We have seen some Muslims saying it is not permissible to celebrate new year yet they use the Gregorian Calendar in their daily activities. Isn’t that hypocrisy?
The Gregorian Calendar as we all know is made universal not that it is universal by nature. We Muslims have the Islamic calendar but in the presence of many religions, we have no option than to transact with them, be in school, book appointments with them etc except with the Gregorian Calendar.
However, it should be noted that we do not use the Calendar to reach a certain spiritual level, get closer to Allah or believing that by using it, we are doing good deeds. In a nutshell, we do not attach it with worship.
Studying the Gregorian Calendar and circumstances surrounding with, if we were to neglect the fact that it is associated with Janus, a two-faced pagan god, we cannot neglect the fact that it was “IMPOSED” on the world. If the banks, schools, hospitals, etc., can accept using the Islamic Calendar exclusively for Muslims, by Allah, we will not hesitate to dump the Gregorian Calendar.
The Gregorian Calendar was imposed on us and also a necessity, celebrating new year wasn’t imposed on anyone and anyone who does it lacks proper Islamic knowledge or driven by self interest. Marking January 1st is unislamic as it is associated with pagan practices.
I have also heard people say, “But our intention is to be grateful to Allah, we don’t worship Janus, we are just being thankful”
To this, I say that everyday matters and Allah is worthy of being praised daily. It is an act of ignorance setting aside a day because we feel that it is special yet on that day, the earth does not shake, the sun doesn’t move closer to the earth, water remains the same and nothing changes.
It may be that indeed one’s intention is not to celebrate it to please a certain deity but it is still tantamount to elevating pagan practices thereby giving it much strength. It is the strength it gains that makes some people believe that the celebration is too global to be a sin.
If Muslims exert the efforts they put in Unislamic practices into Islam, we will not be where we find ourselves today.