Starting with the Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year/Al-Hijra), the Islamic lunar calendar works in its own cycle. Islamic New Year is not celebrated in the same way as the Gregorian or Western New Year. They are very different since one is about parties, fireworks and having fun, while the other is about people thinking, praying and strengthening their faith.
🎉The arrival of the Islamic New Year
The arrival of the Islamic New Year marks when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) moved from Makkah to Madinah. It mattered because it moved people from being oppressed to having freedom of belief and it built a community that formed an Islamic Nation. The Hijri calendar which marks the advent of Islam is established because of the Hijrah.
The Islamic lunar year begins on the first day of Muharram. During Muharram which is one of the sacred four months in Islam, Muslims can remember the spiritual goals they have established. Muslims understand that we must persist in striving. This is why Allah (glorious and majestic) emphasizes the importance of steadfastness (ṣabr) in many verses of the Qur’an.
The Islamic New year 1447 AH (After Hijrah) is likely to commence on 26 June 2025 (subjected to moon sighting).
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🗓️Learning About the Hijri Calendar
Because the Islamic calendar tracks moon phases, it is eleven days shorter than the Gregorian solar calendar. The Islamic New Year begins on new dates on the Gregorian calendar every year.
12 months make up the Islamic calendar:
Muharram
Safar
Rabi’ al-Awwal
Rabi’ al-Thani
Jumada al-Awwal
Jumada al-Thani
Rajab
Sha’ban
Ramadan
Shawwal
Dhul-Qa’dah
Dhul-Hijjah
One of the four sacred months in Islam is Muharram, when warfare is traditionally prevented. It is a time with important historical and religious meaning.
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☪️Introduction of Al-Hijra
The Islamic calendar begins at the event in Islamic history known as the Hijrah. In 622 C.E. the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and many of his followers needed to make the journey out of their home in Makkah, but was received in Madinah with great respect and hospitality forming the foundation of the future Islamic State.
Because of the importance of Hijrah to early Islam, Umar ibn Al-Khattab (R.A) stated that the Islamic calendar would be based on Hijrah and represented it symbolically through sacrifice, brotherhood and hope.
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🕋Growth and Character-Building through the Hijrah
It illustrates:
- Having resilience in adversity.
- Being dependent on Allah through faith.
- Building a society of justice and mercy.
🕌Muharram: The 1st month of Islamic calendar
Muharram begins the Islamic calendar which is also called the Month of Allah and it is one of the four sacred months approved by Islam, alongside Ramadan.
Day of Ashura is another name for the tenth day of Muharram which is considered significant to Muslims..
Ashura, is the day when Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Israelites left Egypt to stop the Pharaoh from ruling them. It is typical among Muslims to fast during Ashura, in accordance with what the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that the most rewarding fast after Ramadan is observed in the month of Muharram which Muslims follow as Allah’s month (An-Nasa’i, As Sunan Al-Kubra:4202).
The 10th of Muharram represents Imam Husain’s (RA) day, when he was martyred who was the Prophet’s grandson. Hazrat Imam Hussain’s (R.A) death which happened during the battle when he supported justice, reminds us of how brave, true and devoted he was to God and mankind. At Karbala, when faced with a big army and only a handful of allies, Hazrat Hussain (R.A) did not surrender to oppression or accept lies. By standing firm on the teachings of Islam even while facing death, he showed that we should defend truth at any price.
☪Ways Muslims Celebrate the Islamic New Year
Muslims do not have to really celebrate or adhere to any particular traditions. However, there are many ways in which they can recognize this time.
- Spiritual Reflection for Muslims: This ceremony allows them to assess what they have done. They can promise themselves to do better, set new springs for the coming year. The celebration can be for self-reflection, to say sorry to those that one has offended, and to develop their relationship with Allah.
- Fasting: To fast during of the first ten days of Muharram, and especially on the 9th and 10th (or 10th and 11th of Muharram) as part of the Day of Ashura. Fasting during Muharram is said to carry great rewards.
🆕Things Some People Believe About the Arrival of the Islamic New Year
There are a few things you should know about that:
Contrary to Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha, the Islamic New Year is not celebrated as a festival.
There are no important prayers or celebrations during the New Year that everyone must do.
🤲How to Make Use of the Onset of the New Islamic Year
Doing these small and significant activities will help you enjoy the Islamic New Year:
Show gratitude by thinking about what you have accomplished this year and by also expressing your gratitude through action and prayer.
Think about what you’d like to do spiritually; for example, say you want to pray at the right times, remember verses from the Qur’an or work on your character, set a goal to develop in these areas.
Study Islamic history: The examples from the Hijrah can encourage you to stay strong and strong-minded.
Importance of the Islamic Calendar
🕋Fulfilling Religious Obligations
In Ramadan, Muslims observe a fast that lasts every day from dawn to dusk. For 29 or 30 days, Muslims have to avoid food and drinks from early morning to night. What time Ramadan lasts is determined by dates in the Islamic calendar.
Hajj in Dhul-Hijjah: The pilgrimage (Hajj), one of the five pillars of Islam, takes place during specific days of Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th month. Without the Islamic calendar, coordinating Hajj rituals would be impossible.
Zakat Calculation: Zakat, the obligatory almsgiving, is typically calculated once a lunar year has passed on a person’s wealth. The Islamic calendar ensures consistency in observing this duty.
🎉Observing Islamic Celebrations
Eid al-Fitr – This is a significant religious festival known to many. It is typically celebrated on the 1st of Shawwal at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and its observance depends on the sight of the moon.
Eid al-Adha – This is another important religious festival, occurring on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah. Eid al-Adha famously coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage and remembers Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice.
💚Unity and Synchrony
Having the same calendar helps Muslims around the world celebrate and acknowledge important dates and rituals, reinforcing the sense of global unity and spiritual unity.
🕌Preserving Islamic Identity
The Islamic calendar provides a way to maintain one’s cultural and religious identity, amidst a great majority of people following a Gregorian calendar. The Islamic calendar identifies each day and month serving as reminders of our heritage and religious responsibilities.
📌Conclusion
As we approach the Islamic New Year, we must remind ourselves that every minute is an opportunity to really connect with Allah, begin a new and take a fresh perspective. We are often busy chasing after things and interests, and this happens to be a chance for us to focus on things that matter. The Islamic calendar is not a clock to keep time; it is a moral compass in some way, showing Muslims how to fulfill religious duties at the right time. Fasting, zakat, Eid, Hajj: all of these customs and rituals are tied to lunar dates. Thus, being aware and mindful of the Islamic calendar is very important for any Muslim who practices Islam.
During Muharram, may you feel peace, revive your life’s goals and have an opportunity for a deeper, closer relationship with Allah. Whether this is through prayer, meditation, or kindness, may the Islamic New Year give us all an opportunity to improve, come together, and start fresh?