Islamic New Year – July 29, 2022
July 29, 2022 / By Zunair Tahir / Pakistan News
The first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar, is the Islamic New Year, often referred to as the Arabic New Year or the Hijri New Year. The first year of this calendar started in the year 622 of the Gregorian calendar, when the Prophet Muhammad and his followers moved from Mecca to Medina.
Days in the Islamic calendar start at dusk. Because the Islamic year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the calendar year, the event always happens on a different day. Muharram, also known as the month of memory, is revered by Muslims all around the world and is marked with rituals and prayers.
The name “Hijri” comes from the word “Hijra,” which means migration. The journey of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
WHEN IS ISLAMIC NEW YEAR 2022?
The first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar, marks the start of the Islamic New Year, also known as the Arabic New Year or the Hijri New Year. The lunar-based, 354-day Islamic calendar is short. This year, the Gregorian calendar’s July 29 falls on the Islamic New Year.
HISTORY OF ISLAMIC NEW YEAR
Muslims in the seventh century CE experienced religious discrimination due to their beliefs at Mecca and other places. In order to establish a Constitution that outlined Muslims’ rights and obligations, Muhammad and his companions fled to the city that would eventually be known as Medina. This movement is known as the Hijra. Islamic New Year remembers this historic occasion since it is a significant event in the Muslim religion.
For Muslims worldwide, it’s vital to mark more than simply the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar year. The whole month has a sacred meaning. For instance, the 10th day, Ashura, which commemorates Noah leaving the Ark and Moses crossing the Red Sea, occurs in Muharram, the second most solemn occasion after Ramadan.
It is also the anniversary of the passing of Hussein, the grandson of Muhammad, among Shia Muslims. They observe memorial services to remember the event. Shias participate in memorial parades known as “matam,” when males congregate in the street to do traditional chest-beating. This is especially true for people in Afghanistan, Bahrain, India, Lebanon, and Pakistan. Muharram is a time of serious prayer and introspection for Sunnis as they bring in the new year.
Islamic New Year slips back year after year, creating a type of “cycle,” because the lunar calendar is 11 or 12 days shorter than the Western solar calendar. This is done so that followers of the faith might encounter the same variety of climatic conditions and weather occurrences as all the historical characters in their sacred texts.
Asking Muslim acquaintances about Muharram might be an intriguing way to learn more about this significant religious and cultural occasion. To celebrate the Islamic New Year, Muslims individuals might also share their experiences, thoughts, and emotions with others.
ISLAMIC NEW YEAR BY THE NUMBERS
| 4 – the number of days Eid al-Adha is celebrated by Muslims. |
| 3 million – the estimated number of Muslims who travel to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage of Hajj. |
| 2– the number of Eid festivities in a year observed by Muslims. |
| 6- the number of denominations of Islam most Muslims fall under. |
| 5- the number of fundamental ‘Pillars of Islam’ that secure a Muslim believer’s faith. |
| 1.8 billion – the estimated number of Muslims in the world, as of 2015. |
| 2nd –the ranking of Islam as the fastest-growing religion in the world |
| 3.45 million –the estimated number of Muslims of all ages living in the U.S |
| 114 – the number of chapters in the Holy Quran. |
| 570 A.D. –the year of birth of the Prophet Muhammad. |