KNOW ABOUT THE HIJRAH CALENDER

Know about the HIJRAH CALENDAR

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Written by: Bint Abdul Maajid

Before the advent of Islam, only the Gregorian calendar was followed. The practice of taking down dates was not at all common among Muslims.  Later on it was, during the Caliphate of Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ in 17 Hijrah, when for the first time Hazrat Abu Musa Asha’ari رضی اللہ عنہ gave the proposal of writing dates in official letters. He wrote a letter to Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ and suggested that as letters are issued time and again to different parts of the Government, it will be convenient to mention the dates as this will avoid confusion and will thus help in keeping records as to when the letter was sent, after how many days it reached its destination and when it was put into action. Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ found it to be a valuable suggestion and without delay ordered for a meeting of the akaabireen Sahabah to be held. After consultation four opinions came forth:
1.   The first category of the Sahabah opined to start the  Islamic calendar from the birth of the Holy Prophet  صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
2.   The second party was more inclined towards having the commencement of the Islamic calendar from the year of Prophethood.
3.   The third group wanted to begin the Islamic calendar from the year of  Hijrah and
4.   Yet another group of Sahabah was of the opinion to have it from the year of the Prophet’s صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم death.
All the four views were taken in consideration and dealt with intensively and eventually Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ announced the final decision.
Marking the start of the Islamic calendar with the Year of the Prophet’s صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم birth or the year of the Prophethood could give rise to a number of differences as there were no accurate or fixed days that could be assigned for these events and commencing from the day of the Prophet’s صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم death was also not appropriate as it was a day of grief and sorrow for all the Muslims. So, naturally these three options were ruled out. And what left behind was the year of Hijrah!
Furthermore, the year of Hijrah had four distinct qualities;
1.   The Hijrah from Makkah to Madinah resulted in clear distinction between truth (haq) and falsehood (batil).
2.   This was the year which made it acceptable for the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and the Muslims to worship Allah سحانہ وتعالیٰ at peace, without any fear.
3.   The Year of Hijrah had brought  glory and honour  to Islam
4.   The foundation stone of Masjid Nabawi was laid in the same year
So, in view of these notions, it was mutually agreed by the Sahabah رضی اللہ عنہم that the Hijrah Year will start the Islamic calendar.
The subsequent issue that arose was to determine which one of the twelve months should mark the start of the Hijrah calendar. Here again a number of views were put forward by the Sahabah رضی اللہ عنہم on demand from their Ameer Al Mu’mineen, Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ.
*   The first group recommended beginning the Islamic calendar with the month of Rajab.
*   Another opined for Ramazan, as it was the most virtuous of all months and also the month of the Holy Quran.
*   A third group of Sahabah رضی اللہ عنہم wanted to have the month of Muharram as the opening month, as the pilgrims return back to their homes after performing the rituals of Hajj in Muharram.
*   Some of them suggested that Rabi Al awwal is more appropriate to start with. The Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم had started his migration in the beginning of Rabi Al Awwal and reached the city of Madinah Al Munawwarah on 8th Rabi Al Awwal.
 Once more, Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ, after going through all the views, gave the final verdict-assigning Muharram, as the first month out of the twelve lunar months. There were two major reasons:
1.   At the time of Bait Al Uqbah, that took place in Zul Hajjah, after Hajj, the Ansaar invited the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم to Madinah. The Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم accepted their invitation and in the following month of Muharram, he started sending Sahabah to Madinah. Hence, it clearly meant that the  Hijrah to Madinah started in Muharram and reached its finale in Rabi Al Awwal.
2.   Secondly, after completing the rituals of the once-a-year worship of Hajj the pilgrims set off to their homes in Muharram
Eventually, due to these specialties, and under unanimous consensus of the Sahabah رضی اللہ عنہم it was decided that the Hijrah calendar will come into practice beginning from the month of Muharram al Haraam.
It is very unfortunate that, today, all our yearly activities revolve around the Gregorian calendar whereas Allah سبحانہ وتعالیٰ has made it dependant on the Islamic calendar which is based on the lunar observation. The reason why Shariah has chosen the lunar system for preservation of dates is that, it can be observed by every person living in any part of the world, be it a scholar or an ignorant, villager or a citizen, inhabitant of a desert or living in backwoods. For solar observation specially designed instruments are needed which can only be used by a professional.
Most of us are unfamiliar of this historic asset; however, by putting our little efforts we can revive one of the “symbols of Allah” (Sha’aair Allah). If we try carrying out our little trifle plans, like travelling, marriages, personal dealings, according to our Islamic dates, it will bring more spirituality in our lives plus it would earn us the reward of fulfilling a Fard Kifayah. May Allah bless us with Divine Guidance.