Happy New Islamic Year 1434

November 15th marked the first day of the new Islamic year, 1434. Let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Islamic Year.

The Islamic calendar (or Hijri calendar) is a purely lunar calendar. It contains 12 months that are based on the motion of the moon. and because 12 synodic months is only 354.36 days, the Islamic calendar is consistently shorter than a tropical year, and therefore it shifts with respect to the Gregorian calendar.

Each month starts when the lunar crescent is first seen (by a human observer’s eye) after a new moon.

Although new moons may be calculated quite precisely, the actual visibility of the crescent is much more difficult to predict. It depends on factors such as weather, the optical properties of the atmosphere, and the location of the observer. It is therefore very difficult to give accurate information in advance about when a new month will start. 

Years are counted since the Hijra, that is, Prophet Mohammed’s emigration to Medina in AD 622. Although almost 1390 (2012-622) years have passed in the Gregorian calendar, 1434 years have passed in the Islamic calendar, because its year is consistently shorter (by about 11 days) than the tropical year used by the Gregorian calendar.

Being a Muslim, what are your resolutions for the new year. Start with simple things that get counted as your good deeds. Don't be too hard on yourself. Set realistic goals and stick to them. Here are some ideas:

~ Pray five times a day, on time.

~ Recite a few verses from the Qur'an everyday, and learn its meanings.

~ Fast on Mondays and Thursdays.

~ Not get irritated by my parents when they tell me not to do this or that, and try to be as obedient as possible.

~ Give a small sum of money to the poor people, say once or twice a month.

~ Don't fight with your siblings.

~ Make up with someone you had a silly fight with.

Small things like these may make a big difference in your life. Let's begin a better life with this new year, let's prove that we are not Muslims with names, but with deeds like Sahaba (RA), let's strive for Akhirah!!!