Islamic New Year (Muharram & Islamic New Year)

Islamic New Year (Muharram & Islamic New Year)

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The Islamic New Year is on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the lunar Islamic calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar.

What happens during Muharram?

Different Islamic denominations - Shi'a and Sunni - and cultures do different things to mark Muharram. Fasting varies among different Muslim communities. Some Muslims fast on or around the 10th day of Muharram, also known as the Day of Ashura, to mourn the death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Husayn ibn Ali. Some mosques have free meals (nazar) around the ninth to 11th days of Muharram.

In Iraq, some Shi'a Muslims make a pilgrimage to the Imam Husayn Shrine, on the site of the grave of Husayn ibn Ali. In Iran, taziya (ta'zieh) or Condolence Theater are performed. During Muharram, these take the form of re-enactments of the battle of Karbala. In south Asia, similar events are known as such as marsiya, noha and soaz, tabuik or tabut. In Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, they are known as Hosay or Hussay and are attended by people from a variety of religions and cultures.

Shi'a Muslims, particularly those in Afghanistan, Bahrain, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Bangladesh and Pakistan, take part in remembrance parades or matam (matham). During matam, men gather in large groups on the streets to take part in ritual chest beating. Some people also beat themselves with zanjir (metal chains fixed into handles), but this practice is controversial and has been banned by some civic and Islamic authorities.

What's Open or Closed?

The Islamic New Year is a public holiday in places such as (but not exclusive to) India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates. It is not a nationwide public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States. However, Islamic businesses and organizations may have altered opening hours and there may be some congestion around mosques, particularly in the evening and at night.

About Muharram

A year lasts for about 354 days and consists of 12 months in the Islamic/Hijri calendar. As the first month of the year, Muharram known as the month of remembrance and it is believed to be the most sacred month. Muslims are not allowed to fight during Muharram. Some important Islamic historical events that happened during the month include:

The Battle of Karbala (currently in Iraq) in the year 680 CE, which enabled Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammed, and his army to enter the city on the first day of the month.

The restriction of Husayn ibn Ali's access to water on the seventh day.

The death of Husayn ibn Ali and his clan (Ahl al-Bayt) on the 10th day of the month.

We diligently research and continuously update our holiday dates and information. If you find a mistake, please let us know.

he next Islamic New Year begins on the evening of August 31, 2019.

Exact date varies depending on method used to determine start of new year: using local moon-sighting or using astronomical calculations for new moon.

Facts:

• The Islamic New Year begins on the first day of the first month of the Islamic calendar.
• The first month of the Islamic year is called Muharram.
• The Islamic New Year has been observed in this way since 622 AD when the prophet Mohammed fled from Mecca to Yathrib (now called Medina) to escape religious persecution.
• This migration is called Hijra in Arabic, also spelled Hegira.
• The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar year.
• The Islamic calendar has 12 months but only 354 days.
• The Islamic New Year is usually celebrated with low-key religious events.
• The day is an official holiday in some Muslim countries, but is a regular working day in others.

Muslims across the world recognize the start of the Islamic New Year on Tuesday, marking the first day of the year 1440 of the Hijri calendar.

Hijri New Year is not as well known or as widely celebrated as Eid al-Adha, which marks the culmination of the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. But it is still a significant day for Islam's 1.8 billion adherents. Almost 3.5 million Muslims live in the U.S., meaning many Americans will be celebrating along with other believers around the world.

So what is the Islamic New Year and what significance does it hold for Muslims? Here are five things to know about the religious holiday.

1. When is Hijri New Year?

The first day of the Islamic New Year and the month of Muharram is known as Al-Hijra. Each year, the date changes on the Gregorian calendar, which is the commonly adopted calendar that Americans and much of the world adheres to. The Islamic calendar is based on a 30-year cycle with 11 leap years of 355 days and 19 years of just 354 days, compared to the 366 and 365 respectively of the Gregorian calendar.

Last year, the Hijri New Year fell on September 21, and this year it takes place on September 11.

2. How is it celebrated?

While many Muslims make resolutions and spend time with family to mark the Islamic new year, just as others would on January 1, there is a major difference to how the holiday is commemorated by the two major sects of Islam, Shiites and Sunnis.

3. How do Shiites commemorate the day?

Shiites actually start the islamic new year with 10 days of mourning to remember the slaying of Prophet Mohammed's first cousin Ali and his only grandson Hussein Ibn Ali, who they see as the rightful caliphs to succeed their prophet. These killings, which took place in 680 C.E., marked the historic split between Shiites and Sunnis. Today, devout Shiites spend the first 10 days of the Islamic new year fasting and mourning in the lead up to another holiday called Ashoura.

4. What about Sunnis?

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For Sunnis, the new year is a low-key holiday during which they spend time with family, visit the mosque to pray and focus on gratitude. In many countries with a majority or large Muslim populations, the day is also a public holiday when businesses close and government offices shut down.

5. When did the Hijri calendar start?

Although Arab tribes used a related calendar before the Prophet Muhammad, the Hijri calendar was retrospectively started based off the year 622 C.E. During that year, Muhammad and his followers journeyed from Mecca to Medina so their new movement of believers could worship freely without persecution.

Islamic New Year (Muharram & Islamic New Year)

Muslims around the world are marking the entry into an Islamic New Year as September 11, 2018 was officially declared 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.

The occasion comes with very little celebration as compared to January 1st in the case of the Gregorian calendar. Except for Muslim dominant nations, it is a normal day across most secular countries.

In parts of northern Nigeria for instance, state governments have declared the day a holiday to allow residents observe the day as such.

The Saudi Press Agency, SPA, and the Islamic Society of North America, ISNA, all declared September 11 as the official date for the start of the New year. SPA said in an article: “The Supreme Court has announced that tomorrow, Tuesday is the first day of Muharram,1440 H corresponding to 11th September 2018.

“It said in its statement that the crescent of the month of Muharram 1440 H was not sighted on Sunday evening 29/12/1439 H, there for the Supreme Court decided that Monday 30/12/1439H shall be the completion of the month of Dhu-AlHijjah and Tuesday 1/1/1440H is the first day of Muharram according to the Umm Al-Qura calendar.”

As per Islamic traditions, Muslims have two main celebrations annually in the mould of Eid-ul-Fitr (Post Ramadan feast) and Eid-ul-Adha (feast of sacrifice).