Islamic New Year

Beginning of a new lunar Hijri year

Not to be confused with Nowruz, the New Year in the solar Hijri calendar.

Islamic New Year

Official name| Arabic: رأس السنة الهجرية
Raʿs as-Sanah al-Hijrīyah
Also called| Hijri New Year
Observed by| Muslims
Type| Islamic
Begins| Last day of Dhu al-Hijjah
Ends| 1 Muharram
Date| 29/30 Dhu al-Hijjah – 1 Muharram
2025 date| 25 - 26 June 2025
2026 date| 16 June 2026 (estimated[a])
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The Islamic New Year (Arabic: رأس السنة الهجرية, Raʿs as-Sanah al-Hijrīyah), also called the Hijri New Year, is the day that marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year, and is the day on which the year count is incremented. The first day of the Islamic year is observed by most Muslims on the first day of the month of Muharram. The epoch (reference date) of the Islamic era was set as the year of the emigration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina, known as the Hijrah, which equates to 622 CE in the Gregorian calendar.[1] All religious duties, such as prayer, fasting in the month of Ramadan, and pilgrimage, and the dates of significant events, such as celebration of holy nights and festivals, are calculated according to the Islamic calendar. Hijri New Year is observed by 24 countries as a public holiday.[2]

While some Islamic organizations prefer determining the new month (and hence the new year) by local sightings of the moon,[3] most Islamic institutions and countries, including Saudi Arabia,[4] follow astronomical calculations to determine future dates of the Islamic calendar. There are various schemas for calculating the tabular Islamic calendar (i.e. not based on observation), which results in differences of typically one or even two days between countries using such schema and those that use actual lunar sightings. For example, the Umm al-Qura calendar used in Saudi Arabia was reformed several times in recent years. The current scheme was introduced in 1423 AH (15 March 2002).[5]

A day in the Islamic calendar is defined as beginning at sunset. For example, 1 Muharram 1432 was defined to correspond to 7 or 8 December 2010 in civil calendars (depending on the country). For an observation-based calendar, a sighting of the new moon at sunset of 6 December would mean that 1 Muharram lasted from the moment of sunset of 6 December to the moment of sunset of 7 December, while in places where the new moon was not sighted on 6 December 1 Muharram would last from the moment of sunset of 7 December to the moment of sunset of 8 December.[6]

## Alternative date

[edit]

Twelver Shia Muslims believe the Islamic new year is the first of Rabi' al-Awwal rather than Muharram, due to it being the month in which the Hijrah took place.[7] This has led to difference regarding description of the years in which some events took place, such as the Muharram-occurring battle of Karbala, which Shias say took place in 60 AH, while Sunnis say it took place in 61 AH.[8]

## Gregorian correspondence

[edit]

Main article: List of Islamic years

Since the Islamic lunar year is eleven to twelve days shorter than the solar year as approximated by the Gregorian calendar, the Islamic New Year does not occur on the same Gregorian calendar date every year.

The following dates beyond the current year are the Gregorian calendar dates are predicted to correspond with 1 Muharram (Islamic new year), according to Saudi Arabia's Umm al-Qura calendar.[9] (Dates calculated according to the tabular Islamic calendar may differ from the Umm al-Qura calendar dates by one or even two days on either side, because the motions of the sun and moon are not strictly linear and because observation methods and locations differ.[10])

Islamic year  | Gregorian date[a]

|

1446 AH | 8 July 2024[11]
1447 AH | 26 June 2025[12]
1448 AH | 16 June 2026 (estimated)[13]
1449 AH | 6 June 2027 (estimated)
1450AH | 25 May 2028 (estimated)

## See also

[edit]

* Solar Hijri calendar#New Year's Day

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b The actual Gregorian date of 1 Muharram may differ by locality according to local traditions, time zone and atmospheric conditions.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Lunde, Paul. "The Beginning of Hijri calendar". Saudi Aramco World Magazine. No. November/December 2005. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
2. ^ "Islamic New Year around the world in 2025". Office Holidays. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
3. ^ "Islamic Crescents' Observation Project". Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
4. ^ "Saudi Dating System". Islamic Crescents' Observation Project. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
5. ^ van Gent, Robert Harry. "The Umm al-Qura Calendar of Saudi Arabia". Archived from the original on 11 June 2011.
6. ^ "Visibility of Muharram Crescent 1432 AH". Islamic Crescents' Observation Project. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012.; seen on 6 December in Algeria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Africa.
7. ^ Al-Hilli, Mohammed (22 September 2021). "Muharram May Not Be The Start Of The Islamic Hijri New Year". Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
8. ^ Rizvi, Sa'eed Akhtar (1401). "Martyrdom of Imam Husayn and the Muslim and Jewish Calendars". Al-Serat (A Journal of Islamic Studies). 6 (3–4). Retrieved 13 April 2024 - via Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project.3–4&rft.date=1401&rft.aulast=Rizvi&rft.aufirst=Sa'eed+Akhtar&rft_id=https://www.al-islam.org/al-serat/vol-6-no-3-4-1401ah/martyrdom-imam-husayn-and-muslim-and-jewish-calendars-sayyid-saeed-0&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Islamic+New+Year" class="Z3988">
9. ^ "Principal Islamic days of observation (1420 AH to 1450 AH)". Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
10. ^ Dershowitz, Nachum; Reingold, Edward M. (2008). "6. The Islamic calendar". Calendrical Calculations (Third ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 82–87. ISBN 9780521885409. OCLC 144768713.
11. ^ "Important dates in Islamic Calendar in the Year 2024". Al-Habib.info. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
12. ^ "Important dates in Islamic Calendar in the Year 2025". Al-Habib.info. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
13. ^ "Important dates in Islamic Calendar in the Year 2026". Al-Habib.info. Retrieved 30 June 2025.

## External links

[edit]

### Calendar converters

[edit]

Calendar converters typically rely on the tabular Islamic calendar.

* Beers, T.S. (2018). "Calendar Converter for Near East Historians". muqawwim.com.
* Walker, John (September 2015). "Calendar converter". fourmilab.ch.

* v
* t
* e

New Year by calendar

Africa|

* Enkutatash (Ethiopian, Eritrean)
* Fandroana (Malagasy)
* Islamic New Year
* Nayrouz (Coptic)
* Yennayer (Berber)

Americas|

| North|

* Yancuic Xīhuitl (Aztec)
* Quviasukvik (Inuit)
* Hobiyee (Nisg̱a'a)

|

South|

* Inti Raymi (Incan)
* Willkakuti (Aymara)
* We Tripantu (Mapuche)

Asia|

| East|

* Chinese New Year (Chinese)
* Shōgatsu (Japanese)
* Seollal (Korean)
* Kuè-nî (Taiwanese)

|

Inner|

* Tsagaan Sar (Mongolian)
* Losar (Tibetan)

Southeast|

* Thingyan (Burmese)
* Choul Chnam Thmey (Cambodian)
* Pi Mai (Lao)
* Songkran (Thai)
* Water-Splashing Festival (Dai)
* Nyepi (Balinese)
* Satu Suro (Javanese)
* Tết (Vietnamese)

South|

* Nauruz (Afghan)
* Vaisakhi (North & Central India (Solar), Nepali)
* Chaitra Navaratri (North & Central India (Lunar))
* Navreh (Kashmiri)
* Cheti Chand (Sindhi)
* Balipratipada (Gujarati, Rajasthani)
* Bohag Bihu (Assamese)
* Pahela Baishakh (Bengali)
* Maha Bishuba Sankranti (Odia)
* Jur Sital (Maithili)
* Mha Puja (Newari)
* Losoong (Sikkimese)
* Losar (Ladakhi, Monpa)
* Gyalpo Lhosar (Sherpa)
* Tamu Lhosar (Gurung)
* Sonam Lhosar (Tamang)
* Maghe Sankranti (Rai, Tharu, Magar)
* Bwisagu (Bodo)
* Sajibu Cheiraoba (Meitei)
* Buisu (Tripuri)
* Sangken (Tai)
* Bizhu (Chakma)
* Gudi Padwa (Marathi, Konkani)
* Ugadi (Telugu, Kannada)
* Bisu Parba (Tulu)
* Puthandu (Tamil)
* Vishu (Malayali)
* Aluth Avurudda (Sinhala)

West
and Central|

* Islamic New Year
* Kha b-Nisan (Assyrian)
* Navruz (Uzbek)
* Naw-Rúz (Baháʼí)
* Newroz (Kurd)
* Yazidi New Year
* Novruz (Azeri)
* Nowruz (Iranian)
* Nowruz (Mazandarani)
* Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew)
* Dehwa Rabba (Mandaean)
* Nogbon (Ossetian)

North|

* Yhyakh (Sakha)

Europe|

* New Year's Day (Gregorian, Julian)
* Old New Year (traditional Julian)
* Lady Day (England, historical)

Oceania|

* Makahiki (Hawaii)
* Matariki (Māori)

See Also|

* Lunar New Year
* Solar New Year
* South and Southeast Asian solar New Year
* Mesha Sankranti
* Songkran
* Indian New Year's days

* v
* t
* e

Islamic holidays and observances

The two Eids|

* Eid al-Fitr
* Eid al-Adha

Other holidays and observances|

* Day of Arafah
* Day of Ashura
* Islamic New Year
* Arbaʽeen1
* Mawlid
* Laylat al-Raghaib
* Isra' and Mi'raj
* Mid-Sha'ban
* Ramadan
* Laylat al-Qadr
* Al-'Ashr al-Awakher
* Saviours' Day2
* Eid al-Ghadir1
* Mubahala1
* Promised Messiah Day3
* Promised Reformer Day3
* Caliphate Day3

* 1 Shia Muslim only
* 2 Nation of Islam only
* 3 Ahmadi Muslim only

* v
* t
* e

Holidays, observances, and celebrations in Algeria

January|

* New Year's Day (1)
* Yennayer (12)

February|

* Valentine's Day (14)
* Tafsut (28)

March|

* International Women's Day (8)
* Victory Day (19)
* World Water Day (22)
* Maghrebi Blood Donation Day (30)
* Spring vacation (2 last weeks)

April|

* April Fools' Day (1)
* Knowledge Day (16)
* Berber Spring (20)
* Earth Day (22)
* Election Day (Thursday)

May|

* International Workers' Day (1)
* World Press Freedom Day (3)
* Mother's Day (last Sunday)

June–July–August|

* Summer vacation (varies)

June|

* Children's Day (1)
* Father's Day (21)

July|

* Independence Day (5)

September|

* International Day of Peace (21)

October|

* International Day of Non-Violence (2)
* Halloween (31)

November|

* Revolution Day (1)

December|

* Christmas Eve (24)
* Christmas (25)
* New Year's Eve (31)
* Winter vacation (2 last weeks)

Varies (year round)|

* Hijri New Year's Day (Muharram 1)
* Ashura (Muharram 10)
* Ashura in Algeria
* Mawlid (Rabi' al-Awwal 12)
* Mawlid in Algeria
* Ramadan (Ramadan 1)
* Laylat al-Qadr (Ramadan 27)
* Eid al-Fitr (Shawwal 1)
* Day of Arafah (Dhu al-Hijjah 9)
* Eid al-Adha (Dhu al-Hijjah 10)

Bold indicates major holidays commonly celebrated in Algeria, which often represent the major celebrations of the month.
See also: Lists of holidays.

* v
* t
* e

Public holidays in Indonesia

* Joint holiday
* New Year's Day
* Chinese New Year
* Nyepi
* Good Friday
* Easter
* Labour Day
* Ascension Day
* Vesak
* Pancasila Day
* Independence Day
* Christmas
* Islamic New Year
* Mawlid
* Isra' and Mi'raj
* Eid al-Fitr
* Eid al-Adha

* v
* t
* e

Public holidays in Malaysia

National holidays|

* Chinese New Year
* Labour Day
* Wesak Day
* Eid al-Fitr
* Eid al-Adha
* Islamic New Year
* Merdeka Day
* Muharram
* Agong's Birthday
* Malaysia Day
* Muhammad's Birthday
* Christmas

State holidays
(differ by states)|

* New Year's Day
* Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sembilan's Birthday
* Sultan of Kedah's Birthday
* Thaipusam
* Federal Territory Day
* Anniversary of Installation of the Sultan of Terengganu
* Sultan of Johor's Birthday
* Isra and Mi'raj
* Declaration of Malacca City as Historical City
* Good Friday
* Sultan of Terengganu's Birthday
* First Day of Ramadan
* Day of Nuzul Al-Quran
* Tadau Kaamatan
* Gawai Dayak
* Declaration of George Town as World Heritage Site
* Penang State Governor's Birthday
* Raja of Perlis's Birthday
* Sarawak Day
* Hol Day of Sultan Iskandar of Johor
* Sabah State Governor's Birthday
* Malacca State Governor's Birthday
* Sarawak State Governor's Birthday
* Sultan of Pahang's Birthday
* Deepavali
* Sultan of Perak's Birthday
* Sultan of Kelantan's Birthday
* Sultan of Selangor's Birthday
* Christmas Eve

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