Islamic New Year: This year the month of Muharram has started from Monday 8 July 2024. The Islamic calendar has 12 months in a year, in which Muharram is the first month of the year. Muharram means ‘not allowed’ or ‘forbidden’.
In Islam, Muharram is considered the second most sacred month after Ramadan. Because many important events took place in this month. The Islamic calendar is known as the Hijri calendar, which is based on the moon. According to the Hijri calendar, this year is 1446. Let us know the importance of the Hijri calendar in Islam.
The Islamic calendar is based on the moon
According to the Gregorian calendar, the new date starts after 12 midnight. In the Hindu calendar Vikram Samvat, the new date starts with sunrise. On the other hand, the Islamic calendar runs according to the moon. Therefore, in this, the new date starts after sunset i.e. at the time of Maghrib.
The Hijri calendar has 12 lunar months, in which each month is of 29 or 30 days. In this way the whole year is of 354 days. Therefore, the Hijri calendar is 11 days shorter than the solar calendar. However, to make up for this difference of 11 days, some days are added to the month of Zilhijj.
How did the Hijri calendar start?
In Islam, Muharram may be the first month of the year and it marks the beginning of the new year. But it is considered a month of grief, mourning and contemplation. Because in this month Imam Hussain and his 72 companions attained martyrdom.
According to Islamic beliefs, Hijri year started during the time of the second Caliph Hazrat Umar (RA). This was decided on the advice of Hazrat Ali (RA). According to some beliefs, Hijri year is considered to be the beginning of the new year of Islam from the time when the last founder of Islam Hazrat Mohammad went from the holy city of Mecca to Medina.
On the advice of Hazrat Ali (RA) and Hazrat Usman Ghani (RA), Caliph Hazrat Umar (RA) decided Muharram as the first month of the Hijri year and since then, the first day of Muharram is considered the beginning of the Islamic New Year for Muslims all over the world.
These special events happened in Muharram
- Martyrdom of Imam Hussain and his 72 companions: People observe fast on the 10th day of the month of Muharram. It is called Ashura or Yaum-e-Ashura. According to Islamic belief, on the 10th day of Muharram, Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Imam Hussain and his 72 companions were martyred in Karbala, Iraq while fighting to protect humanity. Therefore, Muslims remember Imam Hussain and his companions by holding Majlis in Muharram. The 10th day of Muharram is celebrated as the martyrdom of Imam Hussain and his companions. On this day, people wear black clothes in grief and a procession of Tazia is taken out from the Imambara of different cities.
- Victory of Prophet Moses: Before Prophet Mohammed, Prophet Moses had won over the Egyptian Pharaoh on the 10th day of Muharram. Therefore, Muslims also observe fast or Roza in his memory. This is remembered as the victory of good over evil in Muharram.
- Beginning of the Hijri calendar: The importance of Muharram in Islam increases even more because the Hijri calendar starts from this month. It is believed that the second Caliph Hazrat Umar Farooq started the Hijri calendar.
Months of the Islamic lunar calendar
| Muharram |
| Journey |
| Rabi’ul-Awwal |
| Rabi’ul-Akhir |
| jumadil the first one |
| finally jumadil |
| Rajab |
| sha’ban |
| Ramadan |
| Shawwal |
| Jill Ka’adah |
| Zilhijja |
read this also: Muharram 2024 Date: Islamic New Year will start with Muharram, know when Yaum-e-Ashura will be celebrated
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