NEWS COMMENTARY
DATE OF B/CAST: 17-06-2026
TIME OF B/CAST: 06:30HRS, 17:00HRS
TOPIC: The Significance of The Hijra calendar.
Writer: Sulaiman Dansoho
INTRODUCTION
As Muslims worldwide welcome a new Islamic Hijra year this Wednesday, Sulaiman Dansoho of our Programmes Department writes on the significance of the Hijra calendar.
The Hijri calendar derives its name from the migration, Al-Hijrah, of Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE.
However, its formal adoption as the official Muslim calendar began in 638 CE when Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Caliph, proposed that the ummah use a distinctive dating system.
The twelve Islamic months are: Muharram, Safar, Rabi‘ al-Awwal, Rabi‘ ath-Thani, Jumada al-Ula, Jumada ath-Thani, Rajab, Sha‘ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhul-Qadah, and Dhul-Hijjah.
Some months have thirty days, others twenty-nine.
The Prophet’s migration was chosen as Year 1 because it marked the birth of the Muslim community and Islamic state.
The migration of the prophet was such a defining turning point in Islam that it could not be overlooked, hence its adoption.
The Islamic calendar is lunar which is why It calculates days, weeks, months, and years based on the sighting of the moon, not the sun.
That is why Allah says in the Qur’an, Surah At-Tawbah 9:36: that “Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months in the Book of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them…”
It is noteworthy that the migration of Prophet Muhammad and his companions from Makkah to Madinah was a divinely guided, strategic move. It ended years of persecution, hostility, and harassment by the Quraysh of Makkah at that time.
The Prophet’s arrival in Madinah brought a radical social order. It transformed Islam from a persecuted faith into a complete way of life also known as “deen”
It also marked the birth of the Muslim Ummah, a community bound not by blood, tribe, or ethnicity, but by faith in Allah.
From the foregoing, the significance of the Hijri calendar cannot be overemphasized. It serves as the timetable for the pillars of Islam. It determines when Muslims worldwide observe fasting in the blessed month of Ramadan, seeking spiritual purification, self-denial, and closeness to Allah.
Knowledge of the calendar also enables Muslims to know when to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, which commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah.
Hajj, the largest gathering of Muslims in the world, occurs in Dhul-Hijjah, and its timing is determined by the Islamic calendar.
Other significant observances include the Islamic New Year on 1st Muharram, and historical dates like 27th Rajab for _Isra wal-Mi‘raj_, the Prophet’s miraculous night journey.
Beyond rituals, the Islamic calendar fosters global unity. Color, race, and tribe notwithstanding, it reinforces the common identity of Muslims and reminds believers of their shared purpose.
The beginning of the new Hijri year is usually marked with religious reflection rather than the fanfare of other Islamic festivals.
Here in Kogi State, organizations such as the Kogi State Muslim Organisations, KOSMO; the Council of Ulamau; and the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations, NACOMYO, have consistently organized lecture series and symposia to commemorate the day.
At a press conference in Lokoja, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Alhaji Abubakar Akowe, said that this year’s event, scheduled for Wednesday at Sherif Aboki Mosque, Lokoja, aims to sensitize the Muslim ummah on the essence and lessons of Hijrah.
He noted that the high point will be the unveiling of the new Hijri calendar, with a lecture to be delivered by Justice M. M. Bello, a Kadi of the Kogi State Sharia Court of Appeal.
As Muslims mark the new Hijri year, the true significance lies in the opportunity it offers to migrate from all that is wrong and sinful, and to draw closer to Allah through devotion and obedience.
Without migrating from disobedience to obedience, from sinfulness to righteousness, and from indiscipline to discipline, the essence of Hijrah is compromised.
Therefore, as the new Islamic lunar year begins, Muslims are enjoined to use the privilege of witnessing another year to renew their faith and commitment to righteousness. They should draw closer to Allah and rededicate their lives to His service and to humanity.
Muslims are also enjoined to intensify prayers for good, responsible, and responsive leadership at all levels, especially as the nation contends with ongoing security challenges.
They should also supplicate that Allah keeps Nigeria united and restores peace and tranquility to the country.
THAT COMMENTARY ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HIJRA CALENDAR WAS WRITTEN BY SULAIMAN DANSOHO OF OUR PROGRAMMES DEPARTMENT AND READ FROM OUR STUDIOS
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