New Year Fatwa: Maulana Declares Celebrations 'Illegitimate'; Giriraj Singh Slams Divisive Move

• Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi issued a fatwa, stating New Year celebrations (January 1st) are illegitimate for Muslims.
• He argued that the January 1st New Year is associated with European/Christian culture, not Islamic tradition, whose New Year begins with Muharram.
• The Maulana appealed to Muslim youth to avoid parties and celebrations, warning that Ulema-e-Karam would intervene.
• Union Minister Giriraj Singh strongly criticized the fatwa, calling it divisive and urging the Maulana to address issues like 'love jihad' instead.
• The fatwa has sparked debate on religious faith versus individual freedom and social harmony across the country.

Why It Matters: Maulana's New Year fatwa sparks controversy, drawing strong criticism from Union Minister Giriraj Singh.