The Islamic Calendar

Like much of Islam, the calendar is based on the Quran and on personal reflection of the relationship between Muslims and Allah. Each month of the Islamic Calendar officially begins when the lunar crescent is first seen after a new moon. This is not always an exact time, especially if the skies are cloudy or overcast. In a sense, the start of each month can be different for everyone. Many people, however, prefer to rely on an official announcement by Muslim authorities as to when each month begins.

The importance of the lunar cresent is also partly the explanation for why many countries with predominantly Muslim populations have a crescent shape on their flags.

The 12 months of the Islamic Calendar, in order are these:

1. Muharram
2. Safar
3. Rabi' al-awwal
4. Rabi' al-thani
5. Jumada al-awwal
6. Jumada al-thani
7. Rajab
8. Sha'ban
9. Ramadan
10. Shawwal
11. Dhu al-Qi'dah
12. Dhu al-Hijjah

Islam has a few major holidays that Muslims celebrate throughout the year. Among them are these:

• Eid Al-Adha, the "Feast of Sacrifice";
• Isra Me'Raj, the night of journey and ascenscion;
• Ramadan, a monthlong period of fasting;
• Eid Al-Fitr, the "Feast of Fast-Breaking";

The Calendar is properly called the Hijri Calendar because it began with the Hijra, or hegira, Muhammad's flight from Medina to Mecca, which took place in 622 on the Western Calendar. The hegira took place, on Western Calendars, on July 16.

Western, or Christian, Calendars measure time beginning with the year 0 A.D. On the Christian Calendar, 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.

So, the year 2007 on the Christian Calendar is A.H. 1428 on the Hijri Calendar. (Remember that the Hijri Calendar is consistently 11 days shorter than the Christian Calendar.)

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

The Hijri Calendar was introduced by Umar ibn Al-Khattab, a follower of Muhammad, in 638.

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