Hijjrah

The Islamic calendar (or ‘Hijrah’) was inaugurated during the reign of the Second Caliph, Umar (RA), and it taken as its start date the year when Muhammad (PBUH) emigrated from Makkah to Madinah. This move was precipitated by the extreme pressure the Koreish exerted upon Muhammad (PBUH)  and his followers in Makkah. According to the Gregorian calendar in 622; he emigrated to the city that was then known as Yathrib, 300 km north of Makkah. Again, it is worth noting that this year was only fixed as the first year of Muslim era, approximately is years later. [7].

The Islamic Higrah Calendar is based purely on lunar cycles. The Prophet (PBUH) said about the months of the year: "With Allah the months are twelve; four of them are holy; three of these are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumaada and Sha'ban. Caliph Umar made the transition in an attempt to rationalize the various dating systems used during his time. After consultation with his counsellors on the matter of the new Muslim chronology, it was agreed that the date for the new calendar was to be the first day of the first month (Muharram) of the year of the Hijrah.

Traditionally in Islam, the people do not celebrate the beginning of a new year, but they do acknowledge the passing of time, and take time to reflect on the mortality of all created things. Their calendar has twelve lunar months, the beginnings and endings of which are determined by the sighting of the moon. As mentioned above, the years are counted since the Hijrah, the time when the Prophet (PBUH) migrated from Makkah to Madinah [7, 10].

The Islamic calendar has twelve lunar months and these months are follows:

• Muharram: This is the first month and it is one of the four months during which time it was traditionally forbidden to wage war or fight, the other being Rjab, Dhul Qi’dah and Dhul-Hijjah.
• Safar: “Empty” or “Yellow” ;
• Rabia Awal: “First spring” ;
• Rabia Thani: “Second spring” ;
• Jumaada Awal: “First freeze” ;
• Jumaada Thani: “Second freeze” ;
• Rajab: respect" ;
• Sha'ban: “spread and distribute” ,
• Ramadan: Parched thirst" - this is the month of daytime fasting;
•  Shawwal: Meaning light and vigorous” ;
•  Dhul-Qi'dah: The month of rest.
•  Dhul-Hijjah: The month of Hajj, the opportunity for Muslims to take part in the annual 5 day pilgrimage to Makkah [8].

Significant days and nights of the Islamic Calendar as follows:

 

2006

English Date	Significant Days and Nights	Islamic Date
10 January, 2006	Day of Hajj (Pilgrimage)	9 Zul Hijjah, 1426
11 January, 2006	Eid-ul-Adha (Day of Sacrifice)	10 Zul Hijjah, 1426
31 January, 2006	Muharram (Islamic NewYear)	1 Muharram, 1427
9 February, 2006	Day of Áashurah (10th Day)	10 Muharram, 1427
11 April, 2006	Birth of Prophet (PBUH)	12 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1427
21 August, 2006	Laylatul Méraaj - Eve (Ascension to Heaven)	27 Raajab, 1427
7 September, 2006	Laylatul Barãat (Night of Emancipation)	15 Shábaan, 1427
24 September, 2006	Commencement of Ramadhaan (Fasting)	1 Ramadhaan, 1427
24 October, 2006	Eid-ul-Fitr (Termination of Fasting)	1 Shawwaal, 1427
30 December, 2006	Day of Hajj (Pilgrimage)	9 Zul Hijjah, 1427
31 December, 2006	Eid-ul-Adha (Day of Sacrifice)	10 Zul Hijjah, 1427

 2007

English Date	Significant Days and Nights	Islamic Date
21 January, 2007	Muharram (Islamic NewYear)	1 Muharram, 1428
30 January, 2007	Day of Áashurah (10th Day)	10 Muharram, 1428
01 April, 2007	Birth of Prophet (PBUH)	12 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1428
10 August, 2007	Laylatul Méraaj - Eve (Ascension to Heaven)	27 Raajab, 1428
28 August, 2007	Laylatul Barãat (Night of Emancipation)	15 Shábaan, 1428
13 September, 2007	Commencement of Ramadhaan (Fasting)	1 Ramadhaan, 1428
13 October, 2007	Eid-ul-Fitr (Termination of Fasting)	1 Shawwaal, 1428
19 December, 2007	Day of Hajj (Pilgrimage)	9 Zul Hijjah, 1428
20 December, 2007	Eid-ul-Adha (Day of Sacrifice)	10 Zul Hijjah, 1428

All dates are calculated on the basis of expected visibility of the moon and are subject to change depending on actual sighting [9].

 

 

 

 

Top

---

About us | Contact Us | Ajlan Al-Ajlan at University of De Montfort -1/2006