The Islamic New Year is an event filled with great stories, meanings, and blessings. It is a time for renewal, reflection, and restoration. I discuss some this in an earlier episode of the Making Sense of Islam podcast. In this article, however, you will find special prayers and devotional acts to mark this occasion and get your New Year started right!
1 Fast. There is a tradition narrated by Ibn Hajar who narrates the following on the authority of Ḥafṣa who said that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “whoever fasts the last day of the year and the first day of the year Allah will expiate his sins for fifty years, and the fast of any day in the month of Muḥarram is rewarded as the fast of thirty days.”
2 Recite Ayat al-Kursi 360 times, each time with the basmallah (i.e. bismillah al-Raḥmān al-Raḥīm). After this recite the following supplication:
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اللهم يا محول الأحوال حولي حالي إلى أحسن الأحوال بحولك وقوتك يا عزيز يا متعال وصلى الله تعالي علي سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم.
Allahumma ya muḥawwil al-aḥwāl, ḥawwil ḥāli ilā aḥsan al-aḥwāl bi ḥawlika wa quwwatik yā ‘azīz yā muta‘āl wa ṣalla Allah ta‘āla ‘ala sayyidina Muḥammad wa ‘alā ālihī wa ṣaḥbihī wa sallam
O the One who changes conditions, change my condition to the best of conditions through your power and ability O Eminent and Lofty Lord. Send prayers and salutations on our master Muhammad and his family.
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اللَّهُمَّ أنتَ الأَبَدِيُّ القَديمُ الأَوَّل ، وعلى فَضلِكَ العَظيمِ وكَرَمِ جودِكَ الْمُعَوَّلُ ، وهَذا عامٌ جَديدٌ قَد أَقبَل ، أَسأَلُكَ العِصمَةَ فيهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطانِ وأَولِيائِه ، والعَوْنَ على هَذِهَ النَّفْسِ الأمّارَةِ بالسّوءِ ، والاشتِغالَ بِما يُقَرِّبُني إِلَيْكَ زُلفى ، يا ذا الْجَلالِ والإكرام، وصَلَّى اللَّهُ على سَيِّدِنا مُحَمَّد وعَلى آلِهِ وصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ. (تُقرأ ثَلاثاً) .
Allahumma anta al-Abadiyu al-Qadīmu al-Awwalu, wa ‘ala faḍlika al-‘Aẓīmi wa karīmi jūdika al-‘amīmi al-mu‘awwalu, wa hādha ‘āmun jadīdun qad aqbala as’aluka al-‘iṣmata fihī min al-shayṭāni wa awliyā’ihi wa al-‘awna ‘ala hādhihi al-nafsi al-ammārati bi’l sū’ wa al-ishtighāla bimā yuqarribuni ilayka zulfā yā dha’l Jilāli wa’l Ikrām, wa ṣalla Allahu ta‘āla ‘ala sayyidina Muḥammadin wa ‘ala ālihi wa ṣaḥbihi wa sallam.
O Allah you are Everlasting without beginning, upon your vast generosity and infinite gentleness is our reliance. This is a new year that is upon us. I ask you for protection from Satan and his minions, I ask you for protection against my lower self, the self that calls to bad actions. I ask You to occupy my waking states with those acts that will draw me closer to You, O Lord of Majesty and Generosity. I ask you Allah to send prayers and salutations upon our Master Muḥammad, his kin, and his companions.