MUHARRAM

What is Muharram? For non-believers Muharram is the Muslim New Year, below excerpt on the explanations of Muharram....

The Muslim New Year Day

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and the first day of Muharram is celebrated as the Muslim New Year. It is mistakenly believed that Hari Raya Puasa is the Muslim New Year. Al Hijrah or the Muslim New Year commemorates the flight of Prophet Muhammad from Mekah to Madinah.

Prophet Muhammad faced arrests and persecution in his birthplace, Mekah, for preaching a new religion, the worship of One God. He was invited by people from the city of Medina to migrate to their city. Before his murderers could get him, Prophet Muhammad left Mekah. At Madinah, Prophet Muhammad started an Islamic community and later spread Islam to the whole of the Arabian Peninsula.

Hijrah or the migration which took place on 2 July 622 A.D. became the first day in the Islamic calendar. Each year, the Islamic New Year falls on different days since the Islamic calendar is based on the moon cycle and it is eleven days shorter than the Western calendar. On this day, Muslims attend special prayers, recite Quranic verses and share stories about Prophet Muhammad’s migration.

To all muslims - Selamat Menyambut Awal Muharram.