Islamic New Year is time to recall life of prophet

As many people around the world celebrated the New Year on Jan. 1, Muslims acknowledged the Islamic New Year on Jan. 10. That marked the beginning of the Hijri year of 1429.

The Islamic Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar and consists of 12 months: Muharram, Safar, Rabi’ al-Awwal, Rabi’ al-Akhar, Jumada al-Ula, Jumada al-Ukhra, Rajab, Sha’ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhul-Qi’dah and Dhul-Hijjah. Each month is either 29 or 30 days, according to the moon cycle around the Earth. Thus, the Hijri calendar is 11 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.

Many Muslims use this day to remember the life of the prophet Muhammad and the Hijira or emigration he made from his hometown, Mecca, to the city now known as Medina.

Muhammad spent 13 years in Mecca after the first revelation, when Angel Gabriel visited him and taught him the Quran. Muhammad called the Arab tribes and told them about the new religion, Islam. Those who accepted and became Muslims suffered the severe persecution of the nonbelievers.

God permitted his messenger and the believers to migrate to the city of Yathrib, or Medina as it is known now. The people of Medina warmly welcomed the prophet and his companions and shared their possessions with them. Muhammad lived in Medina for 10 years until he died and was buried in his mosque there.

The Hijra was a remarkable event, and the Muslims started using it as the beginning of their calendar. Muslim scholars describe the part of Quran that was revealed in Mecca as the Meccan Quran, and that which was revealed in Medina as the Medani Quran.

Although both parts are intermingled in the Quran and constitute one divine script, the discourse of both parts is clearly distinguishable. Whereas the part revealed in Mecca concentrated on Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah/monotheism), the part revealed in Medina covered rules regarding Islamic life in general.

Unlike the important holidays of Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha, there are few rituals associated with Islamic New Year. In modern times, some Muslims exchange cards to wish one another a happy, prosperous year to come.

XRanda Shabayek is a member of the Masjid Al-Khair mosque in Youngstown.