mystic, nauroz is about 3000 years old and dates back to the traditions of the Zoroastrian religion. It's also celebrated by the Baha'is and in many countries across Central Asia.

Here's a link: www.answers.com

In terms of doing duas, these can be done at any time for any occasion. Many Islamic cultures incorporate prayers to God in all sorts of celebrations like birthdays, graduations, and cultural holidays.

Khanaseeb, agreed bro . . . time to disengage.

DH, these munafiks dont deserve reply

Bahh humbug this is pointless . . . Ok, I am calling you out. Go put your mouth where your anal butt crack is and post your cr@p in that Ahlas sunnah wal jamah or whatever village. If you have any dignity, then until you start making complimentary postings there, desist from your little hate-mongering campaign here . . . but then of course, your perevious comment shows just how much dignity you have :)

psychedelic - I have a question for you... I've never heard of Nauroz. It sounds like a regular new years celebration or like a summer/spring solstice celebration. Does it pre-date Islam in Iran? Why do duas, etc when it is not a RELIGIOUS holiday? You say to bless the new year... are there specific prayers or us it up to each household?

kazim, you were probably talking to a moron. Both Eids and Muharram come at different times in the year so I don't see any practical conflict in their celebration/commemoration.

However, just to make it clear, what you are hearing about Eid celebrations in Iran may have to do with the idea that the Shia celebration of Eid is always bittersweet. Shias believe that Eid can never truly be celebrated until the matter of injustice done against the family of the Prophet, ie the brutal massacre of Husayn and his family, and his friends at Karbala, is settled. And this will happen when the Mahdi (AS), as acceted by all Muslims, will come and establish justice on the Earth. This is when Muslims can truly celebrate Eid.

Nauroz is an Iranian cultural holiday which celebrates the first day of Spring. There is nothing haraam in it. Nazr is performed, duas are read, and Quranic ayats are recited to bring blessings in the New Year. Its like cultural holidays Muslims may celebrate in countries they inhabit around the world like Thanksgiving or New Year's Day. I don't see the problem in it.

SilkySword: before I thought you were a punk. but you are right about the Eid thing. I went to one iranian shia (who deosn't know I am muslim) and asked him about Eid, and he said Eid is at the feet of Muharam! What wonderful logic, beating the sh!t out of yourself is better than enjoying God's blessings and spreading cheer.

desihulk: you are such a pussy. I'm not wahabi and would probably be killed by them. you don't know what else to say so, "Oh you're a wahabi" your mother does mutah with wahabis @ss. Find me a wahabi Taliban village and I'll post similar stuff there.

btw, Iran doesn't celebrate Eids like Muslims do, if at all!!! I read in Iranian Arabs' websites about crackdowns on them for celebrating eids!!!! They say Iran doesn't even go in holidays during them, or if so..the number of days ppl get to celebrate the eids..aren't to be compared for the many days in holidays for the pagan, Majoosi 'Nawrooz' jahili one (whichever way they spell that shitty feats of theirs) they shamelessly celebrate -then dare to call themselves an 'Islamic Republic'!!! Majoosi only republic, u bastards*!!!

hulk, there is no other response to this article than to say lanaat on the uncivilized dogs who sentenced these poor girls. its the boys who left them and ran that should be hanged by their genitals and then castrated

that article is painful to read...

I suppose your Saudi and taliban brethren would have treated her differently (and more fairly)?