Bareilly | December 29 (Agency)

As the countdown to the New Year 2026 begins, a fresh religious debate has emerged over celebrations associated with the English New Year. Maulana Shahabuddin Rizvi, President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, has issued a fatwa declaring New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31 as against Islamic Shariat, urging Muslims to refrain from participating in such events.


In a strongly worded statement, Maulana Rizvi said that celebrating the English New Year by attending parties, bursting crackers, indulging in extravagance or exchanging greetings is “haram” (forbidden) in Islam. He asserted that such practices are part of non-Islamic traditions and participation in them amounts to religious wrongdoing.


The cleric emphasised that Islam follows its own religious calendar, which begins with the month of Muharram. Drawing a parallel with other faiths, he said just as the Hindu New Year begins in the month of Chaitra, every religion has its own cultural and spiritual framework that should be respected.


“Muslims should not imitate or adopt celebrations linked to other religious or cultural traditions,” Maulana Rizvi said, adding that doing so creates confusion and weakens religious values.


Issuing a special appeal to Muslim youth, he urged them to stay away from New Year’s Eve parties, public celebrations and late-night gatherings. According to him, such events promote moral decline, unnecessary display and wasteful spending, which go against Islam’s core teachings of simplicity, restraint and discipline.


Maulana Rizvi also criticised the culture of loud celebrations, showmanship and extravagance associated with New Year festivities, calling it incompatible with Islamic ethics. He appealed to the community to live in accordance with their faith and religious principles rather than being influenced by modern trends.


The fatwa has once again brought the spotlight on the ongoing tension between religious traditions and contemporary lifestyles, triggering discussions across social and religious platforms ahead of the New Year