IS CELEBRATING NEW ISLAMIC YEAR IS A RIGHT THING TO DO ?

It is shameful and embarrassing that in 2017 Muslims around the world continue to celebrate and 

congratulate one another upon the arrival of the Islamic New Year, when in fact the entire Muslim community should be mourning the martyrdom of the grandson of the Holy Prophet (saw), Imam Hussain bin Ali (as), who was butchered on the plains of Karbala along with his family and companions.

We are constantly told that this happened 1400 years ago and thus should not be given such importance or attention. However, the Qur'an sets a precedent when it highlights to us that even to the nascent Muslim community, reflecting on the events of Jesus, Moses, Abraham and Noah was fundamental to their growth and development despite occurring thousands of years earlier.

The 10 nights of Muharram should be widely recognised as a period of mourning for each and every lover of the Holy Prophet (saw) as he himself cried over the atrocities that befell his grandchildren years before the incident took place.

"Anas bin Malik said, "The head of Al-Husain was brought to 'Ubaidullah bin Ziyad and was put in a tray, and then Ibn Ziyad started playing with a stick at the nose and mouth of Al-Husain's head and saying something about his handsome features." Anas then said (to him), "Al-Husain resembled the Prophet more than the others did." Anas added, "His (i.e. Al-Husain's) hair was dyed with Wasma (i.e. a kind of plant used as a dye)."

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3748
In-book reference : Book 62, Hadith 95