It was only when I came across one post on the internet that I came to know yesterday was the beginning of new Islamic year.
It may be due to living in a multicultural and diversed society, but is it just me or we really hear much more about all the other starting years like
(a) Christian calendar year (1st jan ofcourse)
(b) Jewish new year
(c) Chinese new year
etc. etc.
But why dont we post or get to celebrate the begining of Islamic new year? Ofcourse its like Eid, you dont have to be religious to celebrate it in whatever the way you like.
How is it taken in parts like middle east?
Was there any tradition in the past when it could be celebrated that might have died down now?
Our imam gave a talk about this before yesterday’s khutba. He said more or less that instead of being an occasion to celebrate, we should use it more as an occasion to reflect and take stock of how we’ve progressed in the past year in terms of preparing for our aakhira.
Bhai jan, I understand what you are saying so lets remove the word “celebration” if it may cause an offense to anyone, though logically thinking it shouldnt cuz we are talking about two entirely different things. But how would we reflect if are forcing ourselves not to even mark it as a new year. Like nobody in the world knows its the begining of our new year.
After first moharram yes we can start the traditional mourning of the events that may continue for next 9 days or longer. I think its very simple but its being made very complex and strict.