Around this time every year, the audio-visual and print media in many non-Muslim and even Muslim countries actively broadcast and circulate programs on celebrating New Year’s Eve. They invite people to participate in the celebrations that are held in certain places specially assigned for them. Public workplaces, private homes and streets are decorated in many different ways. This state of affairs necessitates that the scholars and students of knowledge explain the ruling of Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) on this issue. To this end, we have collected many verses from the Quran, Hadeeths (narrations) of the Prophet and statements of scholars. It is indisputably established that Allaah The Almighty has perfected His religion and completed the message. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.} [Quran 5:3] There is no true religion other than Islam which Allaah The Almighty sent Muhammad to convey. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allaah is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them -- out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allaah, then indeed, Allaah is swift in [taking] account.} [Quran 3:19] {And whoever desires other than Islam as religion -- never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.} [Quran 3:85] Commenting on this verse, Imaam Ibn Jareer At-Tabari said, “Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam to believe in, Allaah The Almighty will not accept it from him. {He, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers} means that, by doing so, he will deprive himself of his share of the mercy of Allaah The Almighty. It was mentioned that after the revelation of this verse, the followers of other religions claimed that they were Muslims according to what is meant by the verse. Hence, Allaah The Almighty commanded them to perform Hajj if they were true in their claims, because Hajj is an Islamic practice, yet they refused to do so. In this way, Allaah The Almighty refuted their claim. Al-Haafith Ibn Katheer said, “Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allaah is Islam}. This indicates that Allaah The Almighty does not accept a religion other than Islam, which is to follow the Messengers who were sent by Allaah The Almighty until the final Messenger, Muhammad . Allaah The Almighty closed all the ways leading to Him except the way of Muhammad . Hence, anyone who meets Allaah The Almighty, after the mission of Muhammad following anything other than his Sharee‘ah, his belief will not be accepted, as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whoever desires other than Islam as religion -- never will it be accepted from him}. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that he said, The Messenger of Allaah said: Deeds will come on the Day of Judgment. The prayer will come and say, O Lord, I am the prayer. He will Say, You are good. Then charity will come and say, O Lord, I am charity. He will Say, You are good. Then fasting will come and say, O Lord, I am fasting. Then He will Say, You are good. Other (good) deeds will come and say, I am so-and-so’ and Allaah will answer them, You are good . Then Islam will come and say, O Lord, You are As-Salaam and I am Islam. So, Allaah The Almighty will Say, You are good. Today, I will punish and reward on account of you. That is why Allaah The Almighty Says in His Book (what means): {And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.} [Quran 3:85] Ahmad and Abu Ya‘la Al-Haythami said, “‘Abbaad ibn Raashid is one of the narrators of this Hadeeth, who was accredited by Abu Haatim and other scholars but declared weak by another group of scholars. The rest of the narrators of Ahmad’s Isnaad are among the narrators of Al-Bukhaari and/or Muslim,” [Majma‘ Az-Zawaa’id] Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Islam is the religion of the dwellers of the heavens and the religion of the followers of Tawheed (monotheism) on earth, and Allaah The Almighty does not accept a religion other than Islam. There are six religions followed by people on earth: one religion belongs to Allaah The Almighty and five religions belong to Satan. The religion that belongs to Allaah is Islam, and the religions that belong to Satan are Judaism, Christianity, Magianism, Sabeanism, and polytheism.” [Madaarij As- Saalikeen] The Prophet explained the meaning of Islam in full. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that he said, One day while the Prophet was sitting with people, a man came to him and said, ‘What is Eemaan?’ The Prophet said: ‘Eemaan is to believe in Allaah, His angels, the meeting with Him in the Day of Judgment, His Messengers, and to believe in Resurrection.’ The man asked, ‘What is Islam?’ The Prophet replied: ‘Islam is to worship Allaah without associating partners with Him, to offer the obligatory prayers perfectly, to pay the (compulsory) charity i.e. Zakaah and to fast the month of Ramadan.’ The man again asked, ‘What is Ihsaan?’ The Prophet said: ‘Ihsaan is to worship Allaah as if you see Him, for if you do not actually see Him, then (be certain that) Allaah actually sees you. The man further asked, ‘When will the Hour be?’ The Prophet replied: ‘The one who is questioned about it does not know more than the questioner, but I will tell you about its portents. When the female slave gives birth to her master; when the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of high buildings. The Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allaah. Then the Prophet recited (what means): {Indeed, Allaah [Alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allaah is Knowing and Acquainted.} [Quran 31:34] Then the man departed. The Prophet asked the people to bring him back, but they did not find him. So, the Prophet said: ‘That was Jibreel who came to teach people their religion.’” [Al-Bukhaari] It was narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar both, that he quoted the Messenger of Allaah saying: “Islam is built upon five (things): testifying that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger, establishing the prayer, giving Zakaah, performing Hajj and fasting Ramadan.” [Al- Bukhaari and Muslim] This applies to all the nations from among the People of the Book as well as others. Anyone who does not believe in and follow the Messenger of Allaah is one of the people who are described by the verse (which means): {Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures.} [Quran 98:6] It was also narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah said: “By Him in Whose hand the soul of Muhammad is, any Jew or Christian who hears about me, but does not believe in that with which I have been sent and dies in this state (of disbelief), he shall be one of the people of Hell.” [Muslim]
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 10:20:42 +0000
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