In Islam, the calender is based off the lunar cycle. The Islamic year has 12 months like the Gregorian calender. The beginning and end of the lunar months are determined by the sighting of the crescent moon.
Islamic months begin at sunset of the first day, the day when the lunar crescent is visually sighted. The lunar year is approximately 354 days long, so the months rotate backward through the seasons and are not fixed to the Gregorian calendar. The months of the Islamic year are the following:
1. Muharram ("Forbidden")
2. Safar ("Empty" or "Yellow")
3. Rabia Awal ("First spring")
4. Rabia Thani ("Second spring")
5. Jumaada Awal ("First freeze")
6. Jumaada Thani ("Second freeze")
7. Rajab ("To respect")
8. Sha'ban ("To spread and distribute")
9. Ramadan ("Parched thirst" - this is the month of obligatory daytime fasting for those able)
10. Shawwal ("To be light and vigorous")
11. Dhul-Qi'dah ("The month of rest")
12. Dhul-Hijjah ("The month of Hajj" - this is the month of the annual pilgrimage to Makkah [once in a lifetime for those able])
The Islamic Year One started on the first day of the first month of the year of "the Hijrah". The Hijrah is the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from the City of Makkah (after much persecution) to the City of Madinah. This was the major turning point in Islamic history and Madinah was established as the first Islamic state. In Madinah, the Muslim community was able to practice their religion without fear and a matured society was born out of Islamic principles with social, political, and economic independence.
This year, the 1st of Muharram and the new Islamic year 1433 A.H. ( latin foranno Hegirae or in the Year of the Hijrah ) began on Sunday 27th November 2011. Muslims do not celebrate the start of a new year, rather it is a time of reflection and contemplation for learning from mistakes of the previous year.
Islamic months begin at sunset of the first day, the day when the lunar crescent is visually sighted. The lunar year is approximately 354 days long, so the months rotate backward through the seasons and are not fixed to the Gregorian calendar. The months of the Islamic year are the following:
1. Muharram ("Forbidden")
2. Safar ("Empty" or "Yellow")
3. Rabia Awal ("First spring")
4. Rabia Thani ("Second spring")
5. Jumaada Awal ("First freeze")
6. Jumaada Thani ("Second freeze")
7. Rajab ("To respect")
8. Sha'ban ("To spread and distribute")
9. Ramadan ("Parched thirst" - this is the month of obligatory daytime fasting for those able)
10. Shawwal ("To be light and vigorous")
11. Dhul-Qi'dah ("The month of rest")
12. Dhul-Hijjah ("The month of Hajj" - this is the month of the annual pilgrimage to Makkah [once in a lifetime for those able])
The Islamic Year One started on the first day of the first month of the year of "the Hijrah". The Hijrah is the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from the City of Makkah (after much persecution) to the City of Madinah. This was the major turning point in Islamic history and Madinah was established as the first Islamic state. In Madinah, the Muslim community was able to practice their religion without fear and a matured society was born out of Islamic principles with social, political, and economic independence.
This year, the 1st of Muharram and the new Islamic year 1433 A.H. ( latin foranno Hegirae or in the Year of the Hijrah ) began on Sunday 27th November 2011. Muslims do not celebrate the start of a new year, rather it is a time of reflection and contemplation for learning from mistakes of the previous year.
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| islamic year, moon |
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