Muslims around the world will today on September 11, 2018; mark the entry into an Islamic New Year, 1440H. The day marked the first day (1st Muharram) of the year 1440 Hijri. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar.
According to the calendar used across most of the Arab world, Muslims have entered the year 1440 Hijri. It is referred to as the Hijri Calendar because it began with the Hijra, or hegira, i.e. the Prophet Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina (in present-day Saudi Arabia).
Muhammad and a number of Muslims at the time migrated to Medina due to persecution by the disbelievers. The first Muslim state was established in Medina till he returned to Makkah after a conquest years later.
Here we explore the difference between the Hijri and the Gregorian calendar widely used outside the Arab/Muslim world.
1 - The Gregorian calendar has 365/366 days whiles the Hijri or Islamic year has minimum 354 days.
Reason: the Hijri Calendar follows the movements of the moon (therefore the term lunar calendar). The calendar is consistently less by 11 days comparative to the Gregorian.
Reason: the Hijri Calendar follows the movements of the moon (therefore the term lunar calendar). The calendar is consistently less by 11 days comparative to the Gregorian.
2 - Gregorian calendars, measures time beginning with the year 0 A.D. A.D. stands for Anno Domini, which means "In the year of our Lord." The Hijri Calendar has years marked by A.H., which stands for Anno Hegirae, "In the Year of the Hijra." The hegira took place in A.H. 1.
Most popular: The Gregorian which is usually referred to as a type of solar calendar is most widely used across the world, even alongside the Hijri in most of the Arab world.
Most popular: The Gregorian which is usually referred to as a type of solar calendar is most widely used across the world, even alongside the Hijri in most of the Arab world.
3 - The Gregorian was named after Pope Gregory XIII and was introduced in October 1958. The Hijri Calendar is the official calendar in many predominantly Muslim countries, most notably Saudi Arabia.
In most secular countries, Muslims refer to the Gregorian Calendar for most dates and consult the Hijri Calendar only for religious purposes.
In most secular countries, Muslims refer to the Gregorian Calendar for most dates and consult the Hijri Calendar only for religious purposes.
The main similarities relate to days of the week and number of months.
The similarities between the Islamic and Gregorian calendar are that; both have 12 months each of seven days in a week. The slight day variations are that the first day of the week is Sunday (Yawmul Ahad) whiles Monday is seen as the first on the other side.
And Allah said in the Quran: “Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein” [Al-Tawbah 9:36]
New Year 1440H: The need to imbibe and imbue Islamic calendar
Authored this day: Tuesday 8th Muharram, 1440 = 18th September 2018.
And Allah said in the Quran: “Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein” [Al-Tawbah 9:36]
New Year 1440H: The need to imbibe and imbue Islamic calendar
Authored this day: Tuesday 8th Muharram, 1440 = 18th September 2018.
No comments:
Post a Comment