Khalifa Umar then consulted the Prophet’s revered companions, Uthman ibn Affan and Ali bin Abi Talib, and they agreed.Īfter all the discussions, Khalifa Umar announced that the year in which the Prophet Mohammad migrated would mark the beginning of the Hijri calendar. However, the majority agreed that the calendar should begin with the date of his migration. Some suggested that the date of the Prophet’s birth should mark the beginning of a new calendar, whilst others suggested the date of his death. Khalifa Umar debated the issue with his advisors. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari sent a letter to Khalifa Umar, asking him to develop for a new way to calculate dates. But, seventeen years after the Prophet’s migration and in the third or fourth year of the succession of Khalifa Umar ibn al-Khattab, a complaint was made by Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, an official in Basrah (Iraq), regarding a lack of consistent dates on the correspondence he received. To this day, the full and crescent moons are used to confirm the beginning and end of each month, particularly to establish the beginning of Ramadan, the start of the month of Shawwal and the date of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.īefore the Hijri calendar came into use, Muslims used a range of important events in Muslim history, for example, Am Al-Fil, the year in which the Prophet Muhammad was born, to demarcate time. Khalifa Umar ibn Al-Khattab, is considered to be the creator of the Hijri calendar, which is made up of 12 months, dictated by the cycle of the moon. The Hijri Year refers to our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)’s migration (Hijira) from the city of Makkah to the city of Al Madina El Monawara in 622AD. What are the meanings of the names of the Hijri months? Who was the creator of the Hijri calendar? Famously, the Hijri calendar is the official calendar of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These four include the Miladi, Hijri, Chinese, and Persian calendars. The Hijri calendar is considered to be one of four major calendars currently in use worldwide. This year, Muslims are celebrating the year 1440 AH. Eid al-Adha, the "Festival of the Sacrifice", begins on the tenth day and ends on sunset of the twelfth, and during which war is banned.Muslims celebrate the Hijri New Year (considered an official holiday in some Islamic countries) on the first of the Islamic calendar’s month of Muharram every year. Day of Arafah takes place on the ninth of the month. The Hajj is performed on the eighth, ninth and the tenth of this month. Dhul-Hijjah: During this month Muslim pilgrims from all around the world congregate at Mecca to visit the Kaaba. Dhul Qa'dah: This is a holy month during which war is banned.ġ2. Shawwal: The name Shawwal is derived from the Arabic word 'tashawwala', which refers to the scarcity in she-camels' milk.ġ1. During this time, Muslims must fast from pre-dawn till sunset and should give charity to the poor and needy.ġ0. Ramaḍan is the most venerated month of the Hijri calendar. Ramadan: Supposedly so called because of high temperatures caused by the excessive heat of the sun. Sha'ban may also be related to a verb meaning "to be in between two things" and it was called thus because the month lies between Rajab and Ramaḍan.ĩ. Sha'ban: Marked the time of year when Arab tribes dispersed to find water. This is the second sacred month in which fighting is forbidden.Ĩ. Rajab: is derived from the Arabic word ‘rajaba’ which means to ‘sanctify’ something. Jumada al-Thani: is named so because it coincides with winter time.ħ. Jumada al-Awwal: is named so because water gets frozen at winter time, and that coincides with the time of this month.Ħ. Rabi al-Thani: is named so because it usually coincides with the winter time.ĥ. Also means to graze, because cattle were grazed during this month.Ĥ. Rabi al-Awwal: is named so because it usually coincides with the spring time.
It is also said that they used to leave their homes to escape summer heat.ģ. Safar: Supposedly named thus because the Arabs used to leave their homes during that month as they used to set out to fight their enemies.
Muharram: A sacred month, so called because battle and all kinds of fighting are forbidden during this month.Ģ.