This year, the Islamic New Year is referred to as Hijri 1444 AH (Anno Hegirae in Latin or the year of the Hijra).
Unlike the Gregorian calendar that consists of 365 days, Islamic calendar has about 354 days divided into 12 months and depends on the sighting of the crescent moon which varies from country to country. If it is not sighted on 29th, the ongoing month completes 30 days and a new month starts the next day. While Gregorian calendar has 30 or 31 days in a month, a month in lunar calendar lasts for 29 or 30 days, depending on the moon sighting.Ī new month begins when the new moon or the crescent moon is sighted on the 29th day of the ongoing month. The Islamic calendar is based on a lunar cycle, unlike the Gregorian calendar which is based on the sun. It is the most sacred month in Islam after Ramadan and marks the beginning of the lunar calendar which Islam follows. Muharram is the first month in Islamic calendar followed by the lunar months of Safar, Rabi-al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada ath-Thaniyah, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Zu al-Qadah and Zu al-Hijjah. Shiite Muslims re-enact historical events of Ashura, a 10-day period commemorating the seventh century killing of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussein, in Iraq's holy city of Karbala (Photo by Mohammed SAWAF / AFP) The word Muharram means ‘not permitted’ or ‘forbidden’ hence, Muslims are prohibited from taking part in activities like warfare and use it as a period of prayer and reflection. The Islamic New Year, also known as Al Hijri or Arabic New Year, is celebrated on the first day of Muharram as it was in this holy month that Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina but the 10th day of the month, known as Ashura, is mourned by Muslims in the remembrance of the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussain Ibn Ali in Karbala.
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