Watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve Fatwa No: 130809
- Fatwa Date:31-12-2009
as salamu alyakum is it permissible to watch the ball drop on new years eve with your family.
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
We have already issued Fataawa 86876 and 83628 clarifying that it is not permissible to participate in Christmas or any other non-Muslim festivals. Attending such a festival (the ball drop) which is held on the occasion of the New Year is participating in one of their religious rites and this is forbidden.
Besides, it is forbidden to participate in such a festival even if this is just to celebrate the New Year because celebrating the New Year is not at all a part of the religion of Islam. In addition to this, there are other prohibitions in it, like the mixing between men and women and listening to music and songs.
On the other hand, if a Muslim attends a place where there is evil and Allaah predestined a certain punishment on its people, then this punishment may affect him as well. Allaah Says (what means): {And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allaah is severe in penalty.} [Quran 8:25] Moreover, Zaynab bint Jahsh said: “O Prophet of Allaah, will we be destroyed while there are pious people among us?” He said: ''Yes, if evil is widespread.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Allaah Knows best.