Chinese New Year is a religious or cultural celebration??

Seriously, before this I do not know exactly what is this Chinese New Year even way before I embraced Islam. For me when I was a small kid is all about collecting 'ang pow', lion dance & reunion dinner. When I grew up, Chinese New Year is all about 'ang pow' (Chinese tradition is that as long as someone still single they will be entitle for ang pow even you are at 60!!!), gambling (at home or Genting) and makan makan.

Do you give or receive ang pow?

Cultivating gambling habit during Chinese New Year. Start small when younger and bet go bigger when getting older. 

But exactly what is Chinese New Year is all about? Is it a religious celebration or cultural? Let find out in brief;

"In Chinese mythology, a Nian (traditional Chinese: 年獸; simplified Chinese: 年兽; pinyin: nián shòu) is a beast that lives under the sea or in the mountains. Once each spring, on or around Chinese New Year, it comes out of hiding to attack people, especially children. The Nian is sensitive to loud noises and afraid of the color red.

The Chinese New Year traditions of decorating in red, exploding firecrackers, and performing a lion dance were originally used to scare the beast away. Some people display Chinese couplets on red banners to prevent the Nian from returning. Numerous other traditions such as wearing red clothing or handing out red envelopes are also designed to protect against the Nian.

The Chinese word for year is the same as the name of this beast. A phrase for celebrating Chinese New Year, guo nian (traditional Chinese: 過年; simplified Chinese: 过年; pinyin: guò nián) means the passing of the beast."

Do you get it now what is Chinese New Year all about? Is merely a legend that have no religious meaning or whatsoever except the belief that certain colour or certain activities like burning of firecrackers & wearing certain colour will scare away the beast or bring luck is not what we as Muslim believe in. 

It is more accurate to say that Chinese New Year is more of a cultural celebration rather than a religious one unless proven otherwise... Here is an article of two version of history of Chinese New Year...

Instead of the belief wearing red will chase away the beast, I certainly believe if a lady with long hair without hijab wearing red in the middle of the night will definitely chase away those sex maniax and scare off many people too.. The real beast is human dont you think so? Hmmmm....

This is more scary right?
 

Islam is very simple, easy & practical religion. When someone embraced Islam, any cultural or tradition that does not goes against the teaching of Islam are acceptable but of course if those tradition or culture make life difficult when Islam have make our life easier then it is better to avoid it. Remember this, Islam never stop the practices of cultural or tradition whenever someone become Muslim unless is against the teaching of Islam. If tradition of reunion dinner and visiting relatives even they are not yet Muslim is strongly encourage in Islam as Allah says;

 

"Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour."

(Al-Israa' 17:23)

Furthermore, when it come to cultural celebration we are allow to celebrate it as long as we observed our time of prayer and practicing our manners as Muslim by not touching or staring at non mahram and consume anything that we believe is halal.. If u feel like eating Bak Kwa (Dried Meat) because seriously it is so nice, go and buy one that is halal and enjoy with them and is can also be a good opportunity for dakwah. You can get the halal version at Pak Le or from my friend, Grace Loo...

Here are some tips for new Muslim especially Chinese Muslim for Chinese New Year. Not exactly the horoscope prediction that some expected because no one know the unseen except Allah but just some sharing on how best we can enjoy this celebration without sacrifice our Iman. Here you go:

DO's;

- If you are married, give ang pow (please remember me too ya)

- If you are still single you can accept ang pow and if you want to give also no problem but again please remember me too... 

- Reunion dinner (halal food of course)

- Visit relatives & friends

- Dakwah and not just visit them. Remember not to leave them without them have additional knowledge about Islam. If you cant talk well then behave well and show our Islamic manners.

- Wishing them Xin Nian Kuai Re & May Allah guide all of us will be the best

- Wear red and very red also no problem as long the wording and design do not have element of syirik

 

DONT's

- Read or listen to horoscope prediction because is another form of syirik. If you are in control then switch channel and if you are not then just stay away.

- Participate in the worship of ancestor, welcoming god of prosperity, welcoming Tian Gong or any superstitious stuff

- Involve in gambling and do your best to stay away even it didnt involve money

- Offer, encourage, bring or pour any alcohol drink for anyone and stay away from the table too. Look for relatives that do not involve in gambling or alcohol drinking to talk to them about Islam. Do not talk about Islam when they are drunk because you do not know what will happen next

- Stare or touch non mahram

- Too preoccupied until you forgot to perform your solat
- Stay away from any practices that you doubt because the Prophet s.a.w advised us to stay away from what is doubtful. DO EVERYTHING WITH TAQWA!
- How about YEE SANG? Read this article and you decide for yourself before you act on it...

Hopefully that little sharing is beneficial to new Muslim especially when our parents is still a Not Yet Muslim. Remember, we celebrate the diversity of our culture and tradition as long as it didnt go against the teaching of Islam because Allah created us differently not for us to fight each other but to know and love each other since we coming from the same source and our greaaaattttttttttttttttttttt ancestor are the same pair of Adam & Eve... Allah says;

"O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)."

(Al-Hujuraat 49:13) 

May Allah make it easier for us and assist all of us in understanding and practice this Deen...