Islamic (Hijri) New Year: Date, time, and important details to know
The Islamic New Year, also known as the Hijri New Year or Arabic New Year, marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar and falls on the first day of Muharram, one of the four sacred months in Islam.
The year count in the Islamic calendar began with a pivotal moment in history — the Hijra, the migration of Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, a turning point that laid the foundation of the first Muslim community (ummah).
When is the Islamic New Year in 2025?
The Islamic New Year for 1447 AH (Anno Hegirae) is expected to begin on the evening of June 25, 2025, and will continue into June 26, 2025, on the Gregorian calendar, as per reports .The Islamic day begins at sunset, so the New Year officially starts with the sighting of the new moon on the evening of June 25.
However, the final date depends on local moon sightings, which could lead to a one-day variation, meaning it may fall on June 26 or 27 in some regions. In countries such as the UAE, the date may vary slightly depending on whether the previous month (Dhul-Hijjah) ends after 29 or 30 days.
Significance of the Islamic New Year
Historical Importance
The Islamic New Year commemorates the Hijra, the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions to Medina, where he established a model community and a Constitution of Medina.
This event marks the beginning of the Islamic era, making 622 CE the first year of the Hijri calendar.
Spiritual and cultural observance
Unlike other major Islamic holidays like Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha, the Islamic New Year is a quiet and reflective occasion. It is a time for Muslims to engage in prayer, recite the Quran, practice introspection, and perform acts of charity. The month of Muharram is particularly sacred and carries special spiritual weight.
Muharram and Ashura
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and is one of the four months considered sacred in Islam. The 10th day of Muharram, known as Ashura, falls on July 5, 2025, and holds major significance for both Sunni and Shia Muslims. Sunni Muslims often fast on this day, commemorating the events of Noah's Ark and Moses' crossing of the Red Sea.
On the other hand, Shia Muslims observe Ashura as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), at the Battle of Karbala.
Rituals include majlis, matam (chest beating), and processions, particularly in countries like India, Iraq, Lebanon, and Iran.
Key calendar information
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, consisting of 12 months and either 354 or 355 days — about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. As a result, the Islamic New Year moves backward by about 11 days each year in the Gregorian calendar, creating a cycle that allows observance across all seasons over time.
Public holiday and global observance
The Islamic New Year is recognized as a public holiday in more than 24 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Turkey.
Kuwait has declared a public holiday on June 26, while the UAE has stated it on June 27. Because the Islamic calendar depends on actual moon sightings, dates may vary slightly across countries. Countries like Saudi Arabia follow astronomical calculations (e.g., Umm al-Qura calendar), many others rely on local crescent sightings, which is why the Islamic New Year may be observed on different dates worldwide.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
a day ago
- News18
Not 'Om', But 'Bismillah': This 300-Year-Old Ramayana Doesn't Begin Like The Others
Last Updated: Rampur's Raza Library holds a unique Persian Ramayana, translated in 1713 under Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar, blending Hindu and Islamic traditions with Mughal miniatures In the quiet halls of Rampur's historic Raza Library, a remarkable manuscript has been silently defying time – and expectations. It's the Ramayana, but unlike any you've heard before. Instead of the familiar invocations of Lord Ganesha or Sanskrit shlokas, this ancient epic opens with the Islamic phrase 'Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim' (In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful)." This is no accident, but a deliberate act of cultural synthesis dating back over three centuries. Preserved with care since 1713, the Persian Ramayana was translated under the patronage of Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar. The task of rendering Valmiki's Sanskrit verses into Persian was undertaken by Sumer Chand, a scholar whose name now quietly bridges two great traditions, Hindu and Islamic. What makes this manuscript even more exceptional is its visual splendour. Each of its 258 pages is adorned with vivid Mughal miniature paintings, turning the story into a gallery of devotion and drama. Lord Rama's exile, Sita's abduction, Hanuman's leap across the ocean, each iconic moment is rendered in brush and colour with painstaking detail. One striking image shows Ravana with a donkey drawn atop his crown, a symbolic nod to his sin of abducting Sita. Dr Pushkar Mishra, Director of the Raza Library, calls the manuscript 'a monument of shared heritage". 'It's not just the language that's unusual. The very spirit of this Ramayana lies in its fusion of faiths, where reverence transcends religious lines," he added. In recent years, efforts have been made to make this cultural gem accessible to a wider audience. A Hindi translation was undertaken by Professor Shah Abdussalman and Dr Waqarul Hasan Siddiqui, aiming to ensure that the Ramayana's essence is not lost in linguistic barriers. Their work has opened this once esoteric text to the common reader, while preserving its original intent – a literary offering of devotion and artistry. First Published: June 19, 2025, 20:34 IST
News18
a day ago
- News18
'Lived In UK, But Never Forgot Their Roots': Surat Mourns Death Of Couple, 4-Year-Old Kid In Air India Crash
Hundreds gathered at Hasanji Kabristan in Haripura for the last rites of Aqeel Nanabava, his wife Hanna Voraji, and their daughter Sara, who died in an Air India crash The city that slept silently on Tuesday night stirred to an extraordinary moment of mourning as hundreds gathered outside Hasanji Kabristan in Haripura at 1:30 am. The occasion was tragic – the last rites of Aqeel Nanabava, his wife Hanna Voraji, and their four-year-old daughter Sara, who lost their lives in the Air India plane crash on June 12. The family, though settled in the UK for decades, had deep roots in Surat's Bohra community and were brought home for their final journey. Despite being a British citizen, Aqeel's family had long been woven into Surat's social and spiritual fabric through their charitable work, property holdings, and generations of community presence. The outpouring of grief reflected not just the shock of their untimely death, but the emotional bond the city still shared with them. In the crowd stood Abdullah Nanabava, a father hollowed by loss. He had just celebrated Eid al-Adha with his son's family days prior to the tragic crash. 'What words are left now?" he said, barely audible, adding that he had dropped them at Ahmedabad airport himself as they were flying to London. The crash came barely a day after Father's Day. 'In the morning, I was a father. By evening, I was not," he said to a close family friend. Aqeel, Hanna, and little Sara had come to Surat for a short Eid holiday for just six days. It was meant to be a joyful visit, and by all accounts, it was. 'They brought us happiness like a festival," said Abdullah, 'Now, that joy is my memory." As the ' namaz-e-janaza ' (funeral prayer) was held, a sea of mourners – relatives, local clerics, activists, and neighbours – filled the street. The quiet dignity of the crowd reflected the deep respect Aqeel's family commanded. Though Aqeel was raised abroad, those who met him described him as warm, soft-spoken, and always connected to his roots. 'He never forgot Surat," said an old classmate of his father, adding that even when his accent changed, his humility did not. The Nanabava family had made Gloucester, UK, their home. Abdullah had returned to Surat nearly 15 years ago, but his wife and four sons continued to live in England. The family remained close despite the geography – the sons visiting Surat regularly, especially on religious occasions. Aqeel's younger brother, Hamza, and mother Sajida had flown in from London upon hearing the news. It was in their presence that Aqeel and Hanna were buried side by side, just after 2 am. Yet, not everything about the burial followed tradition. The Islamic practice of ghusl (ritual washing of the body) could not be performed due to procedural constraints after the crash. For many, especially close friends like Rashid, the absence of this sacred step left a void. 'It felt like something vital was missing," Rashid said. The soul was gone, but the goodbye was incomplete, he added. Later that day, another call came – this time from Ahmedabad. The remains of four-year-old Sara had been positively identified. In the evening, her tiny body too was brought to Hasanji Kabristan. The prayer was offered once more, the earth was turned once more; this time for the youngest among them. She was buried just beside her parents. Three members of one family – a mother, a father, and a child – now rest in the same city they once came to celebrate Eid in. First Published: June 19, 2025, 15:44 IST
News18
2 days ago
- News18
2025 Shares The Same Calendar As 1941 And That's Sending The Internet Spiraling
Last Updated: Both 1941 and 2025 are non-leap years starting on a Wednesday. In the Gregorian system, such calendar repeats occur every 28 years due to leap year and 7-day week cycles Social media is buzzing with an eerie observation: the calendar for 2025 is an exact match for 1941, right down to the days and dates. This viral comparison has sparked a flurry of conspiracy theories, doomsday predictions, and historical parallels—especially since both years are marked by global conflict and economic tension. But is this just a calendar coincidence, or is there more to it? Let's break down how calendar cycles work, why 2025 mirrors 1941 and 1969, and whether history is really repeating itself – or just rhyming. Are the Calendars of 2025 and 1941 Identical? Yes—2025 and 1941 calendars align perfectly. Every date falls on the same weekday in both years. But this isn't some once-in-a-lifetime glitch in the matrix. The same was true in 1969, and will be true for other years in the future. Thanks to the design of the Gregorian calendar, such repetitions are common. Both 1941 and 2025 are non-leap years that began on a Wednesday. Because of how leap years are spaced and how weeks cycle every 7 days, matching calendars typically resurface every 6, 11, or 28 years. Was 1941 a Turbulent Year? Absolutely. 1941 was a pivotal year in World War II, with events that reshaped global history: By the end of the year, the world was fully engulfed in war, and the geopolitical map was shifting rapidly. What's Unfolding in 2025? While not on the same scale as a world war, 2025 is witnessing multiple flashpoints of military tension and global unease: Together, these conflicts are driving renewed fears of global instability and economic downturns—drawing loose comparisons to 1941's chaos. Are the Two Years Really Comparable? Only on the surface. While 2025 does echo 1941 in terms of tension and turmoil, the causes, players, and scale are entirely different. History doesn't repeat in perfect loops – but sometimes, it does feel like déjà vu. The viral social media posts comparing the two years are more poetic than scientific. The matching calendar dates are a mathematical inevitability, not a cosmic warning. Why Calendars Repeat The Gregorian calendar is designed with cycles. Every non-leap year shifts January 1 by one weekday. Leap years, occurring every four years, cause slight disruptions. As a result: A non-leap year calendar repeats every 5–11 years. A leap year calendar repeats only with other leap years. Every 28 years, most calendar patterns return, due to how weeks and leap years interact. So yes—2025 is a twin of 1941, and also of 1969. But it's not fate. It's just math. First Published: June 19, 2025, 08:03 IST News viral 2025 Shares The Same Calendar As 1941 And That's Sending The Internet Spiraling
