The Islamic New Year brings renewed hope and a chance to contemplate and remember. Muslims everywhere cherish this momentous occasion.
The Islamic New Year, also known as “Hijri New Year” or “Islamic Hijri Calendar,” begins the lunar-based Islamic calendar and commemorates Muslim history. The history of religion, endurance, and solidarity is remarkable.
The lunar calendar guided early Muslims and inspired the Islamic New Year. The Islamic calendar follows the lunar year, unlike the Gregorian calendar.
Umar ibn Al-Khattab’s 638 CE calendar commemorates Prophet Muhammad’s travel from Makkah to Madinah. The lunar calendar has twelve months of 29 or 30 days, making a year of 354 or 355.
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Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is significant and commemorates the New Year. For Shia Muslims, who mourn Imam Hussein’s death in 680 CE at the Battle of Karbala, it is a time of reflection and recollection.
Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, is a day of sadness and reflection on Imam Hussein and his companions’ sacrifice and resilience.
The Islamic New Year marks the Hijra, or migration, of Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Makkah to Madinah. This voyage in 622 CE established the first Islamic state in Madinah and changed Islam’s history.
The early Muslim community in Makkah was persecuted. Therefore they migrated to start Islam’s spread.
Muslim cultures celebrate the Islamic New Year differently. Communities pray, fast, recite the Quran, and reflect on their growth. It emphasises Muslim solidarity, endurance, and regeneration. The Islamic New Year is a time of spiritual renewal and community unity.
Beyond its historical and cultural significance, the Islamic New Year holds a treasure trove of interesting facts.
Muslims everywhere commemorate and refresh during the Islamic New Year. It honours Prophet Muhammad’s migration and encourages self-improvement and spiritual growth. Muslims celebrate the Islamic New Year with togetherness, resilience, and dedication.
Jane is one of our primary content writers and specialises in elder care. She has a degree in English language and literature from Manchester University and has been writing and reviewing products for a number of years.
The Islamic New Year is important since it starts the lunar-based Islamic calendar. Muslims meditate on the Prophet Muhammad’s relocation from Makkah to Madinah, which influenced the Muslim community. The New Year emphasises togetherness, endurance, and allegiance to Allah. It allows Muslims to renew their resolve to live a decent life and to progress spiritually.
Muslim groups celebrate the Islamic New Year differently. Muslims celebrate it with prayer and thought. People pray, recite the Quran, and remember Allah. Some Muslims fast on New Year’s Day, mimicking Prophet Muhammad’s voluntary fasts. Religious leaders may preach about the New Year’s lessons for Muslims in mosques.
Some Muslim groups observe various Islamic New Year customs. Some Muslims recite the Quran or pray the night before the New Year. Some may celebrate the New Year with family and friends over a meal. Some regions hold religious and cultural processions. However, the Islamic New Year emphasises spiritual introspection, personal progress, and devotion rather than complex rites or traditions.
Muslim New Year celebrations stress time, memory, and rejuvenation. It reminds Muslims to reflect on their spiritual path, beg forgiveness, and develop. The New Year reminds Muslims of Prophet Muhammad and the early Muslim community’s struggles, encouraging them to persevere. It promotes togetherness, compassion, and justice by encouraging people to follow Islam. The Islamic New Year motivates Muslims to improve personally and communally through faith and dedication.
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