How and Why did the Hijiri Calendar Begin?

How and Why did the Hijiri Calendar Begin?

Muslims celebrate the Hijri New Year (considered an official holiday in some Islamic countries) on the first of the Islamic calendar’s month of Muharram every year. This year, Muslims are celebrating the year 1440 AH.

The Hijri calendar is considered to be one of four major calendars currently in use worldwide.  These four include the Miladi, Hijri, Chinese, and Persian calendars. Famously, the Hijri calendar is the official calendar of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  

In this article you will learn:

-       What is the Hijri year calendar?

-       Where did it get its name?

-       Who was the creator of the Hijri calendar?

-       What are the meanings of the names of the Hijri months?

  • Why was it named the Hijri year

The Hijri Year refers to our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)’s migration (Hijira) from the city of Makkah to the city of Al Madina El Monawara in 622AD.

Prophet Mohammad Hijra

  • The creator of the Hijra calendar

Khalifa Umar ibn Al-Khattab, is considered to be the creator of the Hijri calendar, which is made up of 12 months, dictated by the cycle of the moon. To this day, the full and crescent moons are used to confirm the beginning and end of each month, particularly to establish the beginning of Ramadan, the start of the month of Shawwal and the date of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.

  • The story of Hijri Calendar

Before the Hijri calendar came into use, Muslims used a range of important events in Muslim history, for example, Am Al-Fil, the year in which the Prophet Muhammad was born, to demarcate time. But, seventeen years after the Prophet’s migration and in the third or fourth year of the succession of Khalifa Umar ibn al-Khattab, a complaint was made by Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, an official in Basrah (Iraq), regarding a lack of consistent dates on the correspondence he received. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari sent a letter to Khalifa Umar, asking him to develop for a new way to calculate dates.

Khalifa Umar debated the issue with his advisors. Some suggested that the date of the Prophet’s birth should mark the beginning of a new calendar, whilst others suggested the date of his death. However, the majority agreed that the calendar should begin with the date of his migration. Khalifa Umar then consulted the Prophet’s revered companions, Uthman ibn Affan and Ali bin Abi Talib, and they agreed.

After all the discussions, Khalifa Umar announced that the year in which the Prophet Mohammad migrated would mark the beginning of the Hijri calendar. The calendar would begin with the first of the month of Muharram and end with the month of Dhu Al Hijja. Consequently, 622 AD (the year of the Prophet’s migration) became the first year in the Hijiri calendar.

Hijri Calendar creator is Khalifa Umar Bin Al Khatab

  • The twelve months of the Hijri year

The Hijri year consists of 12 months. As Allah says in the Quran in verse (36) of Surat al-Tawbah:

“Verily the number of months with Allah is twelve months in the Book of Allah, (since) the day He created the heavens and the earth, four of them are sacred. That is the established religion. So be you not unjust unto your selves during them. And fight polytheists totally even as they fight you totally, and know that Allah is with the pious ones.”

Each Hijri month starts at the beginning of the new moon cycle. The number of days in each Hijri calendar month varies according to the moon’s progress around the earth. The length of each month is 29 to 30 days, except for the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. The number of days in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah varies based on a 30-year cycle, meaning that the Hijri calendar fluctuates according to the moon’s long-term movements around the earth. Dates of annual religious practices required by Allah of Muslims, such as Hajj and fasting are marked in the Hijri calendar.

  • Types of Hijri months

Muslims divide the Hijri months into two types:

-Sacred Months: Four of the twelve months (Dhu Al Qa’da, Dhu Al Hijja, Muharram, and Safar) are considered “Sacred Months” because of a prohibition on war during these months. As Allah says in the Quran in verse (5) of Surat al-Tawbah:

“Then when the sacred months are drawn away, slay the polytheists wherever you find them, and seize them and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. But if they repent and perform the prayer and pay poor-rate, (zakāt) then leave their way free to them; verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”

Non-Sacred Months:  The remaining eight months (Safar, Rabi Al Awwal, Rabi Al Thani, Jumada Al Ula, Jumada Al Akhira, Sha’aban, Ramadan, and Shawwal) are known as non-sacred months, with no prohibitions on war.

Hijri Calendar 1440

  • The meanings of Hijri month names

The meanings of Hijiri month names are as follows:

- Muharram: One of the Sacred Months, it is the first month of the Hijri year, given its name (Forbidden) because of fighting is forbidden during it.

- Safar: The second month in the Hijri year, apparently named Safar because Arabs used to loot the houses of their enemies after defeating them in battle, leaving nothing (zero) behind.

- Rabi Al Awwal and Rabi Al Akhar: These two months coincided with the spring, as well as coinciding with a period when those victorious in war could enjoy their new possessions, seized in the previous month of Safar.

- Jumada Al Ula and Jumada Al Akhira: Coinciding with the winter season, these two months were named because of water freezing.

- Rajab: Means respect and honor.

- Sha’aban: Apparently named for the crossings or journeys the Arabs undertook in search of water whilst going to war. Sha’aban follows a month of abstinence from violence during the previous month of Rajab.

- Ramadan: Named for the high temperatures caused by the summer sun and, it is the traditional fasting month for Muslims.

- Shawwal: Due to being the seasonal birthing season for camels, which would normally raise their tails in this season.

- Dhu Al Qa’da: Named after the Arabic word for ‘sitting’, Dhu Al Qada is a holy month where Muslims must ‘sit out’ or abstain from war (although it is permissible to defend yourself if attacked)

- Dhu Al Hijja: The last month of Hijri Year, during which the Hajj pilgrimage occurs.

  • Conclusion

The Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar, whose months begin and end depending on the movements of the moon. The moon’s disappearance signals the sign of the end of the month. The Hijri calendar was officially created during the reign of Khalifa Umar ibn al-Khattab. The Prophet's migration or hijra in 622AD marks the beginning of the Hijri year calendar and gives the calendar its name.

The Hijri calendar is used to mark a number of significant Islamic events and dates like Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and the beginning of the Hajj season. The Hijri year consists of 12 months: Muharram, Safar, Rabi 'Al-Awal, Rabee' Al-Akhir, Jumada Al Ula, Jumada Al-Akhirah, Rajab, Shaaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu Al Qa’da and Dhu Al Hijja.