Answering to a question by a local Faheem, Darul Uloom Deoband's fatwa factory Darul Iftaa has declared that New Year celebration by Muslims is against Islamic laws.
After the Hindu Jagran Manch issued a warning to Hindus not to celebrate Christmas, Darul Uloom Deoband has issued a fatwa directing Muslims to stay away from New Year celebrations.
Answering to a question by a local Faheem, Darul Uloom Deoband's fatwa factory Darul Iftaa has declared that New Year celebration by Muslims is against Islamic laws.
"Christian community celebrate New Year on January 1 while the Muslim New Year calendar begins from the first day of Muharram. As such Muslims never celebrate their New Year. They don't exchange even greetings since its beginning of month of mourning. Thus celebrating English New Year or anyone's new year is against Islamic tenets, " stated Maulana Kashmi.
"Let them issues fatwas, we will celebrate New Year with more enthusiasm than last year," said Arif Mohammed, a businessman.
In a fatwa issued against celebrations, Maulana Mufti Tariq Kashmi stated that celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and cutting cakes were also against Islam.
Maulana Kashmi directed Muslims in the country to refrain from extending New Year greetings and any celebrations since it was banned in Islam. He also cautioned members of the minority community not to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries by cutting cakes as that too are prohibited in Islam.
Significantly, Faheem had also asked a Hindu priest in Deoband should Hindus celebrate New Year on January 1? Answering his query, Pt Satyendra Das of Deoband said that Hindu New Year begins on first day of Chaitra Navratri. "Hindus should celebrate New Year on first day of Navaratri instead of Christians' New Year on January 1.
A few days back, the Hindu Jagran Manch (HJM) had issued a warning letter to all schools in Aligarh not to celebrate Christmas on December 31.
Christian community is also up in arms against such fatwas by Hindu and Muslim organizations against their festivals. They feel that an attempt is being by religious heads of both communities to divide the country on religious lines.
"India is a secular country and we celebrate all festivals with the same zeal and fervor. Christmas and New Year are celebrated and welcomed by people of all communities all over the world. Who are they to issue orders not to celebrate Christmas and New Year?" rued E.G. David, a retired Teacher.
Earlier, Darul Ulooom Deband had issued a fatwa slapping putting a ban on women cutting hairs and eyebrow trimming. It had also directed Muslim women not to do any make-up etc and to stay away from beauty parlours.
The fatwa factory of Deoband had also banned use of smartphones and Muslim women taking selfies and uplodaing their pictures on social media. "Islam does not allow Muslim women showing their faces to unknown males other than her husband," it had stated.
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