Praying two rak’aat at midnight for the new year or for the past year?

by Asma bint Shameem 

Some people say that we should pray two rak’aat at midnight to end the previous year and begin the new year in worship.

Is that proven from the Sharee’ah?

ANSWER

This is not from the Sunnah. 

Rather this is bid’ah. 

And the shuyookh have warned against this. 

🍃 Someone asked Shaykh Saalim Baamihriz:

“Many messages are circulating and reaching some of the people saying that we must pray two Rak'ats around 12:00 midnight so that we end the Gregorian (or Hijri) year with prayer and begin the New Year with prayer. What is the ruling on this?”

Here’s what the Shaikh said:

“May Allaah bless you, this is from 

”innovation”, “misguidance”, and “superstition” which has no basis in the religion. 

O brother, may Allaah bless you, the prayer is not legislated for these things.

The prayer is either obligatory and legislated or a Sunnah which the Messenger ﷺ clarified;

As for making the prayer to be for the commencement of the year and to conclude the year, or to commence the day, or to conclude the day this is from the deviation of those who are astray and leading others astray; and every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the fire. 

When the people distanced themselves from the Book and the Sunnah they fell into these innovations. 

Akhee, had it been the Hijri year, it would've been innovation and misguidance, so what do you think regarding the Gregorian year?! 

Have Taqwa of Allaah, may Allaah bless you and beware of these innovations. 

The Muslim must worship Allaah in every instance, at all times, either by way of a legislative obligation or a clearly defined Sunnah known from the Prophet ﷺ.

As for these innovations and misguidance which the ignorant, astray commoners who are similar to animals introduce, beware of these deviations may Allaah bless you. 

By Allaah, I am amazed that in a time in which knowledge is wide spread, the Sunnah is wide spread, and the people know the truth from falsehood, that there are people still upon these deviations and innovations. 

Whenever an innovation is born, a Sunnah dies. 

So have Taqwa of Allaah. 

This is from the innovations which pass upon the people every year. 

Every month they have an innovation; every year they have an innovation; in every condition they have an innovation. 

Have Taqwa of Allaah, my brother. 

Acts of worship are only either obligatory or Sunan clarified by the Prophet, upon him be prayers and peace, and the pious predecessors. Leave off these innovations and stay far away from them. Safeguard your religion and the safety of your Aqeedah and the Sunnah. 

May Allaah bless you, and Allaah’s Aid is sought.”

Someone asked the scholars:

“This is a message that I have seen a lot on the Internet, but in fact I have not sent it to anyone because I am not sure if it is an innovation (Bid`ah) or not. Is it permissible to spread it and will we be rewarded for doing so, or is this not permissible because it is an innovation? 

“In sha’ Allaah, at 12 midnight on New Year's Eve we will all pray two Rak`ahs, or read Quran, or remember our Lord, or offer Du`a, because if our Lord looks at the Earth at a time when most of the world is disobeying Him, he will find that the Muslims are still obeying Him. By Allaah, you have to send this message to everyone you know, because the more our numbers increase, the more our Lord will be pleased.” 

Please advise me, may Allah bless you.”

The scholars said:

“You have done very well not to spread this message which is widespread on many websites on which uneducated attitudes and ignorance prevail. 

With regard to those who published this message and want the Muslims to pray and recite Dhikr, we do not doubt that their intentions are good and great, especially if they want acts of obedience and worship to be done at a time when sins are being committed. However, this good and righteous intention does not make the actions legitimate, sound or acceptable in Sharee’ah.

Rather it is essential that the action be in accordance with Sharee’ah in terms of its reason, type, quantity, manner, time and place.

In this manner the Muslim may distinguish between legitimate and innovated actions. 

There have been Jahili special occasions [with practices similar to those in Jahiliyyah (i.e., the pre Islamic era)] and special occasions of the disbelievers and misguided since the time of the Prophet ﷺ until the present time, but we have not seen any text from the Prophet ﷺ which encourages us to do acts of worship and obedience at the time when others are committing acts of evil and disobedience, or to do prescribed actions at the time when innovated actions are being done. There is no report of any of the well-known imams recommending doing such a thing. 

This comes under the heading of dealing with sin by means of innovation,

There are special times for offering duaa and prayers as prescribed in Islam.

The Prophet ﷺ encouraged us to offer Duaa at these times, such as the last third of the night, which is the time when the Lord, may He be Glorified and Exalted, descends to the nearest heaven. Encouraging people to do that at a time when no authentic text has been narrated concerning it is introducing legislation concerning the reason or the time, and going against Sharee’ah with regard to either of them is sufficient to deem the action to be a reprehensible innovation, so how about if it has to do with both of them?! 

If we Muslims want to give in charity, we can give to those who really deserve it, and we should not aim to do that specifically on the days of the disbelievers’ festivals. We should do that whenever there is a need, and make the most of good and great occasions such as the month of Ramadhaan and the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah and other virtuous occasions when rewards are multiplied.

The basic principle for a Muslim is to follow (the Sunnah) and not introduce innovations.

Allaah says:

“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): `If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’aan and the Sunnah), Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

32. Say (O Muhammad): `Obey Allaah and the Messenger (Muhammad).” But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers.’” [Al `Imran 3:21, 32] 

Ibn Katheer said:

“This aayah states that everyone who claims to love Allaah but is not following the path of Muhammad ﷺ is lying in his claim unless he follows the path or religion of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in all his words and deeds, as it is proven in an authentic report that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:

“Whoever introduces an action that is not part of this matter of ours will have it rejected.” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 2/32)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“You should love the Messenger more than you love yourselves, and your faith is not complete unless you do that. Do not introduce into his religion anything that is not part of it. What the seekers of knowledge should do is explain to the people and tell them: Occupy yourselves with legitimate and sound acts of worship; remember Allaah; send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ at all times; establish regular prayer; pay Zakaah; and be kind towards the Muslims at all times.” (Liqa’at Al-Bab Al-Maftuh, 35/5) 

What we think is that it is prohibited to spread such messages and that it is an innovation to adhere to these acts of worship on such occasions. It is sufficient for you to warn against forbidden celebrations on occasions of shirk and innovation. You will be rewarded for that and you will be doing your duty with regard to these sins. 

And Allaah knows best.”

(Islamqa Fatwa 113064)

And Allaah knows best.