The History behind Islamic Calendar

 The Islamic or  "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.

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.

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.

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."

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. 

Why is the Islamic calendar important?

The Islamic calendar is not only important for us to commemorate significant Islamic events, but the fact that it starts from the Hijra (Migration) serves as an important reminder of the sacrifice for the cause of truth and for the preservation of the Revelation. As the Muslims sacrificed everything, from their wealth to familial ties, to migrate from Makkah to Madinah to preserve their religion. 

 

Through the Hijri calendar, Allah (swt) teaches us that the struggle between truth and evil is eternal. As Muslims, we are constantly fighting this battle as we sacrifice our pleasures and desires for the path to righteousness and Jannah.

As Muslims, we should welcome the new Islamic year with self-reflection and resolution to draw closer to Allah (swt).

Benefits of sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad

 

As Muslim, We are required to send salawat on our beloved prophet Mohammed peace be upon Him. There are many benefits in doing so:

1. Fulfilling a command of Allah

Allah clearly commands the believers in the Quran to send blessings on the Prophet Muhammadﷺ.

“Indeed, Allah and His Angels send blessing upon the Prophet and His angels. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to send] blessing upon him and peace” Quran 33:56

2. All your concerns will be lifted

When the companion Ubai Ibn Ka’ab asked the Messenger what would happen if he dedicated all of his supplications towards sending blessings on the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ .

The Prophet replied “Your needs will be satisfied and your sins will be forgiven”. Ubai bin Ka’ab (may Allah be pleased with him), who said; ‘I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I supplicate often, so how much of my supplication should I devote to you?’ He replied, ‘as you desire’. I said, ‘a quarter of it?’ He said ‘as you desire, but if you were to increase upon this, it would be better for you.’ I said, ‘half of it?’ He said, ‘as you desire, but if you were to increase upon this, it would be better for you.’ I said, ‘two-thirds of it?’ He said again, ‘as you desire, but if you were to increase upon this, it would be better for you.’ Finally I said, ‘and if I dedicate my supplication in its entirety to you?’ He said, ‘then your needs will be satisfied, and your sins forgiven.’ (Sahih Musnad Ahmed)

3. Allah will send blessings on you

 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Whoever sends blessings upon me, Allah will send blessings upon him tenfold”. (Sahih Muslim).

4. The Prophet will receive and return your greetings

Abdullah ibn Mas’ood said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah has angels who go around on earth, conveying to me the Salaam of my Ummah.” (An-Nisa’i) Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There is no one who sends Salaam upon me, but Allaah will restore to me my soul so that I may return his Salaam.” (Abi Dawood Sahih)

5. Your sins will be forgiven

 

Anas Ibn Malak reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will erase ten sins from him, and will raise him ten degrees in status.” (An-Nisa’i Sahih)

6. It will draw you closer to the Prophet

 

‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The closest of people to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who sent the most blessings upon me.”   (At-Tirmidhi)

Importance of Arafah

 The day of Arafah is among the most virtuous days. On that day, supplications are answered, sins are forgiven, and Allah boasts to the angels of the people of Arafah. It is a day that Allah granted a great value to and favoured over other days. It is the day of perfecting the religion and completing the favour and the day of forgiveness of sins and salvation from Hellfire.

‘Arafah, or ‘Arafât (literally: the Place of Meeting, or Knowing, or Fragrance) is a vast, open desert plain about 12 miles southeast of the Ka‘bah, which is in the city of Makkah. The Plain of ‘Arafah is marked by the prominence of Jabal ‘Arafah, the Mount of Meeting, also known as Jabal Al-Raḥmah, the Mount of Mercy. 

Allah names the place of ‘Arafât in the Quran and in the same verse cites the pilgrim celebrants’ completion of that day:

“Yet when you pour forth from ‘Arafât, then remember Allah much at the Sacred Waymark [of Muzdalifah]” (Al-Baqarah:198).

Arafah day has many significance

1-Perfection of Religion 

Arafah was the day on which Allah (SWT) perfected His religion, completed His favours upon His beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and approved Islam as a way of life.

Imam Ibn Kathir in his tafsir says:

"Imam Ahmad recorded that Tariq bin Shihab said, "A Jewish man said to `Umar bin Al-Khattab, `O Leader of the Believers! There is a verse in your Book, which is read by all of you (Muslims), and had it been revealed to us, we would have taken that day (on which it was revealed) as a day of celebration.' `Umar bin Al-Khattab asked, `Which is that verse?' The Jew replied:

"This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion."

Umar replied, "By Allah! I know when and where this verse was revealed to Allah's Messenger. It was the evening on the Day of `Arafah on a Friday."

2-Allah Swears by it

The day of Arafah is also significant because Allah swore by this day in Surah al Burooj. It is known that Allah swears by nothing except that which is great and mighty, so the Day of Arafah is greatly significant:

"By the sky containing great stars. And [by] the promised Day. And [by] the witness and what is witnessed" (85: 1-3)

It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

"The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the Day of ‘Arafah, and the witnessing day is Friday." (Tirmidhi)

3-Expiation of sins

It is a recommended Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) for those who are not pilgrims to fast on this day since the Prophet (PBUH) was asked about fasting on the day of Arafah, so he said:

"It expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year." (Muslim)

4-Freeing from Hell fire

The Prophet (PBUH) also said:

"There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of 'Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on 'Arafah), and then He revels before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking." (Muslim)

5-Du’aa is accepted

Allah’s SWT Messenger (SAW) said about the dua on the Day of Arafah: “The most excellent dua is the dua on the Day of Arafah, and the best of what I and the prophets before me have said, is “ la ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharik lah lahu al-Mulk walahu alhamd wahu alaa kulli shay' Qadir"  ‘There is nothing that deserves to be worshipped in truth except Allah SWT, He is Alone and has no partners, to Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is All-Powerful over all things.'” (Muwatta)

6-Day of Covenant

‘Arafah is the day of the covenant that was taken from all mankind, as Ibn ‘Abbaas  narrated that the Messenger of Allah  said: “Allah took the covenant at Na‘maan (i.e., ‘Arafah), from the loins of Aadam. He extracted from his loins every soul that could be created, and He spread them before Himself, then He spoke to them directly (what means): {And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam—from their loins—their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware. Or [lest] you say, "It was only that our fathers associated [others in worship] with Allah before, and we were but descendants after them. Then would You destroy us for what the falsifiers have done?} [Quran 7:172-173]” [Ahmad]

That is why on this day it is strongly recommended to be engaged in relentless remembrance of Allah, making a lot of supplications, and reading the Qur’an.