- Muharram 1, 1445, is beginning of Islamic year
- Moon not sighted on Monday, Dhul Hijjah 29
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court announced Tuesday that Wednesday July 19 would be the start of the Islamic new year 1445.
The beginning of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, marks the start of the new year.
The Supreme Court said the moon-sighting committees had not seen the crescent in the Kingdom on Monday, Dhul Hijjah 29, or July 17.
Accordingly, it was decided that Tuesday would be the last day of Dhul Hijjah, and that Muharram would commence on Wednesday.
The Supreme Court in a statement said: According to the Umm Al-Qura calendar, Tuesday will be the last day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, 1444 Hijri, corresponding to July 18, 2023. Wednesday will be the first day of the month of Muharram, 1445 Hijri, corresponding to July 19, 2023.”
The name Hijri refers to the Hijra, or the migration of Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Makkah to Madinah in 622 A.D.
The Islamic lunar calendar consists of twelve months beginning with Muharram and ending with Dhul Hijjah. Each month starts with the sighting of the new moon.
