RNA – Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammad-Javad Alavi-Boroujerdi, a senior Shi’ah scholar, addressed a group of clerics in Qom as he made remarks regarding Norouz holidays (the celebration of the Iranian New Year) and its historic background in pre-Islamic era in Iran.
He said, “Norouz is a nice tradition which dates back to the pre-Islamic era and to Zoroastrianism in ancient Iran but this does not mean we should associate all Norouz traditions with Zoroastrianism. There’s no such thing as Norouz in Islam, but our religion does not disapprove of celebrating it either.”
“The main Islamic holidays are Eid al-Ghadir and Eid al-Adha which are celebrated every year according to Islamic calendar. Norouz dates back to pre-Islamic era and is still celebrated to this date,” Ayatollah Alavi-Boroujerdi said.
Many of the pre-Islamic traditions and customs were later considered as good ones in Islam and thus were endorsed by Prophet Muhammad and he approved of preserving them. Imam Ali has also advised maintaining good traditions in his letter to Malik al-Ashtar.
There are also some Islamic narrations to endorse Norouz as a worthwhile holiday. Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq has said, “On the first day of Norouz, wear your finest clothes and perfume.”
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