Subscribe via RSSIslamic New Year
Lunar Hijri New Year 1444 After Hijra (AH) (18-19 July, 2023 Common Era (CE))
Written by John Crase, WJE
Time is defined in the Oxford dictionary as the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole. Albert Einstein taught us that time is relative. But how we all related to it is also not arbitrary. The Gregorian Calendar, spread through colonialism and perpetuated by globalism is how most of us here in the United States relate to time for civic and daily affairs. If your faith falls within the spectrum of the Roman Catholic Church, including many variants of Protestantism, it conveniently tracks your non-secular life too. But for many other faiths, including Islam, Pope Gregory XVIII’s modified Julian Calendar of 1582, doesn’t quite fit.
The solar Hijri calendar, used in Iran and Afghanistan before present day Taliban rule, contains 365 or 366 days a year just like the Gregorian calendar, but due to its agrarian roots, the year ends and a new begins with the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere as marked by the March equinox. Months correspond to the twelve Zodiac signs. Years are counted relative to Mohammed’s arrival in Medina, or After Hijra (AH). We are presently in year 1401 of the Solar Hijri.
Much of Arabic Islam has traditionally used the Hijri Lunar Calendar, which is comprised of the twelve months of Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwa, Rabi al-Than, Jumada al-Awwa, Jumada al-Thani, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qadah, Dhu al-Hijjah. Months begin with the sighting of the new moon. Each lunar year is 354 or 355 days, which is 11 to 12 days shorter than a solar year. Over the course of 33 to 34 years the months rotate through the seasons. Years are also counted as After Hijra (AH). Even in places where the Solar Hijri predominates, the Lunar Hijri and the sighting of new moons is the basis of dating annual religious events such as Ramadan. We are presently in year 1443 of the Lunar Hijra.
The upcoming transition between Lunar 1443 AH and 1444 AH comes in the middle of July 2023 CE of the Gregorian Calendar. Leading up to year end is the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijja (June 28, 2023 CE), Eid al-Adha, the largest of holidays in Islam. Honoring Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, it is traditionally celebrated with ritual sacrifice of an animal to be eaten by the family with the remainder distributed to the needy. Modern versions include the gathering of extended family, exchange of gifts and sweets as well as charitable giving.
The Lunar Islam New Year 1444 AH begins at sunset on the 30th Dhu al-Hijja (18 July, 2023 CE), and into the first day of Muharram (19 July, 2023 CE). It is not in itself an official holiday, but rather marks the beginning of Muharram, one of four sacred months in the Quran, second only to Ramadan. One of the important dates within Muharram is Ashura, literally “tenth” in Arabic. A day of fasting for Sunni Islam, Ashura marks the parting of the Red Sea by Moses. For Shia Islam, Ashura is the start of a ten-day mourning of the martyrdom of Muhammad’s grandson Husayn ibn Ali.
For Islam, the days approaching the end of the Lunar year and beginning of the new are a time to honor history and faith, renew commitments, spend time with family over food, exchange gifts, and be charitable. If this sounds familiar it is because these values are universal to all humankind, no matter their timing.
