The Hijri calendar, also known as the Islamic calendar, is a calendar specifically designed for Muslims. It is based on the sightings of the moon. It has 12 months, just like the Gregorian calendar, but the change of months is determined by the change in the moon. All significant Islamic events and dates are adjusted according to the lunar cycles, including the payment of zakat, fasting, celebrating Eid, and performing Hajj. It is an integral part of a Muslim’s life. This blog will delve deeper into the history of the Hijri calendar and its origins.
Why Is It Called the Hijri Calendar?
Before exploring the origin of this calendar, it is essential to understand why it is named as it is. The word ‘Hijri’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘hijra,’ which means ‘migration.’ The reason this calendar was given the name ‘Hijri calendar’ is that it was formed after the Prophet PBUH’s migration to Madinah.
Lunar Phases & The Hijri Calendar
As stated above, the Hijri calendar is based on the observation of the moon’s sighting. Each new month starts with a new phase of the moon. Allah SWT says in the Quran:
Lo! the number of months with Allah is twelve months by Allah’s ordinance on the day that He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred: that is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves in them. And wage war on all of the idolaters, as they are waging war on all of you. And know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him).
The tafsir of this hadith states that Allah SWT created the sun so that people could distinguish between the days. And he made the moon so that people could differentiate between the months and years.
The Origin Of The Hijri Calendar
According to many sources, the Islamic calendar was brought into existence after the Muslim community faced problems with dating in their lives. Previously, the Arabs didn’t have a system in place to record specific years, except for the events that occurred at the time.
For example, when a Southern Arabian king, accompanied by his army and equipped with elephants, devised a plan to invade Makkah, it became a significant event that lived in the minds of those who witnessed it. And even though the invasion remained unsuccessful, because Allah SWT sent small birds carrying stones in their beaks, the event left a lasting mark that became an identifier for a year.
Al-Muttalib bin ‘Abdullah bin Qais bin Makhramah narrated:
From his father and from his grandfather, he said that “I and the Prophet PBUH were born in the Year of the Elephant.” He asked, “‘Uthman bin ‘Affan asked Qubath bin Ashyam, the brother of Banu Ya’mar bin Laith, ‘Are you greater in age or is it the Messenger of Allah (PBUH)?'” He replied, “The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) is greater in age than me, but I have a birthday that comes earlier.” He stated, “And I saw the feces of the birds turning green.”
Although the Arabs didn’t have a specific system to register the year, they did have the lunar months, just like those that the Muslims have today. But these months would only be recorded without recording the year. This system continued until the Caliphate of Umar RA. The necessity for the Hijri calendar became clear when Umar RA received a letter from the governor of Basra, in which he questioned the difficulty in identifying dates.
His letter stated:
“We have received the letters from the Caliph Umar RA, but we do not know which we should obey. We read a document that has the date of the month of Shaban, but we do not know which Shaban it refers to. It is the month of Shaban that has passed, or is it the month of Shaban that has to come?”
After he received this letter, he saw the immediate need to establish a proper dating system. Therefore, he quickly assembled all the important and senior figures of the community and worked upon what the Muslims now call the Hijri Calendar.
Hijrah As The Starting Point As The First Month
Another problem emerged during the creation of this calendar, and that was its starting point. There were suggestions to mark the beginning point of the calendar with a significant event that happened in the history of Islam. This included the birth of the Prophet PBUH and the day he passed away.
The council rejected both of these suggestions and turned its attention to the migration from Makkah to Madina. The hijra was a significant event, and it happened during the advent of Islam; therefore, the calendar was termed the Hijri Calendar.
“Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d: The companions of the Prophet PBUH did not take the day the Prophet PBUH was sent as an Apostle or the day he passed away as a starting date for the Muslim calendar. But they took the day that marked his arrival to Madina.”
Muharram As The First Month
Now that the calendar had a starting point, the next issue was giving an order to the months. Some suggested that the calendar should start from Rajab, one of the sacred months. Others suggested that it should begin from Ramadan, as it is one of the holiest months of the year. Later on, after careful deliberation, the council decided that Muharram would be the first official month of the Hijri calendar. And in 637/638 CE, under the supervision of the second caliph, Umar RA, the hijri calendar became the official calendar of the Muslims.
The Months Of The Islamic Calendar
- Muharram
- Safar
- Rabi’ al-awwal
- Rabi ath-thani
- Jumada al-awla
- Jumada al-akhirah
- Rajab
- Shaban
- Ramadan
- Dhu al-Qa’da
- Dhu al-Hijjah
What Are The Sacred Months Of The Hijri Calendar?
Out of the twelve months that Allah created, he made four of them sacred and stated about them in the Qur’an:
“Lo! The number of months with Allah is twelve months by Allah’s ordinance in the day that He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred: that is the right religion. So wrong, not yourselves in them.”
The Prophet PBUH stated about these sacred months:
“The year is composed of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred months. Three of these sacred months are in succession (Dhul-Qa’da’, Dhul-Hijja, and Muharram), and the fourth one is Rajab of Mudar, which comes between Jumadi-ath-Thaniyah and Sha’ban.”
These months are more spiritually significant than the others, and fighting is prohibited during this time. They have more blessings for Muslims to attain and allow the opportunity to strengthen their relationship with their deen.