Islamic New Year 2021: Significance and All You Need to Know About the Hijri New Year 1443

The Islamic New Year marks the beginning of the new Muslim lunar calendar. Also known as Hijri New Year, the Islamic calendar has 354 or 355 days. As compared to the Gregorian calendar, it is roughly 11 days shorter. The Islamic New year commences with Muharram, which is considered as the second holiest month after Ramadan, and ends with Dhul al-Hijjah, as the name suggests it is the month in which devotees go for Hajj. This year, the Hijri New Year is slated to commence on today, August 10.

Islamic New Year 2021 date

The moon-sighting committee of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said that the first day of Muharram 1443 AH (Anno Hegirae in Latin) will be on Tuesday, August 10, 2021. According to the Ummul Qura calendar (Hijri calendar), August 9 is the first day of Muharram 1443. The crescent moon, which marks the beginning of the new Islamic year-1443 AH, was not been seen in Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening. So, August 9 was the last of the Islamic year- 1442 AH and the 30th day of Zul-Hijjah, the committee said. Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year or the Hijri New Year.

As per the Islamic Mythology, the Islamic New Year began in 622 AD with the migration of Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina. The upcoming year will be considered as Hijri 1443 AH (In Latin, AH means Anno Hegirae or the year of the Hijra). Hujri 1443 AH signifies that it has been 1443 years since Prophet Mohammed’s migration.

Though the day holds significant importance, no big celebrations are held in Muslim-majority nations. To commemorate the day, many countries, including United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia declare a public holiday.

Along with this, the first 10 days of holy Muharram are extremely important for the muslim community, especially the Shia Muslims. During this period, they mourn the death of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Husayn Ibn Ali al-Hussein, who died at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.