The Year 2000 - Where Will You Be?

The Year 2000 - the millennium - is approaching fast now, and crazy people
are predicting all sorts of weird things. But even if the world doesn't come
to an end, the Fitnah that will take place before and after the clock strikes 
twelve would be enough to send people plunging into misery and wretchedness
in this world and Jahannum in the other. This fitnah will certainly make the
struggle to reach Jannah a bit more challenging, especially with all the
fun-making, the partying and the free flowing of lots of alcohol, drugs, sex
and countless other vices.

Party-revellers and fun-makers can hardly contain themselves as they wait
for the final hour to dawn. To celebrate the party of all parties in the
most unusual of ways. Preparations for the great millennium bash have been
underway for months in advance and the people of this planet want to celebrate
it in a big, big way. Every capital of the world is vying with the other to
offer the best in millennium revelling and celebrations. London has constructed
the massive millennium dome. Airlines are offering crazy schedules to people
wishing to see the 'arrival' of the millennium in three continents in one day!
Others are wanting to be the first to see the new millennium arrive - flying
to remote pacific islands in the East to do that!

While the peoples of the world will be sunken in some kind of stupor on that
hour, even Muslims, sadly, would be caught in this mass hysteria of the
Millennium. Quite a few Muslim countries have already planned some kind of
celebration or the other to mark this (Christian-based) event. On an
individual level, there will be many Muslims who would not like to be left
out of this fun and revelry. They would have already made up their plans for
THAT evening. Yet the millennium is simply a Christian-based event, supposed
to be marking two thousand years of the advent of Christ (Hazrat Nabi Isa
(AS). What has a Muslim to do with all of this? Nothing. Nothing at all!

Our thoughts, conversations, plans and even our commercial activities seem
to be overtaken by and dictated to by the millennium madness. Do we really
need to give prominence to this event just because it is hyped-up to the
point of hysteria by the media?

The dates of the millennium coincide with Ramadhaan 1420. What a remarkable
coincidence and a blessing in disguise for Muslims! Allah Ta'ala has been
very kind and merciful to the weaklings of the Muslim Ummah. Knowing fully
well the temptations that many would have faced to join in the fun and
transgression, it is His sheer mercy that the advent of Ramadhaan would come
at that time, and serve as a major deterrent from evil and sin, Insha-Allah.
Ramadhaan itself, the state of fasting, the acts of Ibaadah and the chaining
of the rebellious Shaitaans are all factors that will help the Muslim Ummah
to stay on course. There is a not so remote a possibility that the eve of
the millennium may even coincide with the 23 night of Ramadhaan; one of the
possible nights for "Laylatul- Qadr" and also a time for I'tikaaf for many.
No Muslim in his sane mind would let up such a beautiful opportunity of
catching 'Laylatul-Qadr' (83 years & 4 months of Ibadaah), much less for a
silly bash or party or just to go or sit around viewing people doing so!

An appeal is directed to all Muslims to allow sense to prevail. Please take
care to distance yourselves and your children from the ways of modern
Jahilliyya on this occasion. Respect the sanctity of Ramadhaan. It is going
to be the final nights of Ramadhaan. Respect these holy nights and please do
not switch on the TV to view the heedless ones drowning themselves in the
disobedience of their Maker and Creator! You may be counted among them, if
you do so!

Millennium celebrations could invite the wrath and Adhaab of Allah Ta'ala.
Would you like to be caught at the 'wrong' places when the unannounced
Adhaab of Almighty Allah may come down or would you rather prefer to be in
the safe sanctuary of a House of Allah or engaged in your devotions of
Ramadhaan at home? O Muslim friend! it's your choice!

-Jamiat Publications