Islam News Room - Auld Lang Syne? Bid'ah? Yup

What Are Traditions (innovations)?

And How Do They Start?

"And whoever innovates any (bid'ah) in this (religion of Islam), it will never be accepted from them"
-- Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Where Do Traditions Come From?

Avoiding pagan or false worship is the number one focus of the teaching of Islam. It clearly teaches us not to adopt a tradition or habit of doing or saying things without having sufficient proof to justify putting something into practice.

The Quran is crystal clear on this topic, mentioning the mistakes of those who came before us who just follow what they found their forefathers following, without any real knowledge about it.

Christmas trees, holly wreaths, candle light ceremonies, strings of lights, hanging mistletoe and songs of old are all traditions associated with this time of the year. All of them are innovated traditions, not actually from Christian teachings at all.

But for this simple lesson to understand origins of any traditions, we'll leave the subject of religious innovations aside, let's just take one example from an old famous song that many people probably raised their voices (and their glasses?) in celebration last night (today is January 1, 2013).

One of the most famous traditional songs in America, occurring every year at the stroke of midnight between December 31st of one year and January 1st of the next is, "Auld Lang Syne".

The meaning of those three words have been a source of discussion, confusion and innovated traditions for decades. Countless movie scripts, plays and TV shows have caused these words along with the familiar tune to become a part of America tradition for ringing out the old year and bringing in the new.

At last! --

Here we endeavor to answer the question everyone asks each morning after - the morning after New Year's Eve, that is.

What on earth does the song "Auld Lang Syne" mean?

Disputes and arguments over the meaning of these words are about as much a tradition as singing the song on the occasion of every New Year's Eve.

Most of those who sing (or try to sing) this old traditional tune, mumble along until they come to the part "For auld lang syne" and then they raise up their voices, some almost shouting it out, as though it has some very significant meaning to them.

But just ask the most verbose of those who shouted out these precious words while humming along to the rest of the song, "Just exactly what does 'auld lang syne' mean?"

And watch their faces as then stumble around looking for some profound explanation or deep insight for these often repeated, but never understood pronouncements.

Fact - They don't know!

OK what is the answer to the question? Is this 'Ye olde Anglish"? (old English)? - Or perhaps Irish? Gaelic (from Wales)?

Nope! None of the above.

In fact, "Auld Lang Syne" is the title of the tune, and it is SCOTTISH for "Times Gone By".

It was written by Robert Burns almost 300 years ago and it is just about recalling old friends from the past and not letting them or the events to be forgotten.

Another popular misunderstanding about this age old tradition is that it someone has a strong connection to the ringing in of the new year. Many would feel the whole event was incomplete if these precious words, along with its melody were not appropriately recited on this momentous occasion.

So what is the connection between hailing in the baby new year and the wailing of this old tune?

Guess what?

NOTHING.

That's right. In spite of the strong tradition associated with the chanting of unknown words to this familiar tune and watching the ball go up and down the building at Times Square in New York at exactly midnight on December 31st each year - it has nothing whatsoever to do with what the song's writer intended back in the 1700's in the land of kilts and bagpipes. Robert Burns had never intended for his little composition to be part of the annual exchanging of the calendar for a new one.

How did it get so famous and when?

Give the credit for the more recent popularity to the famous orchestra leader Guy Lombardo, who used the tune just as a background song between two radio shows being broadcast during a live performance in the old Roosevelt Hotel back in 1929. It was only by coincidence that "Auld Lang Syne" happened to be playing just as the clock chimed the stroke of midnight and a New York & New Year's tradition was born, right alongside of the birth of a new year.

AULD LANG_SYNE

Does anyone remember the TV series with Billy Crystal, "When Harry Met Sally"? In one episode Harry (Crystal's character in the series) says:

Harry -- "What does this song mean? My whole life, I don’t know what this song means. I mean, ‘Should old acquaintance be forgot?’ Or does it mean that we should forget old acquaintances? Or does it mean that if we happened to forget them, we should remember them? Which is not possible because we already forgot them?”

Then his co-star in the character of Sally says:

Sally -- "Well maybe it just means we should remember that we forgot . . or something? Anyway, it's about old friends".

Not really - but that proves just what we are talking about. Maybe we could have our own song about --
"Old Traditions - That SHOULD BE FORGOTTEN"

So, what did Robert Burns intend to convey through his song to the listeners? Take a look at the actual words for the song translated from the old Scottish language into English and decide for yourself --

(O yeah, and because we're Muslim we don't say "Happy New Year" - we follow the Lunar calendar. So, "Have a nice day" LOL)

Here are the words:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?