Islamic New Year Celebration and History
The Islamic New Year is the day that marks the beginning of a new Islamic calendar year, and is the day on which the year count is incremented. The first day of the year is observed on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic Lunar calendar. Hijrah refers to the migration of Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina, where they set up the first Islamic state.
This may not be as festive as other Muslim holidays such as the Eid-ul-Fitr or Eid-ul-Adha, but it is greeted with great hope and optimism. The celebration is simple and sober, marked by activities such as greetings of peace, prayers, and reflection. Muslims pay homage to Prophet Muhammad by reading books about his life and works, recalling his Islamic teachings of moderation, religious tolerance, and love for peace, and retelling his migration, through the Quran. They review the past year, examine their personal life and relations with family and friends. It is an occasion to reconcile differences with fellow Muslims.
The beginning of the Hijrah Calendar is traced to Umar ibn Al-Khattab, a close companion of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Under his leadership, a discussion was made about the dating systems then in use. Advisors agreed that Muhammad's move from Mecca to Medina would be the central event, the turning point in the history of the newly formed Islamic community. The calendar used in many Islamic nations today counts years from the date of the Hijrah. The date of the Islamic New Year changes each year as the lunar-based Hijrah is 11 days shorter than the solar calendar.
Hijrah lasts about 354 days and consists of 12 lunar months, namely, Muharram, Safar, Rabee Al-Awwal, Rabe al-Aakhir, Jumaadaa al-Oulaa, Jumaadaa al-Aakhirah, Rajab, Shabaan, Ramadhaan, Shawwaal, Thul-Qidah, and Thul-Hijjah. Muharram follows the month is which the Ansaar or followers of the Prophet pledged allegiance to the Prophet before his migration to Medina. The pledge was an introductory act of the migration itself and Muharram was deemed by the Prophet's followers as most suitable month to start the Islamic calendar.
Islamic New Year Greetings SMS
