How Things Started

How Did Calendar Started

The Islamic Calendar was first introduced in 638 C.E. by the close companion of the Prophet and the second Caliph, `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (592-644 C.E.), which is purely based on lunar cycles. After consulting with his advisors regarding the staring date of the new Muslim chronological year, they agreed that Hijrah will be the Islamic calendar for Muslim which was necessary at that Time to rationalize various time conflicts. A.H(Anno Hegirae) is the abbreviation used to corresponds in Reference to Higri Islamic Calendar, which is derived from Western Language.

It was decided that Islamic Calendar will start from the first day of Muharram and Muharram will be the firs Month of the year based purely on lunar system. The twelve months of Higri Calendar are:

1) Muharram
2) Safar
3) Raby` al-awal
4) Raby` al-Thanny
5) Jamaada al-awal
6) Jamaada al-Thaany
7) Rajab
8) Sha`baan
9) Ramadaan
10) Shawwal
11) Thw al-Qi`dah
12) Thw al-Hijjah

Important dates in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar year are:

First Muharram (Islamic new year)
27 Rajab (Isar & Miraj)
First Ramadaan (first day of fasting)
17 Ramadaan (Nuzul Al-Qur`an)
Last 10 days of Ramadaan including Laylatu al-Qadar
First Shawwal (eid al-Fitr)
8-10 Thw al-Hijjah (Hajj to Makkah)
10 Thw al-Hijah (eid al-Adha)
First Muharram (Islamic new year)
27 Rajab (Isar & Miraj)
First Ramadaan (first day of fasting)
17 Ramadaan (Nuzul Al-Qur`an)
Last 10 days of Ramadaan including Laylatu al-Qadar
First Shawwal (eid al-Fitr)
8-10 Thw al-Hijjah (Hajj to Makkah)
10 Thw al-Hijah (eid al-Adha)

Important Muslim festivals pertaining to different months may fall in different seasons of the year due to the fact that Islamic calendar is based on lunar system as compared to solar. Since months in Islamic calendar are not related to seasons Ramadaan falling in summer this year can be celebrated in winter as well after several years. It takes 33 year cycle to observe the same dates fall in different season of the.