MUSLIM SERMON - DON'T CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR
عام 2000 م
Summary
1) Islamic texts warning against resembling the unbelievers.
2) The Hijri calendar is one of the most distinct features of our Muslim nation.
3) One of the distinct features of the Muslim
nation is it gets more reward for performing fewer deeds that those
that came before it.
4) The Jews and Christians are the means to our salvation from the Hellfire.
5) The disbelief of the Jews and Christians.
6) Distinct features of the Muslim nation.
7) Missionary work and propagating the
'interfaith movement' are some of the evil outcomes of celebrating Y2K.
8) Cases of suicide in Europe during the celebration of Y2K.
First Khutbah
Celebrating the New Year is prohibited in Islaam, yet many people are heedless of this, especially some store owners who reduce their prices during this time of the year, which constitutes participation in this celebration, which is of course forbidden. The Jews and Christians have false and fabricated beliefs regarding the Prophet ‘Eesaa, peace be upon him, but we Muslims have the correct belief regarding him as explained in the Qur’aan and the Sunnah of our Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Indeed we believe that Prophet ‘Eesaa peace be upon him, disowns all that is attributed to him by the Christians and everything that is done by them in his name.
What is our relationship as Muslims to the celebration of Y2K? These are celebrations which have nothing to do with Islaam or the Muslims, and the celebrations done in its name by some Muslim countries is prohibited.
Many texts from the Qur’aan and the Sunnah were revealed to establish the prohibition of such celebrations and prohibit the imitation of the disbelievers as well as to confirm the fact that they are misguided, they also affirm the fact that those who imitate the disbelievers resemble them in their misguidance. Allaah says that which means: ““Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know.” (Al-Jaathiyah: 18) and also: “…And if you should follow their inclinations after what has come to you of knowledge, you would not have against Allaah any ally or any protector.” (Ar-Ra’d: 37).
There is no doubt that imitating the disbelievers and attending their religious celebrations or the celebration of their religious festivals such as Y2K in the Muslim countries is nothing but an indication and confirmation of love of the disbelievers. Such acts contradict the Islamic creed of disavowal and hatred of the disbelievers and ruins ones faith.
Allaah forbade the believers from loving or caring for the disbelievers and stated that doing so leads a Muslim to become one of them, Allaah forbid. Allaah says that which means: “O you who have believed! Do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them...” (Al-Maa’idah: 51) and also: “You will not find a people who believe in Allaah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those – He has decreed within their hearts faith and supported them with spirit from him..."(Al-Mujaadilah: 22). Shaykh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "Resembling others leads a persons heart to love and be loyal towards them, just as internal love is reflected by external resemblance to ones beloved."
One of the most important fundamentals of our religion is to love and be loyal to Islaam and the Muslims, and to hate and renounce the disbelievers; and from the most basic implications of hating and renouncing the infidels is that one is distinct from them and proud of Islaam - regardless of how powerful and advanced the disbelievers are and despite how weak, disunited and underdeveloped the Muslims may be. It is not permitted, no matter what the case may be, to use the strength and power of the disbelievers and the weakness of the Muslims as an excuse to imitate or resemble the disbelievers, like some of the hypocrites and weak-hearted people do.
Once again, the question must asked, what is our relationship as Muslims with Y2K? We are a nation which is distinct from and superior to the Jews, Christians and other disbelieving misguided nations, and perhaps the ignorance of some Muslims regarding this matter is one of the reasons behind their falling into grave errors related to their creed and faith.
Our Muslim nation is the finest and most honourable in the sight of Allaah as He says that which means: “You [Muslims] are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind…” (Aal ‘Imraan: 110) and the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “You (Muslims) are the seventieth nation; you are the best of all of them and most honourable in the sight of Allaah.” (Ibn Maajah & Bayhaqi). Imaam Al-Mannawi may Allaah have mercy upon him said: "It is evident how honourable the Muslims are from their manners, deeds, Islamic monotheism and their high rank on the Day of Resurrection as well as other qualities. They are favoured over others by being intelligent, attentive, precise, and by being people who draw correct conclusions from evidences. They were granted what the nations before them did not acquire. Is it not clear that the children of Israel witnessed the parting of the (Red) sea, the splitting of a mountain and many other signs which should have lead to them being certain of the existence of Allaah, yet they worshipped a calf and said as Allaah says (which means): “…'We will never believe you [i.e., Moosa, peace be upon him] until we see Allaah outright.'” (Al-Baqaah: 55)."
Among the distinct characteristics of our nation is that it has the Hijri calendar; the Hijri calendar is the adopted calendar of the Muslims and according to which the Muslims deal, trade and generally organise their lives. It is one of the rituals of Islaam and anyone who refrains from using it and instead chooses to use the Georgian calendar or any other one has parted from the consensus of the Muslim nation and has effaced their Muslim identity. No act of worship for our Muslim nation, which was all ordained by our Lord, can be performed except according to the Hijri calendar. All acts of worship are organised according to the Hijri calendar while it is no secret that the New Year is part of the Georgian calendar.
Another distinct feature of our Muslim nation is that out of the mercy of Allaah, we receive more reward for performing fewer deeds than other nations. Allaah has granted us more reward for deeds performed in a shorter period of time and with less effort than those nations that came before us; Ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Your example when compared to the people of the two Books (i.e., the Jews & Christians) is like the example of a man who wished to hire workers and asked: 'Who will work for me from morning until noon for a Qiraat in return (some fee)?'; so the Jews worked for that that period; then (the man) asked: 'Who will work for me from noon until the afternoon for a Qiraat?' so the Christians worked for that period; then (the man) asked: 'Who will work for me from the afternoon until sunset for two Qiraat?' and that referred to you (i.e., the Muslims); so the Jews and Christians became angry and said: 'Why did we work more and receive less?' So the employer replied: 'Did I pay you less than what you deserved? And they replied 'No' and so the man said 'Then that (i.e., paying as much as I like) is a favour from me which I grant to whomever I please.'”
Imaam Ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "The point of this example and the difference in the three group’s wages is that reward from Allaah is unrelated to the amount of deeds that one performs, rather, it is related to other maters in the scale of Allaah. Very often a small amount of good deeds acquire a greater reward that large amounts of good deeds which require more effort; for example, good deeds performed during the night of Al-Qadr (decree) gain more reward than performing them continuously for a thousand months (outside Ramadan). The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam assumed Prophethood when he was forty years of age and died when he was sixty three, yet in twenty three years he spread more knowledge and performed more good deeds than all the other prophets before him including Nooh, peace be upon him, who spent nine hundred and fifty years calling people to worship Allaah alone without partners, and performed many other acts of obedience during this time."
The honour and status of Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam which was greater than that of all the other Prophets, established his nation as having greater honour and a higher status than all other nations; Allaah says that which means: “O you who have believed! Fear Allaah and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy and make for you a light by which you will walk and forgive you; and Allaah is Forgiving and Merciful. [This is] so that the People of the Scripture may know that they are not able [to obtain] anything from the bounty of Allaah and that [all] bounty is in the hand of Allaah; He gives it to whom He wills. And Allaah is the possessor of great bounty.” (Al-Hadeed: 28-29).
Another quality of our Muslim nation is that Allaah has made the disbelievers, whether Jews or Christians, our salvation from the Hellfire on the Day of Resurrection as narrated by Abu Moosaa, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “On the Day of Resurrection, Allaah will bring forth to every Muslim a Jew or a Christian and say: 'This is your salvation from the Hellfire (i.e., they will take your place in the Hellfire)” (Muslim).
‘Umar Ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez may Allaah have mercy upon him narrated that he heard Abu Bardah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, narrate on behalf of his father, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “It is never that a Muslim dies, except that Allaah will throw into the Hellfire a Jew or a Christian to take his place.” (Ahmad). Therefore, ‘Umar Ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez, may Allaah have mercy upon him, asked Abu Bardah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, to swear by Allaah three times that he actually heard this from his father who narrated it from the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. So Abu Bardah may Allaah have mercy upon him did so and therefore 'Umar Ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez, may Allaah have mercy upon him, was very pleased happy. This narration means, as Imaam An-Nawawi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "Allaah will forgive the sins of Muslims and throw the Jews and Christians into Hell due to their sins and disbelief because Allaah says that which means: “And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another…” (Faatir: 18). It is also possible that the narration means that there were sins initiated by these disbelievers which Allaah forgives the Muslims for committing and therefore only punishes the disbelievers for initiating them."
Is it not gross injustice that some Muslims imitate and resemble people whom Allaah made to be the fuel of hell on the Day of Resurrection? There is no doubt in our minds as Muslims that the Jews and Christians will be the fuel of Hell unless they accept Islaam, due to their dying as infidels. A question was directed to ‘The Permanent Committee for Fatwaa’ (in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) concerning whether or not a Muslim should call the Jews and Christians infidels. Their answer was: "It is permissible for a Muslim to call the Jews and Christians infidels because Allaah described them as such in the Qur’aan, and this a known fact for anyone who reads the Qur’aan, Allaah says that which means: “Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures.” (Al-Bayyinah: 6) and the people of the Book are the Jews and Christians."
Moreover, the Muslim nation is a nation which can never collectively agree upon an act of misguidance, they are witnesses over other nations; this is the nation which has seventy thousand from amongst them who will enter Paradise without reckoning or punishment; this is the first nation to pass over the Siraat (the bridge set over Hell) and the first nation to enter into Paradise; this is the nation for which the entire earth was made a place of prayer; the people of this nations will gather on the Day of Resurrection with marks from the effects of their ablution; this is the nation which greet one another with Salaam; this is the nation to whom Allaah granted Jumu’ah (Friday) and deprived the Jews and Christians from having its blessings; this is the nation that finds its spiritual satisfaction in performing Jihaad for the sake of Allaah; this is the nation for which war-booty was made permissible to share and consume; this is the nation which Allaah forgives for their evil thoughts as long as they do not mention them or act upon them, this is the nation whose followers are protected from the trials of the grave if they die of a Friday; this is the nation who are considered martyrs if they die as a result of plague;this is the nation that Allaah has pardoned what they commit forgetfully or mistakenly and from whom Allaah has reduced many of the burdens which were placed upon the nations before them.
The Muslims must remember all these and many other great blessings and be proud of them; they must therefore refrain from imitating the disbelievers and resembling them in any new matters or events which arise.
Second Khutbah
The Jews and Christians will exert intensive efforts during the occasion of Y2K to propagate their beliefs through the media which will ensure that this gets wide coverage, which will increases the possibility of the penetration of these false beliefs into the hearts of people, especially those with weak souls.
The interfaith call will arise yet again and be widely repeated while the propagators of interfaith will once again call for the combination of the three religions of Islaam, Judaism and Christianity as well as all those things which happen as a consequence of this call, such as building structures which include a mosque, church and synagogue and having such buildings with universities, airports and other public places; they will also call for the printing of a single book which contains the Qur’aan, the Old Testament and the New Testament.
There were many similar efforts regarding the issue of interfaith in the past; seminars and conventions were held for that purpose and organisations to propagate this evil were established all over the world, and with the upcoming occasion of Y2K, the evil call for interfaith will reoccur; this phenomenon which aims to mix the truth with falsehood, destroy Islaam and make the Muslims apostate from their religion, as Allaah says that which means: “…And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able…” (Al-Baqarah: 217) and also: “They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike…” (An-Nisaa’: 89).
Among the wicked consequences of this evil movement is that it aims to cancel out all differences between Islaam and infidelity, good and evil and truth and falsehood; it also aims to remove the Islamic doctrine of disavowal between the Muslims and infidels and renders Jihaad to make the word of Allaah supreme unnecessary, while Allaah says that which means: “Fight those who do not believe in Allaah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allaah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth [i.e., Islaam] from those who were given the Scripture – [fight] until they give the jizyah [i.e., Islamic tax] while they are humbled.” (At-Tawbah: 29) and also, “…And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allaah is with the righteous [who fear Him].” (At-Tawbah: 36).
If the call to interfaith is done by a Muslim then it will be a clear act of apostasy because interfaith clearly contradicts the basic tenets of Islaam, and if one looks into the texts from the Qur’aan, Sunnah and the consensus of the Muslim scholars it becomes evident that interfaith is a strictly forbidden ideology to adopt.
Beloved brothers! I read something very strange regarding Y2K which is in fact not very uncommon for the disbelievers; a news article published in the Al-Hayat newspaper stated that in Sweden they expect the number of cases of suicide to increase at the end of this year; and it is well known that Sweden is already a country famous for its high rate of suicide; surveys state that four people, mostly men, commit suicide daily in that country, whose population is only nine million people.
Another
news article stated that the health authorities in Sweden are already
preparing to deal with the expected increase in the number of suicide
cases at the end of the year, after the results of a survey indicated
that the cases are expected to rise tenfold; the results state that the
number of suicides are expected to be as much as fifty every day,
starting from the very first day of Y2K.
Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet
sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever jumps from a mountain and
thereby kills himself will be continuously thrown from a mountain in
Hell and will remain there eternally; whoever who kills himself by
consuming poison will have his poison in his hand in Hell and be
consuming it eternally; whoever who kills himself with a metal stick
will have his metal stick in his hand and will be piercing his stomach
with it eternally in the Hellfire” (Bukhaari).