Al-Hijra

Al-Hijra: A Brief Explanation of the Islamic New Year

Once a year, the Islamic community commemorates the flight of the prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina which took place in 622 CE. This holiday is known Al-Hijra. Unlike the western celebration of the new year, which takes place on January 1 every year, the Islamic New Year date varies from year to year. Since the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar calendar which has 354 days, it is necessary to adjust the date of Al-Hijra by 11 days every year. In 2010, the date for Al-Hijra is December 7, 2010, and ends 29 days later on January 4, 2011. However, it is important to remember that Muslim holidays begin at sunset on the evening prior to the set holiday date. Thus, Al-Hijra begins at sunset on December 6, 2010.

In order to appreciate the holiday known as Al-Hijra, it is important to know the sacrifices and history behind it. When Muhammad was 25, he married a woman named Khadji. It is said that Khadji came from a wealthy family and Muhammad became wealthy upon marriage. However, it is also noted that he became influential in the community as a businessman and leader in his own right. When he was 40 years of age, he traveled outside Mecca on a retreat. There he received his first revelation from God, and he was told by an angel that he was God's chosen messenger. He returned home and told his wife what happened and continued to receive revelations from God. He shared these with Khadji, who had converted to Islam, and with his family and friends. When he started speaking about his revelations in public, his following grew, and religious leaders were determined to discourage him from spreading the message of this new religion. Thus, due to the intense pressure of the religious leaders and threats of violence, Muhammad fled from his home in Mecca in 622 CE to a town known as Yathrib.

The flight was the hijra, and Yathrib, a city about 200 miles from Mecca, became the new home of Muhammad and his family. The city's population embraced Muhammad and his teachings. Its name was changed to Medina which stands for "the city of the prophet." Here, Muhammad continued to teach the people, and his following slowly grew. They organized the first Muslim community based entirely on Islamic principles, and eventually the religious movement spread all the way to Mecca and beyond. While some people embraced the new religion, others did not, and this caused intense fighting between the different groups. Eventually the entire Arabian Peninsula was following Islam, and Muhammad died in 632 AH (after Hijra). He lived to see Islam as the primary religion of the region.

The first Islamic calendar was introduced around 638 AH by the new prophet who, along with his advisors, made the decision about the most appropriate dating system to use for the Muslim calendar. Since Muhammad's flight took place in 622 CE, this is the beginning of Muslim years. Unlike the other religious holidays, such as Eid al-Adha, and Eid al-Fitr, there are not really any religious rituals associated with this holiday. Muslims may attend worship service. However, normally the day is spent remembering Muhammad's flight and reflecting quietly on immortality. Sometimes, friends and family members exchange gifts and cards, but there is no loud celebrating in the community.

Al-Hijra is recognized and celebrated throughout the Muslim community. However, there is some debate over what date should be designated each year as the beginning of the new year. Traditionally, Al-Hijra can vary from country to country depending on the sighting of the moon. North American communities began using astronomical calculations to adopt the date for new year in order to simplify the process, but this continues to be debated among the community at large. No matter what date a person uses for the celebration of the new year, ultimately, Al-Hijra is a time to remember Islamic history and the sacrifices made by those who lived in prior times. It is also a time to look at the present and appreciate the things that have been provided and to look to the future and determine if the path that a person is taking is the correct one.