For Muslim Filipinos, New Year is a social obligation

Last night before the clock struck midnight, majority of Filipinos were waiting for the New Year countdown with much excitement as the first day of the Gregorian Calendar, January 1, 2017 or Rabi’ul-Akhir 3, 1438 in the Muslim Calendar known as Hijra, began.

Some Muslim religious scholars are of the belief that it is not permissible for a Muslim to celebrate the New Year which is a Christian tradition considering that they have their own New Year, known as the Amun Jadid.