4 things to know about the Islamic New Year
Muslims worldwide anticipate the Islamic New Year starting July 7th at sundown, marking the beginning of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic Lunar calendar.
By Siddhi Mahatole
The arrival of the new crescent moon is just around the corner and so is Islamic New Year. Muslims worldwide will observe the first Muharram as the beginning of the Islamic Lunar calendar year.
The Islamic calendar was established in 622 CE (1 AH – After Hijra), under the rule of Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Caliph, to commemorate the Prophet Muhammad’s migration (Hijra) from Mecca to Medina.
Here are four things to know about the Islamic New Year:
According to the Fiqh Council of North America, this year, July 7th which is the Sunday after sundown will be celebrated as the Islamic New Year. Every month begins with sighting the new moon according to the Islamic calendar, which has been observed for over 1,440 years.
While there are no big celebrations observed, many majority Muslim nations observe this day as a public holiday to mark the new year. The United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia commemorate this day as a national holiday.
It is the start of the year and the start of people’s annual preparations throughout the Muslim world. Muharram is one of the sacred months ordained by Allah. Muslims may use it as an opportunity for reflection on the life and struggles of their beloved Prophet Muhammad and the Muslim community during his era.
Shia Muslims, specifically, mourn the death of Husayn Ibn Ali al-Hussein, who was the grandson of Prophet Muhammad for the first 10 days of Muharram. They commemorate the annual day by visiting the shrine of al-Hussein in Karbala, Iraq. Sunni Muslims mark the day by fasting. Sunni and Shia are the two main branches of Islam, and while they share many core beliefs and practices, they differ in their beliefs about the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad:
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