As you may know, the Islamic calendar is different from the Christian or Western (also called Gregorian) calendar. And that makes the Islamic New Year’s Day different for Muslims. But not only the date of celebration changes, but also the spirit itself. of the date. In this post we try to explain the similarities and differences with the Western New Year, as they are important.
A basic clarification of the Islamic calendar
Both the Islamic and Christian calendars are composed of 12 months. But the main difference between the Islamic calendar and the Western calendar is that the Islamic calendar is lunar (it is governed by the waxing and waning cycle of the moon), while the western one is solar (it is governed by the time it takes for the Earth to revolve around the sun). This makes the Islamic calendar 11 or 12 days shorter.
Another difference is the ephemeris or event that marks the first day of the first month. While in the case of the Gregorian calendar there are different theories about the reason for starting the year in January, in the case of the Islamic calendar it is very clear: the first day of the first month ( Muharram) coincides with the Hegirathat is to say, the emigration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, thus abandoning that city where his teachings were not well received, to the point that its Coraichite leaders wanted to assassinate him. And since this happened in the year 622 of the Western Christian calendar, June 26, 2025 will become the 1st of Muharram 1447.
For the Islamic community, the Hegira is a relevant event because it indicates the beginning of the Muslim State or beginning of the Muslim State or ummaThe Hegira, a community of believers with a common covenant, by way of a constitution. Therefore, the Hegira has not only a connotation of migration but also of ‘beginning’.
In addition, the Islamic New Year differs from the Western New Year in the time of day that is taken as the ‘starting instant’: if in the Western world it is 00.00 in the evening, in the case of the Muslim world it is the sighting of the new moon of the night in question.. That is, the first new moon of the year. To this end, an Islamic commission of experts is responsible for certifying the sighting and announcing it to the population.
How the Islamic New Year is celebrated
Another important difference with respect to New Year’s Days in the rest of the world is the mode of celebration. While in most countries the celebration is very big, with fireworks and mass gatherings, in Morocco (and in most Muslim countries) this date does not involve great excesses. Quite the contrary: it is a day of recollection and reflectionThe most important thing is to be aware of one’s own actions and of the passage of time. And at the most, they are organized family meals and meetings of trusted people, but without great public demonstrations.
In fact, the translation of the month Muharram is “prohibition”, which shows the self-control to which the believers submit themselves during this period. In addition, in this month is war prohibited. And on the 10th of this month, a voluntary fast is established.
Is the Islamic New Year working or not working?
As in the Western New Year, the first day of Muharram is not a working day, which favors the work of reflection, recollection and meeting with the family at the beginning of the Islamic year.
Regarding the opening of the monuments, it is advisable to consult this information beforehand, as in some cases there may be modifications or even closures. In any case, if you need help on this or any other detail of your trip, do not hesitate to contact us. Our tours may coincide with this date, but the development of the program and activities should not experience major changes because of it.
