Entering the New Year

All praise is due to Allâh, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allâh be upon the Prophet, his family and companions.

Fellow Muslims! There are indeed blessings in the movement of days and nights. Allâh says,

The Messenger of Allâh said,

Fellow Muslims! We have bidden farewell to another year of our lives in which we have done many deeds that will be shown to us on the Day or Resurrection. Many days have passed and many loved ones have died. Many sins we have committed day and night. The Prophet said,

Brethren in faith! In life, pains turn to happiness and prosperity turns to misery. Days and nights move but it is only the wise who derives lessons from that. Allâh says,

The old year has now gone with the deeds of men and these deeds will be shown to them on the Day of Resurrection. Allâh says,

Dear brother! Take an investigating look at your past days: what have you provided for your Hereafter in them? Examine yourself stringently for this. Maymûn bin Mihrân said, “The man cannot become pious until he holds himself accountable as he would his business partner.” The rightly guided person is therefore the one who examines and blames himself for his shortcomings and then mends his ways. Lack of self-examination is not a good thing for a Muslim. For the disbelievers caused perdition to themselves because they never thought that there was someone watching them. Allâh says,

Seeing one’s faults prevents one from going astray. And knowing that one’s end is the grave makes one become humble to Allâh and prevents ostentation. Abû Dardâ said:

Dear brother! When you sit with people, admonish yourself. People watch your outward deeds but Allâh watches your inner deeds. Whoever reforms his inward traits through self-examination and sincerity, Allâh will adorn his outward deeds with success.

Constant remembrance of Allâh’s right upon man and His great blessings makes man bows his head for Allâh as it makes him recognise his weaknesses. It also let him know that there is no salvation except by obeying Allâh and that He should be obeyed and thanked. A scholar said,

Mâlik bin Dînâr said,

The most harmful thing that a legally responsible Muslim can do to himself is to abandon self-examination and to indulge in lusts until he perishes. This is actually the situation with those who are deceived by the beauties of this world and depend on Allâh’s forgiveness without making any repentance or abandoning the sins. Allâh says,

Al-Hasan Al-Basrî said,

Allâh says,

Whoever calls himself to account in this world will have easier reckoning on the Day of Resurrection and whoever does not call himself to account in this world will have a difficult reckoning in the Hereafter. Beware of falling into sins, for keeping away from sins is easier than seeking for forgiveness. Days of this world are few and you do not know when you will die. Ask yourself about what you have done in the previous year and ask yourself about what you have provided for the coming year. ‘Umar said: “Call yourselves to reckoning before you are called to reckoning.”

Make a resolution right from the beginning of this year that you will observe your five obligatory prayers in the mosques in congregation. Make a pledge to yourself that you will seek for useful knowledge and spread it. Endeavor to guard your tongue against lie, gossip and immoral talk. Fear Allâh in all that you eat and drink. Abstain from all forbidden things. Be kind to your parents and to your kith and kin. Do well to all people and free your heart from jealousy and hatred. Beware of bad thing about others. Promote good and forbid evil. Carry out your obligations towards your spouses and children in the best possible way and guard your eyes from looking at forbidden things. How beautiful it will be if this New Year is made a positive turning point in the lives of world communities where women properly cover themselves according to the injunctions of Allâh and in following the Sunnah of His Messenger.

Dear brother! Each day in which the sun sets reminds you that your lifespan is diminishing. The wise is the one who learns from his yesterday, struggles for his present day and provides for his morrow. Provide for your tomorrow. The best provision is piety. Allâh says,

Fellow Muslims! The first month in Islâmic year is Muharram. It is one of the greatest months. It has been a sacred month since time immemorial and it is one of the months that Allâh sanctified. It was in this month that Allâh gave Prophet Mûsâ victory over Pharaoh. Among its merits is that fasting is recommended in many of its days. The Messenger of Allâh said,

The best day in this month is the day of Âshûrâ (the tenth day). Ibn ‘Abbâs said,

The Messenger of Allâh was also asked of fasting on Âshûrâ day and he replied:

The Prophet also determined to fast a day before that day in disagreement with the people of the Scripture. He said in this regard:

It is therefore recommended for the Muslims to fast the tenth day of Muharram to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet and in order to get the reward. It is also recommended that they should fast the ninth day so as to disagree with the Jews and in order to uphold the Sunnah. Doing this is an act of showing gratitude to Allâh, and by doing it we are commencing our new year with good deeds.

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