Muslims all around the world celebrate Ma'al Hijrah or Awal Muharram, 1430H on 29 December 2008. Ma'al Hijrah is the Muslim New Year, and Muharram is the earliest month in the Islamic calendar.
The day marks the hijra in 622 CE when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) emigrated from Mecca to Medina, and set up the first Islamic state. Islamic years are calculated from the Hijra, 1 Muharram, 622 CE, which is why Muslim dates have the suffix H or AH (After Hijra). Islam has a lunar–based calendar with 354 days. The New Year date changes every year as the Islamic calendar is 11 days shorter than the solar calendar.
Ma'al Hijrah is generally a low–key event in the Muslim world, celebrated less than the two major festivals of Aidilfitri or Eidul Fitri and Aidiladha or Eidul Adha. There are no prescribed religious observances, but generally, Muslims welcome the New Year with peace and prayers.
The Qur'an uses the word Hijra to mean moving from a bad place or state of affairs to a good one – and so Muslims may think about how their faith helps them leave behind bad ways of living and achieve a better life. The word Muharram means respect.
Sources: www.bbc.co.uk , www.newyearfestival.com and www.religionfacts.com
I wish my Muslim readers a blessed and beautiful Ma'al Hijrah, and may 1430 be better in so many ways for all of us. Allahu'akbar!
The day marks the hijra in 622 CE when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) emigrated from Mecca to Medina, and set up the first Islamic state. Islamic years are calculated from the Hijra, 1 Muharram, 622 CE, which is why Muslim dates have the suffix H or AH (After Hijra). Islam has a lunar–based calendar with 354 days. The New Year date changes every year as the Islamic calendar is 11 days shorter than the solar calendar.
Ma'al Hijrah is generally a low–key event in the Muslim world, celebrated less than the two major festivals of Aidilfitri or Eidul Fitri and Aidiladha or Eidul Adha. There are no prescribed religious observances, but generally, Muslims welcome the New Year with peace and prayers.
The Qur'an uses the word Hijra to mean moving from a bad place or state of affairs to a good one – and so Muslims may think about how their faith helps them leave behind bad ways of living and achieve a better life. The word Muharram means respect.
Sources: www.bbc.co.uk , www.newyearfestival.com and www.religionfacts.com
I wish my Muslim readers a blessed and beautiful Ma'al Hijrah, and may 1430 be better in so many ways for all of us. Allahu'akbar!
2 comments:
Hi SkyJuice :)
Belated New Year wishes. Hope all your dreams are fulfilled in the new year.
Very interesting and informative post.
Thanks for sharing :)
Thank you, Joseph.
May 2009 bring you much love and joy into your life! God bless. :-)
Post a Comment