Celeberating Nowroz The Muslim community is blessed with having multiple “new years” throughout the year, in which we have the opportunity to take account of our actions and make a change in our lives. These occasions include the beginning of the Islamic new year – the 1st of Muharram which signals the true Islamic new year (rather than 1st January); the Night of Qadr during the Month of Ramadhan which signifies the spiritual New Year in which the affairs of the entire following year are decreed and the third is Nawrooz – the ‘New Day’ - which signals the beginning of spring and a change in seasons – a time which should also reflect a change and a rebirth within our selves.

What do our scholars say about this day and its importance? Ayatullah al-Uzma Makarim Shirazi, in his publication, Mafaatih al-Naveen , writes: “In regards to what Islam has to say about Eid-e-Nowrooz, we must state that amongst the scholars, this Eid is debated. Some of the traditions point to the importance of this day as one in which many nations were saved (from perils).”

He goes on to state that, “The Late Allamah Majlisi writes in Zad al-Ma‘aad that, “From a reliable chain of narrators from Mu‘alla ibne Janis it has been narrated that on the day of Nowrooz, he was blessed to be in the presence of Imam as-Sadiq (AS). The Imam asked, “Do you know the status of this day?” Mu‘alla replied, “May I be sacrificed for your sake! This is the day which the Iranians took as a great day. On this day, they send gifts to one another.” The Imam replied, “The act of holding this day in esteem and greatness is due to certain historical events which took place which I will now explain to you.” The Imam then mentioned the following events: Nowrooz is the day when Allah, the High, took the promise from the souls of all human beings (before their creation) to His oneness, that they would not associate partners with Him and that they would accept and believe in His Prophets and Imams; this is also the day when the flood during the time of Prophet Nuh (AS) subsided and the ark rested on the mountain of Joodi; Nowrooz is also the day when the Messenger of Allah destroyed the idols of the polytheists of the Quraish in the city of Makkah. This was also the day that Prophet Ibrahim destroyed the idols;it is also the day when the Qa’im from Aale Muhammad (the 12th Imam) will make his advent…etc ”

However, Ayatullah Makarim Shirazi cautions that, “Since Mu‘alla ibne Janis is an individual whom the scholars question (and thus this tradition as well falls under question), for this reason, it is not possible to rely on this tradition.” Nonetheless, he states that this day has Islamic significance, which we need to ensure is marked in an Islamic fashion. He concludes by stating that the Eid-e-Nowrooz is an Eid of nature in the world of creation; it is the day when winter ends and spring blossoms with its natural life by the command of Allah. It is the time when the leaves of the trees begin to sprout their buds and the flowers begin to bring forth their bulbs in preparation of their blooming; it is a time when a movement towards life takes hold of all of creation and thus we, the believers, should be in harmony with this event of the creation as this is equivalent to being in sync with the tradition (Sunnat) of Allah.

The believers need to ensure that they remove all actions which are ‘cultural’ or ‘traditional’ – even if practiced by Muslims, and to follow the dictates of the Prophet and the Imams. Thus, some of the recommend actions which we should perform on this day include: a ghusl for Eid; wearing clean clothes; applying perfume; fasting, praying the recommended Salat after Salaatul Asr and the various supplications which should be read on this day, some of which are found in Mafaatih al-Jinaan [The Prayer’s Almanac in English by PET] and Mafaatih al-Naveen.

source Celebrating Nowrooz,source:http://www.world-federation.org

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Urdu lecture on Nawroz- Astronomy