MUHARRAM, THE ISLAMIC NEW YEAR
Prepared by Shaykh Farouk Amod حفظه الله تعالى

Many individuals and organizations are promoting the idea of making New Year's resolutions in the month of Muharram 1446. We would like to emphasize that this is not from the Deen of Allah to encourage such resolutions. It is not in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad () nor the practices of his companions. This is a practice of the disbelievers, inviting others to their new year celebrations, resolutions, and mimicking their customs and habits. The Prophet () warned that all innovations lead to misguidance and all misguidance leads to the Hellfire, as narrated by our Mother Ayesha )رضي الله عنها( and reported by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim. It is incumbent upon the Ummah to follow the guidance of the Prophet () in all matters of Deen. The best guidance is that of the Prophet Muhammad (), while innovations are considered the most evil of matters. In the month of Muharram, one may observe fasting on Ashura, either on the 9th and 10th or the 10th and 11th of Muharram. This is what the Ummah should focus on, reviving the Sunnah of the Messenger () instead of engaging in innovations and practices that have no basis in our Deen. Resolutions, whether related to worldly or religious matters, should not be made in the manner of the disbelievers at the start of a new year. Muslims should continuously reflect upon themselves, making daily and regular changes to journey safely towards ALLAH. This journey begins with implementing the correct creed of Islam, practicing the religion as taught by the Prophet and practiced by his companions. Any other way of practicing Islam is considered misguidance. May Allah protect us from misguidance and from being led astray by those who have little knowledge of the Sunnah of the Prophet ().