Happy Islamic New

December 18, 2009 CE is the Gregorian Calendar day corresponding to the Muslim New Year, 1431 Al Hijra (AH) 1 Muharram.

Ras As-Sana, “the head of the year”, marks the beginning of Islam as a community of believers who integrated spiritual and earthly life in submission to Allah, marking their migration (the Hijra) from Makkah to Madinah, where they were led by the Prophet Mohamed (in 622 CE) to escape persecution from the hostile tribes of Makkah. In breaking with his own tribe, the Prophet further established the primacy of Islam over tribe and family.

As such, Ras As-Sana is a socio-cultural event, rather than a primarily religious one, unlike the 2 Eids, Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha (see this year's Eid Al-Adha and the Jeddah floods, here). It is a time for reflection on the Hijra, and on one’s own past year’s events, past aspirations and accomplishments; as well as a time of planning for the New Year, including “New Year Resolutions”. Those familiar with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, will recognize Ras As-Sana as an Arab cognate of the Hebrew words, both languages being of Semitic origin.

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar, and is the most sacred after Ramadan (the 9th month). The name derives from the Arabic “haram”, forbidden, as it is one of 4 sacred months in which fighting is forbidden, or unlawful. A number of historic events during the month are marked, and mourned by both Sunnis and Shias, though the month’s events in 61 AH (680 CE) figure more prominently in Shiism. Each day has historic significance, but the main ones are listed below.