What is the Hijri Calendar?

The Hijri calendar is the Islamic lunar calendar that relies on the sighting of the moon to determine the months at the beginning of each month. It consists of 12 Hijri months and begins with the month of Muharram. It is called the Islamic calendar because it is closely related to Muslims and Islam.

What are the months of the Hijri year?

The Hijri calendar consists of 12 months, as Allah Almighty said in His Noble Book:

The Hijri year consists of 12 months, and the order of its months is as follows:

How many days are in the Hijri year?

The number of days in the Hijri year is 354 days, as precise calculations have shown that the Hijri year ranges between 354 and 355 days depending on the lunar cycle, plus 8 hours, 34 minutes, and 2 seconds. The number of days depends on 30 days, and the Hijri month may be 29 days depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.

Why was the Hijri year named this way?

The reason for naming the Hijri calendar this way is due to the migration (Hijrah) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The year in which the Prophet migrated from Mecca to Medina became the year 1 AH (After Hijrah) and the beginning of the Hijri calendar. This journey took eight days and began at the start of the month of Rabi' al-Awwal. This was established during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him).

What is the difference between Hijri and Gregorian calendars?

The Hijri calendar (lunar) depends on the moon's cycle around the Earth. Each month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon as mentioned earlier. It has fewer days and is associated with Islamic occasions, ranging between 29 and 30 days per month. The Hijri year consists of 354 or 355 days depending on the lunar cycle.

The Gregorian calendar (solar) depends on the Earth's cycle around the sun. The Gregorian year consists of 365 days (or 366 in a leap year).

Does the Hijri calendar depend on the moon or the sun?

The Hijri calendar depends on the moon, which is why it is also called the lunar calendar. Each Hijri month is connected to the moon's cycle around the Earth.

What is the importance of the Hijri calendar?

The Hijri calendar holds great importance for Muslims as it represents an essential part of their religious and cultural identity. It is also associated with significant acts of worship determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, such as Ramadan and Hajj, days of recommended fasting, Islamic occasions like Eid, and other Islamic events. It also preserves Islamic heritage and timing.