'Not A Matter Of Pride, Nor Should Be Celebrated': Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Issues Fatwa Ahead Of New Year

He also urged the Muslim community to avoid congratulating the Christian New Year as any such non-religious practices are strictly prohibited for Muslims. 

With just two days remaining for the New Year, people in the country are gearing for the annual celebrations. Amid the ongoing festivities over Christmas and the upcoming New Year, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi has issued a fatwa prohibiting the celebrations.

Maulana Shahabuddin, who is the National President of All India Muslim Jamaat, said that New Year is not a matter of pride and neither should it be celebrated.  

In the controversial religious directive, he also urged the Muslim community to avoid congratulating the Christian New Year as any such non-religious practices are strictly prohibited for Muslims. 

"Chashme Darul Ifta, Bareilly has issued a fatwa regarding the celebration of New Year... In this regard, the young men and women who celebrate New Year have been instructed in this fatwa that celebrating New Year is neither a matter of pride nor should this celebrated. They should also not congratulate on the occassion," Shahabuddin told ANI. 

"The celebration of New Year is the beginning of the New Year of the Christians. Celebrating New Year is the religious practice of the Christians. Celebrating any non-religious practices is strictly prohibited for Muslims," he added. 

In the Fatwa, the people, especially young men and women, have been instructed not to celebrate New Year as is it prohibited in Shariah. Those who celebrate New Year are sinners, the All India Muslim Jamaat President said.

He further said that singing-dancing, drinking and gambling during the New Year is prohibited. 

Meanwhile, Maulana Razvi also voiced opposition to reports stating that Salman Rushdie's controversial book 'The Satanic Verses', banned in India for over three decades, will be available for sale. 

"The enemy of Islam and the notorious writer Salman Rushdie's book The Satanic Verses is set to return to the market. This book, released in 1988, sparked global protests from Muslims who demanded it be banned. The then Rajiv Gandhi government imposed a ban on it. Now, the case regarding the ban on the book has been finalized, and the restriction has been lifted," he added.