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Image Source: Muslimaid.org
The world has recently entered 2025 per Gregorian calculations, but did you know that according to the Islamic calendar we are in the year 1446, in 1431 in the Bengali calendar, or in 1403 in the Persian calendar? Or perhaps the year 10067 in the Yoruba calendar? While our understanding of what year we are in and new year celebrations are highly dominated by the Gregorian calendar of the West, other calendars are used either officially or culturally around the globe to mark new beginnings annually.
First, the Islamic calendar, mainly known as the Hijri calendar in the Muslim world. The beginning of this lunar calendar is marked by “Hijrah,” Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Macca to Medina where he established the first Muslim community. The months are Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwal, Rabi al-Thani, Jumada al-Ula, Jumada al-Akhirah, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qadah, and Dhu al-Hijjah. Sunnis recognize Muharram as the first month, and Twelver Shias recognize Rabi al-Awwal as the beginning of the Hijri year. Afghan and Uyghur Muslims had their own versions of this calendar separately that were in practice until the early 20th century. The importance of the Hijri calendar lies in the determination of religious holidays in Islam. Although there might be different calendars in practice for official use in majority Muslim countries, this one is shared and acknowledged by all.
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In addition to the Hijri calendar, here are several others used by many Muslim societies such as the Persian, Bangla, Chinese Lunar, or the Yoruba (Kọ́jọ́dá). The Persian calendar, for instance, recognizes Hijra as its beginning but it is a solar calendar giving it the name of “Solar Hijri Calendar”. It is recognized as one of the most accurately calculated calendars of today due to its precise calculations of nature’s cycle. The first day of the year is the spring equinox, Nowruz, also celebrated in the Caucasus and Central Asia. However it mainly signifies the arrival of the spring outside Iran. Whether to welcome a whole new year or just the spring, traditional Nowruz celebrations include preparation of the Haft Sin table, reading Hafez’ poems, jumping over the fire (Chaharshanbe Suri), and family gatherings for up to 13 days of a holiday season in the nations where it is observed. Some of these Persian new year celebration practices have reached as far as Zanzibar, where it is known as the Mwaka Kogwa.
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Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
South and Southeast Asia and West Africa also have their own new years. The Bengali new year, Pohela Boishakh, is around mid-April with its origins dating back to the Mughal Empire, specifically the time of the year when taxes were collected. Parades, family gatherings, food sharing, singing, wearing of a red-white attire, and other traditions are part of this celebration that inspires new beginnings and letting go of the past. The Yoruba new year, on the other hand, is celebrated in June in parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. Their incredibly unique lunar calendar, Kọ́jọ́dá, traditionally has four days a week, seven weeks in a month, and 13 months in a year but is also reconciled with the Gregorian calendar in contemporary times. While Muslims of Nigeria may not acknowledge this celebration any longer, it symbolizes the existence of their thousands of years old Yoruba culture and traditions. For Chinese Muslims of Malaysia, observing the Chinese Lunar year is a form of maintaining their heritage and identity with lanterns, paper cuttings, and family gatherings over delicious food.
Each calendar being in a different year also makes one wonder who is exactly in the past and who is in the future. The answer to this question will probably never be a firm one. Regardless of what year you are in or what calendar(s) you may follow, we wish everyone a prosperous 2025, 1446, 1431, 1403, 10067 and the Year of the Snake!
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NOTE: We would like to thank our friends from all over the world for providing information and the background knowledge for us to be able to share this blog with you.
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