Jun 27
Islamic New Year
Friday 1 Moharram, 1447
The Islamic New Year starts with the sacred month of Muharram. This month is considered the month of remembrance and contemplation for Muslims around the world. The Islamic New Year has been celebrated since 622 A.D. It is also called the Hijri calendar because it began when the Prophet (ﷺ) and his followers migrated from Makkah to Madinah.
In 2025, the first day of the Islamic New Year will most probably be the 26th of June. However, these dates may vary based on the sighting of the moon – we’ll explain why this is significant in the next section.
Jun 27
Friday 1 Moharram, 1447
The Islamic calendar is different from the Gregorian calendar. While the Gregorian calendar relies on astronomical computations, the Islamic calendar is lunar and is based on the phases of the moon. Moreover, in the Islamic calendar, days start at sunset. This is why important events such as Eid and Ramadan occur on different dates every year. The Islamic calendar is also 11 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.
An interesting aspect about the Islamic calendar is that it is cyclical. This means that it repeats itself every 30 years. Each cycle consists of 11 leap years with 355 days and 19 regular years with 354 days.
Another fact about the Islamic calendar is that every month holds a special meaning and importance. For instance, Muharram means ‘forbidden’, so fighting is prohibited during this month.
The Muslims in Makkah and other areas had to bear extreme religious oppression because of their beliefs and practices. In 622 A.D., Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his followers migrated to the city of Madinah. Here, they established a Muslim state where they had the freedom to practice Islam. This event is of great significance in Islamic history, which is why the Islamic New Year is celebrated in its honor.
As the Islamic New Year begins, Muslims around the world reflect on the hardships and challenges faced by our dear Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions. The Muslims had to undergo numerous sacrifices took place before the first Islamic state was established. Hence, Muslims begin the Islamic New Year by praying to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) for His mercy and thanking Him for his infinite blessings.
The first month of the Islamic New Year is Muharram. However, it is not only the first day of Muharram that is important for Muslims.
Muharram is one of the four holy months known together as ‘Ash'hurul Hurum’. During these sacred months, the rewards for good deeds and the punishment for evil deeds are both increased. This makes this time a great opportunity for Muslims to perform acts of Sadaqah Jariyah, offer Nawafil, and recite the Holy Quran. Muharram is also known as the ‘Month of Allah,’ further underscoring its profound significance.
The 10th of Muharram is known as ‘Ashura’ and is a highly significant day in Islamic history. On this day, Hazrat Musa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and his followers were rescued from the army of the Fir’aun when Allah miraculously split the Red Sea into two halves. It is also the day when the Ark of Hazrat Nuh (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) landed on Mount Judi. This is also the day when Hazrat Yunus (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) got out of the belly of the whale and Hazrat Yusuf (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) got out of the well, and the day when Hazrat Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) was born.
Muharram is also the month during which the Battle of Karbala took place in the year 680 C.E. During this pivotal moment in Islamic history, the 10th of Muharram also marks the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussein (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), the dear grandson of the Prophet (ﷺ). This year, the Day of Ashura is expected on the 6th or 7th of July, subject to the sighting of the moon.
Fasting on Ashura is highly encouraged, and Muslims are advised to fast and pray as much as possible during the month of Muharram, especially during the first ten days.
Abu Hurairah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
“The most excellent fast after Ramadan is God's month. Al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night.”
(Sahih Muslim: 261)
Ibn Abbas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) narrated:
“I never saw the Prophet (ﷺ) seeking to fast on a day more (preferable to him) than this day, the day of 'Ashura', or this month, i.e., the month of Ramadan.”
(Sahih Bukhari: 111)
It is narrated by Hazrat Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Time has come back to its original state, which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth; the year is twelve months, four of which are sacred. Three of them are in succession; Dhul-Qa'da, Dhul-Hijja and Al-Muharram, and (the fourth being) Rajab Mudar (named after the tribe of Mudar as they used to respect this month), which stands between Jumad (ath-thani) and Sha’ban."
(Sahih Bukhari: 4662)
Here’s an overview of the 12 months of the Islamic year and the significance of each month.
As discussed, Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a historically important month since many significant Islamic events have taken place during Muharram. It is a month of reflection and prayer.
Safar is the second month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is commonly linked to travel and voyages. The Arabs believed that this month was associated with misfortune. However, it is narrated by Abu Huraira (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"(There is) no 'Adwa (no contagious disease is conveyed without Allah's permission). nor is there any bad omen (from birds), nor is there any Hamah, nor is there any bad omen in the month of Safar, and one should run away from the leper as one runs away from a lion."
(Sahih Bukhari: 5705)
Rabi’ al-Awwal holds importance because it is the month when Muslims celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Rabi' al-Thani is the next month in the Islamic calendar, followed by Jumada al-Awwal, the fifth month of the Islamic calendar. As the name suggests, Jumada al-Awwal means ‘the first Jumada.’ Jumada al-Thani comes after Jumada al-Awwal and is the sixth month in the Islamic calendar.
The next and seventh month of the Islamic calendar is Rajab. This month is regarded as one of the holiest months in Islam, and Muslims are encouraged to use it as an opportunity for reflection and prayer. The eighth month is Sha'ban, and during this month, Muslims generally prepare for the upcoming month of fasting, Ramadan.
During Ramadan, Muslims observe a fast from dawn to dusk as a form of worship and to practice self-control. Shawwal comes after Ramadan and is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the month in which Eid al-Fitr is celebrated, a joyous Islamic tradition that is a gift from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) for the believers who fasted and practiced self-restraint.
The next and eleventh month of the Islamic calendar is Dhul Qi’dah. It is also one of the four holy months in Islam and like Muharram, fighting is temporarily prohibited. It is a month of tranquility and contemplation, and Muslims usually prepare for the Hajj pilgrimage during his month.
Lastly, Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth month and is important because the Hajj pilgrimage and Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, fall during this month.
Most Muslim nations celebrate the Islamic New Year as a national holiday. Although customs and traditions vary among different sects of Islam, the celebrations of the Islamic New Year typically include religious recitations and acts of worship.
The beginning of the Islamic New Year provides a chance for self-improvement and drawing closer to Allah Almighty (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It is a time to reflect on our actions and decisions from the previous Islamic year. It gives us a chance to reconsider our negative actions and bring positive transformations within our character. Moreover, the Islamic New Year provides Muslims the opportunity to evaluate how effectively they have honored the rights of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and gained His satisfaction.
Overall, the new Islamic Year must begin with good deeds and a promise to become a better Muslim. These include giving charity, reciting the Holy Quran and striving to understand its meaning, performing Nawafil, helping our neighbors, and so on. Our goal should be to gain the favors of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) as we have been blessed with another year of our lives.