USHERING IN THE 2018 (Gregorian) NEW YEAR (poem)

Every year,
January 1st marks the beginning of a New Year,
according to the Gregorian calendar,
During the night of New Year's Eve,
people across the world turn festive,
dazzled by entertainment, fireworks and other surprises,
throughout the night till the morning sun rises,
ushering the New Year with celebrations of many faces,
Many Muslims around the globe are not exception,
as they also join in some form of New Year celebration.

In the Muslim world celebrations are usually mild,
but in the West they are rather wild,
A different reality is seen in most Western cities,
where massive party jammed the streets,
and live entertainment greets,
with prevalent free mixing between sexes,
where youngsters got drunk at roadsides and pubs,
and celebrations which often turned vicious,
as drunken revellers lost their senses,
From London to New York and other places,
Including some German cities where sexual assult was numerous,
During New Year's Eve crime was indeed the highest,
Many of these are incompatible with Islamic teachings,
and are against Islamic dignity and moral preachings,
So Muslims must not be carried away during celebrations,
Activities that are not permissible are non inclusions.

While we delightfully usher in the new year,
part of the Ummah that requires our sympathy we must remember,
the mass eviction and murder in Syria,
the imprisonment of the people of Gaza,
the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya,
the seizure of Palestine and capture of al-Aqsa,
“How can I smile when I know that Masjid Al Aqsa is being defiled says Salahuddin Ayyubi,
Indeed the lack of empathy is a tragedy,
for the Prophet (pbuh) always wanted the Ummah to be like one body,
Celebrating the New Year in a highly festive manner only shows huge lack of sympathy,
So let's focus our time and energy,
what is more when many Muslim countries are poor and under developed,
and many Muslims remain uneducated.

Eventhough many Muslims use the Gregorian calendar,
we Muslims also have our own Hijrah calendar,
which has been in use for more than 1400 years,
On every 1st of the month of Muharram our new year commences,
But even for our own Muslim New Year we don't actually celebrate,
Instead we mostly only commemorate,
For only the two major Eids Muslims are enjoined to celebrate.

Islam (as I understood) ordains Muslims to treat others kindly,
to all people be peaceful and friendly,
But Islam also tells Muslims to protect ad-Deen and their Muslim identity,
and not to imitate Western culture freely,
Muslims may use the Gregorian calender if they need to,
and convey their friends a simple New Year wish if they want to,
but be wary as to it Western culture is intertwined,
Western style celebrations should be avoided,
as the Islamic identity must be protected,
and Muslim morality and dignity safely guarded.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and blessed New Year 2018.

Poetized by drK@KuantumHarapan, updated Jan 2018