Hijri New Year & Muharram / Ashura

Hijri New Year & Muharram/Ashura: A Sacred Start to the Islamic Calendar

As the crescent moon is sighted, signaling the start of a new lunar month, Muslims around the world quietly welcome the Hijri New Year—a time of reflection, remembrance, and renewal. Unlike festive countdowns or fireworks that mark the Gregorian New Year, the Islamic new year begins with a sense of spiritual depth and historical reverence.

At the heart of this sacred beginning lies the month of Muharram, one of the four holiest months in Islam, and within it, the powerful day of Ashura.

What is the Hijri New Year?

The Hijri New Year, also known as Islamic New Year, marks the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar. This calendar began over 1,400 years ago with the Hijrah—the migration of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his followers from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE.

This migration was not just a physical journey, but a turning point in Islamic history—ushering in a new era of faith, community, and the establishment of a just society.

📜 Key Facts:

• * The Islamic calendar is lunar-based, consisting of 12 months and 354 or 355 days.
• * The year count starts from the Hijrah, not the Prophet’s birth or death.
• * As of 2025, we enter Hijri year 1447.
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Significance of Muharram

Muharram is not just the beginning of the Islamic year—it is one of the sacred months in which fighting and warfare were prohibited even before Islam. The word “Muharram” itself means “forbidden”, highlighting its sacred nature.

Spiritual Importance:

• * Fasting in Muharram, especially on Ashura, is highly recommended.
• * It is a time for self-purification, prayer, and remembrance of Allah.
• * Muslims seek blessings through acts of worship, charity, and reflection.
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The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadan is the fasting of Allah’s month of Muharram.”
(Sahih Muslim)

The Day of Ashura: 10th of Muharram

The 10th day of Muharram, known as Ashura, holds deep historical and spiritual meaning for Muslims of all backgrounds.

In Sunni Tradition:

• * Ashura commemorates the day when Prophet Musa (Moses) and his people were saved from Pharaoh’s tyranny by the parting of the Red Sea.
• * The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ fasted on this day and recommended fasting as a way to seek forgiveness for the sins of the previous year.

“Fasting the day of Ashura, I hope, will expiate for the sins of the past year.”
(Sahih Muslim)

In Shia Tradition:

Ashura is a day of mourning and remembrance for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain ibn Ali, the beloved grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE.

• * Imam Hussain stood for truth, justice, and resistance against tyranny, sacrificing his life along with 72 companions.
• * Shia Muslims observe this day with lamentation, processions, and majlis (gatherings of remembrance).
• * It is a deeply emotional day that emphasizes standing up for what is right—even at the cost of one’s life.
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How Muslims Observe the Hijri New Year & Ashura

Different cultures and sects mark the Hijri New Year in varied ways, but the essence is shared: reflection, remembrance, and renewal of faith.

Common Practices Include:

• * Voluntary fasting, especially on the 9th and 10th or 10th and 11th of Muharram
• * Giving charity and helping those in need
• * Attending or organizing religious talks and majlis
• * Reciting Quran and making dua (supplication)
• * Reflecting on the lessons of Hijrah and Karbala
• * Taking time for introspection and setting spiritual intentions for the new year

Lessons We Can Carry Forward

The Hijri New Year and Ashura are not just about historical events—they’re about universal values that continue to inspire:

• * Faith and trust in Allah, as shown by the Hijrah and the Red Sea miracle
• * Courage and sacrifice, as embodied by Imam Hussain and his companions
• * Renewal and resilience, as we begin a new spiritual journey with each year

Final Thoughts

As we step into Hijri 1447, the month of Muharram invites every believer to pause, remember, and realign. It reminds us that faith isn’t just about ritual—it’s about principle, purpose, and perseverance.

So, whether you fast, pray, give charity, or simply reflect—let this sacred time be a chance to reconnect with your values, remember the legacy of our Prophets and leaders, and start the new year with intention and clarity.

May this Hijri year bring peace to our hearts, unity to our communities, and justice to our world.