There are two types of calendars prevalent in the world. One is the Hijri calendar and the other is the Gregorian calendar. The real calendar for Muslims is the Hijri calendar, not the Gregorian calendar. The Islamic New Year begins with Muharram-ul-Haram and ends with Dhul-Hijjah, while the Gregorian calendar starts in January and ends in December.
Everyone, common and special, remembers the Gregorian calendar well, but the sad thing is that we don't even know the Islamic date.
What is even worse is that our entire Muslim nation indulges in all the evils while celebrating the Gregorian New Year that other nations do on that night.
Everywhere, the sounds of "Happy New Year" echo, fireworks are set off, and various nightclubs hold entertainment programs, which include plenty of alcohol, youth, music, and dance.
If non-Muslims do this, it makes sense because those poor people don't have any rules or regulations to live by, but this act of Muslims is shouting out loud that we are far from religion, Muslims in name only, and the collar of slavery to the British is around our necks.
Does our religion allow this? No, absolutely not. If we carry out our work with the Gregorian date, it does not mean that we should start imitating the British.
The New Year especially draws our attention to two things: one is "accountability of the past" and the other is "a plan for the future."
Accountability of the past:
That we should take stock of our lives, that a year has passed, what have we lost and what have we gained in it?
How many acts of worship have we performed? How many good deeds have we done and how many bad deeds have we done? That is why the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: حَاسِبُوْا أنْفُسَکُمْ قَبْلَ أنْ تُحَاسَبُوْا Translation: Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account.
The second thing is the plan for what we have to do in the future, that we will not repeat the mistakes that we have made.
Make a firm intention to do more in the work of religion in the future than in the past and not waste your time like this.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
اِغْتَنِمْ خَمْسًا قَبْلَ خَمْسٍ, meaning: Take advantage of five things before five things.
(1) شَبَابَکَ قَبْلَ ھَرَمِکَ, your youth before old age.
(2) وَصِحَّتَکَ قَبْلَ سَقَمِکَ, your health and well-being before illness.
(3) وَغِنَاکَ قَبْلَ فَقْرِکَ, your wealth before poverty and destitution.
(4)وَفَرَاغَکَ قَبْلَ شُغْلِکَ, your free time before busyness.
(5)وَحَیَاتَکَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِکَ, your life before death.
And also pledge that we will not adopt the ways of non-Muslims, Insha'Allah.
Because the Prophet of Allah said on one occasion: مَنْ تَشَبَّہَ بِقَوْمٍ فَھُوَ مِنْھُمْ.
Meaning: Whoever imitates a nation, he is one of them.
May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to truly follow and obey His beloved ﷺ. Amen.