All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.

Fellow Muslims! At the beginning of every year, there is always a need for individual and collective self-examination so that mistakes of the past can be corrected, the present can be reform and the future can be properly planned for in accordance with a sound methodology that leads to benefits for the Ummah.

Dear brethren! While this Ummah is ushering in a new year after the departure of a year that was full of crises and great events, it needs to realise the challenge that it has to face. It also need to know how take proper stand, protect itself and find successful solutions to its problems in accordance with the principles of its religion and the Sunnah of its Prophet.

Brethren in faith! There are some factors which the Muslims must uphold while ushering in a new year. These factors are:

One: Ushering in a new year is in itself a great event in that, it reminds us that days are stages that bring man closer to the Hereafter. So saying farewell to the old year and ushering in a new one should be an opportunity to strengthen our resolution and high-mindedness. The successful is the one who endeavours to better his situation and tries to makes his present better than the past and the future better than the present. The wise is the one who calls himself to reckoning, provide for the Hereafter with righteous deeds and sincerely repent from his past sins. Allaah says,

"So whosoever does good deed equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it."

(Az-Zalzalah 99:7-8)

Aboo Dharr narrated that the Messenger of mentioned that Allaah said, "These are only your deeds which I have accurately reckoned for you and upon which I am going to recompense you in full. So whoever finds good [result], let him thank Allaah and praise Him; and whoever finds other thing else, let him not blame but himself." (Muslim)

Two: The last year went out while the Ummah was facing a myriad of problems, crises and tribulations. The Ummah needs to take decisive and sincere steps to find solutions to these problems. It should be known to all that there is no way out of these suffocating problems except through real Islaam as revealed in the Qur'aan and practised by the Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wasallam and understood by his companions. It is the real Islaam whose teaching should be implemented in all aspects of life be it political, economical, cultural and social. This real Islaam should be implemented so that its goal of establishing a model life that will be fruitful in this world and the Hereafter will be realised. Allaah says,

"Allaah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islaam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me."

(An-Noor 24:55)

Therefore, the Muslims should realize that their glory and strength lie in adhering strictly to their religion and the law of their Lord and in following the path of their Prophet. That is the effective weapon that can drive away all dangers and evils from them and the impregnable shield that can protect them from heinous crimes that their enemies wage against them. Allaah says,

"But honour, power and glory belong to Allaah, His Messenger (Muhammad (peace be upon him)) and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not."

(Al-Munaafiqoon 63:8)

It is incumbent upon the Muslims to face these challenges that threaten their religion and they should block the ways in front of the misguided elements who take the opportunity of any crisis to divert the Muslims from the correct teachings of Islaam through fake slogans.

Three: The enemies of Islaam are now falsely accusing it with things of which it is innocent. They do this with the aim of preventing people from accepting the religion of Allaah and to keep them away its illuminating way. The Muslim world should therefore, make all possible efforts to correct actions the enemies use to defame Islaam and obliterate its realities. The Muslims must show the world truthfulness of their way and soundness of their intentions.

They need to show the entire world the true picture of Islaam: that it is the religion of mercy, justice, kindness and righteousness in all senses of these words.

The scholars and thinkers must accurately and carefully study every issue that arise in the contemporary world with the aim of drawing positive benefits from them, in a way that does not contradict the interest of the Ummah, its creed and law. This goal can, however, not be achieved except through concerted efforts in accordance with proper understanding of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah and sincere intention. Allaah says,

"And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path."

(Al-An'aam 6:153)

Fellow Muslims! Muharram the month of Allaah is one of the greatest months. It occupies high position and its sacredness is great. Allaah's Messenger said, "The greatest month after Ramadaan is Muharram: the month of Allaah." (Muslim)

The best day of this month is 'Aashooraa day [the 10th]. When Allaah's Messenger was asked about fasting on this day, he said, "I hope that Allaah would make it expiate [for the sins of] the previous year." (Muslim)

The Sunnah is to precede it with fasting on the ninth day. Allaah's Messenger said, "If I live till next, I will certainly fast on the ninth." (Muslim) If that is not possible, one should fast a day after it. However, it is preferable to fast a day before and a day after.