Merry Jolly Islamic New Hijri Year! 1435AH

As-salamu`alaykum eco-darlings,

HAPPY NEW ISLAMIC HIJRI YEAR!

It's officially 1435AH (after Hijrah) and the new Islamic year for resolutions and renewal has begun.

The Islamic calendar was established by the Khalif (caliph) `Umar, may Allah be pleased with him (radhi-Allah `anhu). He was a great advocate of efficiency and helped Muslim leaders organise the lunar calendar to begin from the date that Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, migrated (made Hijrah) from Makkah to Madina in 629CE.

"Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein … " Qur'an 9:36

Muharram is the first month that we're in; the word comes from Arabic which means 'to forbid' as the Arabs forbade one another from greed, violence and quarrelling. As one of the four sacred months for Muslims, Muharram also has monumental historical history-from the Judaic tradition of fasting to the terrible war and martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's grandsons.

Despite all this history embedded in the Islamic calendar, we are reminded to push our restart button, to turn a new leaf as it were.

I hope insha-Allah 1435AH is a productive, healthy, faith-filled and illuminated year for all of you.

+ Islamic calendar widgets by al-Habib