What is wrong with 1st of January?

At the risk of stating the obvious, *the 1st of January 2022 is the 28th day Jumada Al Awwal 1443 (AH).* 

I don't remember the god that is worshipped on that day but I know with every certainly that Allah made that day and every other day to be celebrated, to give Him thanks for the gift of life.

One of the problems of the world today is the newly found Muslim who begins to see Muslims as enemies of the Christians and eventually, enemies of everyone and everything else. 

Such Muslim propagandists ignore Allah's very own words and the practice of His beloved Prophet (saw). They abandoned the noble teachings of the greatest benefactor of mankind and get carried away with frivolous competition of religiocities. 

This problem is complicated by other Muslims who are too busy to study what their religion teaches and follow such propaganda and eagerly and happily share and propagate these misconceptions.

But little should we wonder. These days, events and or eventualities were long foretold. 

This is one of the many prophecies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) about what will become of the faith when the world awaits Christ's (as) second coming.

When Muslims will forget the teachings of the glorious Qur'an and the practice of our beloved Prophet (saw) and begin to chase shadows, contesting with peoples of other faiths as though in a rat race. 

First, what is wrong with January first that is not wrong with every other day in a year?

Does the fact that some people pick a day for their god remove that day from the days that Allah has created? 

In sura Aal-e-Imran 3:190 - 191, Allah says

إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَءَايَٰتٍ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ 

 *Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding.* 

ٱلَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَٰطِلًا سُبْحَٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ 

 *Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.* (see also Suratul Yunus, 10:6).

Every blessed day is a day to reflect and appreciate Allah's creation (i.e. weeks, months, years including ourselves). To reflect on how our deeds (and misdeeds) are contributing to the purpose of our creation. 

Second, how do Muslims celebrate or how does Islam recommend that Muslims should treat every day, every breath that we take? 

We learn from the many traditions of our beloved Master (saw) to treat every breath, every day, every opportunity with gratitude. To say alhamdulillah always even when we do not like the situation. 

More importantly, to live through every day and approach every opportunity with caution as Allah says in sura Al-Hashr 59:18

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ 

 *O you who have believed, fear Allah . And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow -  and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is well aware of what you do.* 

Most of these Muslim propagandists often cite verses like sura At-Taubah 9:36

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْۚ وَقَٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةًۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ 

 *Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him].* 

But these are Muslims who would celebrate birthdays like there is no tomorrow, consume alcohol everyday including on yaumul jum'ah (Friday) and do every other thing that Allah forbids even in the four sacred months, yet they forbid Muslims from celebrating January 1st; one of the days that Allah created.

 *Is this not hypocrisy?* 

And speaking of hypocrisy, one of Muslims' greatest hypocrisy surrounds birthdays.

There are Muslims who clamour for an holiday to celebrate what they call the birthday of Muhammad (saw). Other Muslims argue - and we all know - that our beloved Prophet (saw) never celebrated his own birthday. 

While the latter is correct and Muslims are advised by the Holy Prophet (saw) to avoid  innovating the religion, is it entirely wrong to rejoice on one's own birthday - and indeed every day one is alive? 

What the Holy Prophet (saw) advised is *Kairul umuri aosatuha* i.e. *the best of your deeds are those you do in moderation.* 

Finally, the gods that people dedicated calendar days to celebrate are less important as the reason why the Creator creates the day.

Again, instead of debating what gods people celebrate, we can achieve more by reflecting on what do we ourselves celebrate on which day?

Do we celebrate the creator or the created?

Do we honour the traditions of humanity's greatest benefactor Muhammad (saw) who Allah says has the best examples for us to follow? (sura Al-Ahzab, 33:21).

The one whose live examples are the most documented?

Lets face it, OK? Non-Muslims are not the enemies of Muslims. Non-Muslims may not accept Islam but that does not make us enemies or competitors.

The lives, property and belief of Non-Muslims are as sacred as ours and for them is their faith and for us is our faith.

May Allah make us lead lives that will please Him and honour His messenger Muhammad (saw), ameen.