Is it permissible to specify certain acts of worship to be performed during the feasts of disbelievers, such as performing voluntary prayers on New Year’s eve, so as to be different from them?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is not permissible to specify a certain act of worship during disbelievers’ feasts, because this was not done by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam . It was narrated on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that any act that does not conform to his Sunnah will be rejected. [Muslim]

It is important to be different from them, and to do this you can refuse to participate in their celebrations and despise their deeds and incorrect beliefs. If you specify an act of worship, people may get used to it and the common people might think that it is part of the Sunnah. In this way, you would be innovating in the religion without intending to do so. This is why scholars maintain that it is unfavorable to fast on the days of the disbelievers’ feasts.

Ibn Qudaamah who followed the Hanbali School, said that it is unfavorable to fast on the days of the disbelievers festivities on the first day of the new year, because they glorify that day. Al-Kaasaani who followed the Hanafi School, said that this is unfavorable because it is an imitation of the disbelievers.

Allaah Knows best.