allah subhanahuwata'ala. 9
May Allah give Hidayah to all of us. Amen.
Notes
- See (الأعياد وأثرها على المسلمين:٣٩٣), (أعياد الشرق واحتفالاته:١٦١), and (المناسبات الموسمية:٢٤)
- Look (الصحاح) in the word (عود)
- See (اقتضاء الصراط المستقيم:١/٤٤٢) and (إغاثة اللّهفان:١/١٩٠)
- See (اقتضاء الصراط المستقيم:٢/٦٤٣)
- See (اقتضاء الصراط المستقيم:٢/٢١٩)
- See (صبح الأعشى في صناعة الإنشا للقلقشندي:٥/٥٠٥)
- See (اقتضاء الصراط المستقيم:٢/٦١٩)
- See (فتاوى الشيخ محمّد بن إبراهيم:٣/٤٩-٥١)
- See (اللّجنة الدائمة: ٨/٣١٧), (مجموع فتاوى ومقالات ابن باز:٤/٢٨٠), and (فتاوى ابن عثيمين:١/١٣١)
Sunnah.
