Muslims worldwide welcome Islamic New Year, 1440 Hijri

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).

Supreme Court: Tomorrow, Tuesday is the first day of Muharram 1440H.https://t.co/Km4nulbu2H#SPAGOV

— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) September 10, 2018

The New Year of Hijrah 1440 shall begin, in sha Allah, on Tuesday, September 11, 2018. May Allah make the new year, the year of unity and harmony and keep us on the right path.

— ISNA (@ISNAHQ) September 9, 2018

Friends and followers, Happy Islamic New Year 1440!

Wishing you peace, happiness and success!

— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) September 10, 2018

Happy Hijry New Year to all Muslim Brothers and Sisters. May Allah sustain the peace, security and prosperity in our beloved Nations; weaken the traitors and bless us all with more peace, security and prosperity. Happy New Year 1440.

— Mohamed Shainee (@mshainee) September 10, 2018

Happy Islamic New Year 1440 Hijri pic.twitter.com/2tpcfIA0De

— Jay Lim 임병준 (@aQuoteAday) September 10, 2018

On this major T-junction, the beginning of the 1440 Hijr year, let us reflect on the importance of tolerance and acceptance in our society. Let us spread the joy of being one, and the benign attitude of solidarity and imagined coexistence.#عام_هجري_جديد_١٤٤٠ه

— Aziz Mahdi ? ☭ (@AMAGuudcadde) September 10, 2018

It is New Year's Eve of the hijri (Islamic) calendar!
May 1440 be a year of kindness, restraint and healing. pic.twitter.com/FBwA3KVu9Y

— Dr. Ingrid Mattson (@IngridMattson) September 10, 2018

Difference between Hijri and Gregorian calendars

Unlike the Gregorian which has 365/366 days, the Islamic year has minimum 354 days. This is because the Hijri Calendar follows the movements of the moon. The Hijri Calendar is consistently less by 11 days comparative to the Gregorian.

Gregorian calendars, which are most widely used across the world and even alongside the Islamic one in most of the Arab world, on the other hand measure 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.

The Hijri Calendar is the official calendar in many predominantly Muslim countries, most notably Saudi Arabia. In other countries, Muslims refer to the Gregorian Calendar for most dates and consult the Hijri Calendar only for religious purposes.

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.