toast

December 22, 2005 2:14 PM

Is there a traditional Muslim/Islamic toast for the New Year?
posted by Heatwole to Human Relations (7 answers total)

(Note that New Year's is January 31, 2006 in the Islamic calendar.)
posted by smackfu at 2:20 PM on December 22, 2005

Isn't drinking forbidden for Muslims?
posted by elisabeth r at 3:10 PM on December 22, 2005

'Traditionally', the Gregorian calendar's new year is irrelevant, drinking is forbidden, and hence 'new years' toasts' per se are a pretty foreign concept (note I mean this not in terms of what Muslims in western countries do today, obviously most are pretty assimilated, but just to underscore the lack of any traditionally Islamic custom here) ... so you'll probably get to be creative.
posted by Firas at 3:34 PM on December 22, 2005

You're looking for an annual blessing or salute, I think. The drink/drank/drunk tags are inappropriate.

From about.com: "Al-Hijra :
This holiday marks the beginning of the Muslim New Year on the first day of the month of Muharram. In addition to being the start of the New Year, Al-Hijra is also the anniversary of Muhammad's [blessed be him] hijra to Medina, an important event theologically. Sometimes this is also called Rabi Al-Awwal. "

From wikipedia: "Muslim New Year - not generally celebrated as an official Islamic holiday, although many Muslim communities have devised or revived some kind of new year ritual celebration. Fundamentalists frown on the observance of this occasion, too."

I think you're best going with a modest "happy new year." Your status as an unbeliever will gloss over any social faux pas, but Muslims will mark that you took the time to read up on their calendar.
posted by Mozai at 3:46 PM on December 22, 2005

Over here (Malaysia), the Muslim New Year is a national holiday, and usually there'd be a bunch of events - mainly talks and prayers and a parade or two.

We don't really have a toast.
posted by divabat at 8:24 PM on December 22, 2005

I was at a company party a couple years back attended by the boss and his second in command, both Catholics, supposedly. There were also 2 admitted backsliders: 1 Christian, and 1 Muslim (although she claimed her family was historically Zoroastrian, Persian).

Plus 1 practising Muslim, 2 Hindus, 1 Sikh, and 1 Evangelical Christian.

The 2 supposed Catholics and the 2 backsliders rapidly drank themselves stupid while attempting unsuccesfully to get the rest of us involved. We left as soon as politely possible. Interestingly it was something of a bonding experience for both groups.

Anyway, in my experience holding up a glass of alcohol to a Muslim and wishing them happiness based on it will not compute.
posted by scheptech at 11:53 PM on December 22, 2005

Best answer: Here you go. (General holiday greetings, that is.) In my experience, "Id mubarak!" (EED moo-BAH-rak) works for any holiday.
posted by languagehat at 6:07 AM on December 23, 2005