When is Islamic New Year, what is it called and what year is it in Islam?

Islamic New Year is a time for prayer and gratitude (Picture: Getty)

This year hasn’t exactly gone as planned for many of us, so the fact that there’s going to be a New Year should be cause for celebration.

That’s right, Islamic New Year is nearly upon us, which is great news for observers of the Islamic faith, more of the same for everyone else.

So, when is it, and what year is it turning on the Islamic Lunar calendar?

What is The First of Muharram?

The First of Muharram, also known as the Islamic New Year, marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar year.

The Islamic New Year has been observed since 622 AD when the prophet Mohammed fled from Mecca to Yathrib (now called Medina) to escape religious persecution.

The legend of Mohammed’s migration from Mecca is known as Hijra in Arabic, which can sometimes be spelled Hegira.

When is Islamic New Year, or The First of Muharram?

For observers of the Islamic faith in UK and across the Western Hemisphere, the First of Muharram will be Thursday 20 August.

The date is chosen to coincide with the expected first sighting of the lunar crescent after the new Moon in the month of Muharram.

Astronomical calculations will be used to predict when this sighting will occur, and for this reason, there are sometimes differences of up to two days as to precisely when the date falls depending on where you are.

The crescent moon holds an important place to followers of the Islamic faith (Picture: Getty)

The crescent Moon may be visible a day or so after the new Moon, but weather and other factors may delay the sighting.

What year is it in the Islamic calendar?

It is currently 1441 AH in the Islamic calendar, so it will turn 1442 at the strike of midnight on Wednesday 19/Thursday 20 August.

The Islamic Calendar started count of the years from the year 622.

The Hijri year is how it’s often discussed among Muslims, and the year is often denoted with an AH, which stands for ‘in the year of the Hijra.’

This is similar to how Christians will refer to a year as AD, which stands for anno Domini – or ‘in the year of the Lord.’

How is the Islamic New Year celebrated?

No hootenanny or auld lang syne here.

The Islamic New Year is more a quiet time to reflect.

On Ashura, the tenth day, many Shia Muslims will show grief for the murder of Mohammed’s grandson by wounding themselves (Picture: Getty)

For many Muslims, they will pray with friends and family, as well as fasting until the tenth day of Muharram.

This day is known as Ashura, when the massacre at Karbala is remembered.

The Battle of Karbala was fought on 10 October 680 (or year 61 AH of the Islamic calendar) between the army of the second Umayyad caliph Yazid I – a caliph is a leader of an Islamic state, or caliphate – and a small army led by Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Mohammed, at Karbala, Iraq.

Mohammed’s grandson was slain at the battle, and on Ashura, Sunni Muslims will give praise to the prophet in honour, whereas Shia Muslims are known to partake in more visceral ceremonies, including self-flagellation.

How to wish someone a Happy New Year on Muharram 2020

‘Kul aam wa anatom bekhayr’ is a typical greeting to wish someone a happy new year.

It translates to mean ‘I wish you well on this occasion every year’

MORE: By introducing local lockdowns three hours before Eid, the Government unfairly penalised Muslims

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