The Islamic Calendar is a lunar calendar – that is, it is marked by the moon’s orbit of Earth. It is also known as the Hijri Calendar because the Hijri years (corresponding with the year 622 CE), begin from the year in which the hijrah (migration) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), from Makkah to Medina took place. Year 1 Hijri marked the establishment of the first Islamic state in Medina and therefore holds significance for Muslims. It was actually the Caliph ‘Umar bin al-Khattab who instituted the Hijrah as the first Islamic Hijri year.
When does the Islamic New Year
begin in 2025?
The 1st Muharram and beginning of the hijri new year will occur on the 27th June 2025, subject to the sighting of the moon).
Each year, the beginning of the Islamic New Year is determined by the sighting of the Moon. The entire calendar and it’s religious and notable days are organised in line with the lunar calendar, and so moves forward approximately 11-12 days each year, while the Gregorian calendar runs on the solar year.
In Islam, the beginning of a new day begins at sunset time. Therefore, the first day of the Islamic New Year technically begins at sunset time on the 26th June until sunset time on the 27th June 2025 (subject to the sighting of the moon).
What is the significance of the Islamic New Year?
While there are no prescribed days of worship for Muslims to observe on the 1st of Muharram, or hijri new year. Muslims may use it as a time to reflect on the journey and struggle of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Muslims of his time. Many sacrifices and much hardship was endured in the lead up to the establishment of the first Islamic government and city, and around the Muslim world, it marks the beginning of the year and people’s annual plans.
Virtues of the Islamic New Year
The beginning of the Islamic New Year is a time for reflection, commemoration and gaining Allah Almighty’s nearness. One of the greatest virtues of the Islamic New Year is that it offers the opportunity for deep reflection. It’s a time to reflect on the last Islamic year in terms of decisions we made, our good and bad deeds, changes in our character and how well we think we have fulfilled the rights of Allah and sought to seek His pleasure.
We should use this as a basis to make improvements to our lives in order to become closer to Allah Almighty.
One of the most important things to reflect upon is our good and bad qualities- and we should work to correct anything in our manners and character that may be delaying us from gaining Allah’s pleasure.
In addition, as we reflect upon the hardships that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his family were faced with, and the sacrifices they made to ensure that Islam reached us, the Islamic New Year is a time to show gratitude for being Muslim and having the gift of Islam which illuminates our lives.
Send the gift of Salawat (salutations) to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a gift on this special day.
Source: islamic-relief.org.uk
Monday, May 4, 2026
