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In
the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
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In the
Holy Quran we read:
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"They
ask thee about the new moons. Say, These are means for measuring
time for people's affairs and for the Pilgrimage" (Holy
Quran, Ch. 2 V. 190)
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| Islam
has made use of both the lunar and solar system of measuring
times. Where worship is to be performed in different parts of the
day the solar system of reckoning time is used as in the five
daily Prayers or for the beginning and breaking of the fast, and
where worship is to be completed within a particular month or part
thereof, the lunar system is used, as in the determination of the
month or part thereof, the lunar system is used, as in the
determination of the month of fasting or fixing the time of Hajj
or other festivals. |
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To
calculate conversions from one calendar year to the other the
following
formula is used:
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G = H
- ( (3 * H) / 100 ) + 622
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H = G
+ ( ( G - 622) / 32 ) - 622
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Where
G = Gregorian year (AD)
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H =
Hijra year (AH)
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| Thus
2000 AD is 1421 AH |
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| Islamic
calendar consists of twelve lunar months. Each month may be of 29
or 30 days depending on the sighting of the new moon. |
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| An lunar
year has, on average, 355 days. This is 10 days less than the
solar year. Hence an Islamic year is moved ahead 10 days each year
in solar calendar year. |
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Following
are the names of the Islamic months:
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1.
Muharram ul Haram
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2.
Safar
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3.
Rabi-ul-Awwal
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4.
Rab-ul-Akhir
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5.
Jamadi-ul-Awwal
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6.
Jamadi-ul-Akhir
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7.
Rajab
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8.
Sha'aban
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9.
Ramadhan
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10.
Shawwal
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11.
Dhul Qadah
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12.
Dhul Hijja
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| The Holy
Quran states: |
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"The
number of months with Allah has been twelve months by Allah's
ordinance since the day He created the heavens and the earth. Of
these four are known as sacred" (Holy Quran, ch., v 36)Muharram,
Rajab, Dhul Qadah and Dhul Hijja are considered to be sacred
months. Fighting during these sacred months is considered to be a
sin.
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