Happy New Islamic Year 1434

Happy New Islamic Year 1434 to all of our readers at JapaneseMuslims.com. I hope all of you remember this important date in Islamic calendar, the 1st of Muharram, 1434.  As a matter of fact, I, myself, a born-Muslim, had almost forgotten it when a newly-converted Japanese Muslim friend called me to say new Islamic year greetings.

It is indeed, a time to reflect on our past and plan for this new year.  Having said that, I would like to share a story with you before we go any further.  A famous American writer visited a school in Pakistan several years back. A seemingly brilliant student approached him and asked to give autographs on his notebook.  The US writer asked the boy what he wanted to become in the future. The child proudly said that he wanted to become a Scholar of Islam. Upon hearing this, the writer asked the boy what was the Islamic date on that day. But, as you might expect, the boy could not answer this question. The writer, a non-Muslim guy, wrote the Islamic date of the day on the boy’s notebook.

So you see  this small story tells us how seriously we are committed to our Deen in general.  Do you think we need to know at least the basics of Islam to be rightfully called a good Muslim who can contribute to the society one is living in? I am waiting for your opinion in the comments area.