New Year (Nowruz) in the Balance of Islam; A Historical and Jurisprudential Analysis (Part Two)
Nowruz from the Perspective of the Predecessors and Sunni Imams
Islamic scholars, commentators (Mufasireen), and Sunni Imams, as well as the Tabe’een, have unanimously regarded the celebration of Nowruz as forbidden, considering it one of the rituals of non-divine religions. After carefully examining various sources, I have not found any statements from the Sahaba, the Tabe’een, or the righteous scholars of the present era that indicate they have deemed the celebration of Nowruz permissible.
What has been said about the permissibility of this celebration comes from whimsical individuals who, without considering the opinions of the predecessors, have concocted their own justifications and presented it merely as an ordinary cultural practice.
In this section, we will examine the views of the Sahaba, the Tabe’een, and Sunni scholars regarding Nowruz:
A: The View of the Sahaba and the Tabe’een about Nowruz
The Sahaba and the Tabe’een are the most authoritative and knowledgeable interpreters of the Quran and Sunnah because they lived closer to the time of the Prophet (PBUH) and had a better understanding of religious concepts.
1. Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Aas (MABH) said: “Whoever follows the non-Arabs, celebrates Nowruz and the festival, and imitates them will be gathered with them on the Day of Judgment.”
2. Hassan al-Basri (MABH), one of the prominent scholars of the Tabe’een, in response to a question about Nowruz, considered it Makruh and stated: “The non-Arabs (specifically the Zoroastrians) celebrate this day.”
3. Zubayd al-Yaami (MABH), another Tabe’een scholar, would sit in the mosque with a group on the day of Nowruz each year and say: “These people (those celebrating Nowruz) observe it in their disbelief, so we too observe it in our faith. O Allah! Forgive us.”
B: The Views of Commentators on Nowruz
The prominent commentators of the Islamic Ummah have also regarded Nowruz as an un-Islamic ceremony belonging to the polytheists, declaring it incorrect and forbidden.
1. Imam Qurtubi (MABH), in his commentary Ahkam al-Quran, discusses the meaning of «زور» in the verse: (وَالَّذِینَ لاَ یشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ). He writes that Ibn Abbas (MABH) stated that «زور» refers to the festivals of the polytheists.
2. Imam Ibn Kathir (MABH), in his commentary on the same verse, noted: “Abu al-A’liyyah, Tawus, Muhammad ibn Sirin, Dahhak, Rabi’ ibn Anas, and others said that «زور» represents the festivals of the polytheists.”
3. Imam Suyuti (MABH), in his Al-Durr al-Mansur, cited Ibn Abbas (MABH) regarding this verse: “What is meant by «زور» in this verse is the festivals of the polytheists.”
C: Nowruz from the Perspective of the Imams and Jurists of the Four Schools of Thought
The Imams and Jurists of the Four Schools of Thought have deemed it unlawful and incorrect to celebrate Nowruz, present gifts, entertain, write advertisements, or hang banners on this occasion. Even some prominent scholars of the Hanafi school, such as Allama Abu Hafs al-Kabir, have taken a very strict stance on this matter, stating: “Whoever gives even an egg to a polytheist with the intention of honoring Nowruz has become a disbeliever, and his deeds have been nullified.”
Here, we will refer to some views of the jurists:
1. Allama Ibn Najim Hanafi (MABH) stated: “Beating a drum and singing at the gates during the days of Nowruz is not permissible; rather, it is disliked.”
2. The book Al-Dur al-Mukhtar and Radd al-Mukhtar claim that presenting gifts on the day of Nowruz is disliked, even if one does not intend to venerate it; however, if one intends to venerate this day with a gift, it is considered forbidden. As a precaution, it is better to give gifts before or after Nowruz to avoid the suspicion of resembling the Magi. Also, putting up banners and advertisements for Nowruz is considered Makruh.
3. Abu Hafs al-Kabir Hanafi states: “Whoever gives an egg to a polytheist on the day of Nowruz, with the intention of venerating this day, becomes a disbeliever, and his deeds are nullified.” Judge Abu al-Muhasin ibn Mansur Hanafi also clarified: “If someone buys something on the day of Nowruz that he did not acquire before, or gives it to others, intending to venerate it like the disbelievers, he has become a disbeliever. But if he does this solely out of love and habit, it does not lead to disbelief, although it remains Makruh; for the likeness of the disbelievers must be abandoned.”
4. In Manh al-Jalil, a brief commentary by Khalil on Maliki jurisprudence, it states: “It is not permissible to give gifts to teachers on Nowruz and Mehregan because believers must show respect for their teachers on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.”
5. Ibn Rushd al-Maliki asserts: “Preparing for Muslim holidays is recommended. However, participating in Christian and polytheist holidays such as Nowruz and Mehregan are disliked and not permissible, as venerating these days is considered a form of polytheism.”
6. One of the great Hanbali scholars, Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (MABH), issued a fatwa regarding the actions of some Muslims on Nowruz, such as giving gifts to Christians and holding similar celebrations: “It is not permissible for Muslims to imitate them in matters related to the holidays of the infidels, whether in preparing food, wearing special clothes, lighting fires, or other customs and traditions, regardless of whether these practices have a worldly or religious aspect. In general, Muslims should not celebrate the days of the infidels’ Eid with any of their rituals; rather, they should spend these days like ordinary days and not distinguish them in any special way.”
Conclusion
Historical and jurisprudential studies demonstrate that Nowruz has ancient roots in Iranian culture and neighboring lands and has been celebrated as a national observance since ancient times. However, from an Islamic perspective, Sunni scholars and jurists have generally considered this celebration illegitimate due to its doctrinal aspects and resemblance to non-Islamic rituals. The Prophetic hadith about replacing the pre-Islamic festivals with Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha further emphasizes this view. Therefore, celebrating Nowruz is forbidden according to Sharia, and Muslims should strictly refrain from it, avoiding contamination with this polytheistic celebration.
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