Happy Islamic New Year! May this year bring you closer to your dreams and fill your heart with joy and faith. As the Hijri New Year begins, I wish you endless blessings, peace, and happiness. May Allah guide you every step of the way, as we REFLECT on the PAST and EMBRACE the FUTURE with FAITH, COURAGE and DISCIPLINE.
Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year, signifying a time of renewal and spiritual contemplation. The word Muharram means ‘not permitted’ or ‘forbidden’ hence, Muslims are prohibited from taking part in activities like warfare and use it as a period of prayer and reflection.
What is forbidden during Muharram? MUHARRAM is the FIRST MONTH of the ISLAMIC CALENDAR calendar, with (at most) THIRTH DAYS. WARFARE in Muharram is FORBIDDEN and it has been so since before the advent of Islam.
More than 24.1% of the WORLD’s population is MUSLIM, with an estimated total of approximately 1.9 BILLION Muslims are the MAJORITY in 49 COUNTRIES, they speak hundreds of languages and come from DIVERSE ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS.
World Population in 2024 is 8,118,835,999 People and 193 Member States in The United Nations. Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) with 57 Nations including GUYANA, and the ORGANIZATION of ISLAMIC COUNTRIES with 57 Nations including GUYANA.
1st of Muharram (Islamic New Year) is usually celebrated with low-key religious events. Some Muslims mourn heavily during Muharram, although others do so to a much lesser extent. Storytelling, weeping and chest beating, wearing black, partial fasting, street processions, and re-enactments of the BSATTLE of KARBALA K are part of the traditions. It is ETIQUETTE in the ISLAMIC TRADITION to distinguish prophets by referring to them with an immediate notation of respect following their names, as seen above with the bracketed phrase [PEACE BE UPON THEM].
Common Dietary Restrictions are for CELEBRANTS usually OPT for simple, VEGETARIAN FOOD during this celebration. Some Muslims FAST as part of their CELEBRATION.
Assuring You of the renewed Assurances of My Highest Consideration.
Professor DR. SHAMIR ANDREW ALLY
Guyana AMBASSADOR to KUWAIT: 2016-2020
FIRST Alternate, Islamic Development Bank, SAUDI ARABIA: 2017-2020
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN GO-Invest: 2016-2019.