The Islamic new year, or the Hijri new year, marks the start of the Muslim lunar calendar.
The year has 12 months beginning with Muharram, and ending with Dhul al-Hijjah. Each month starts with the sighting of the new moon.
Significance of Muharram
Muharram is not only the 1st month of the Islamic Calendar which marks the New Islamic Year but also one of the four sanctified months of the year.
As Allah Says in Quran:
Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred.” (Surah At-Taubah 9:36)
The four months mentioned in the Ayah are Dhul-Qadah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. This is evident from the words of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) on the occasion of his last Hajj Sermon:
The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qadah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab.” (Sahih Bukhari: 3197)
