Islamic New Year 2023, July 19th – Muharram | Public Holiday

Kuwait City, 10th July 2023:

Islamic New Year 2023, July 19th – Muharram

Al-Ajiri Scientific Center informed that the Hijri New Year will coincide astronomically on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.

The center added that the month of Muharram in the new Hijri year will be 29 days and will end on 16th August 2023, Wednesday. The month of Safar astronomically will coincide with 17th August 2023 Thursday, and is expected to continue for 30 days, ending 15th September 2023.

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When is Muharram 2023

Muharram 2023 will mark the start of the New Islamic Year 1445 Hijri. The expected Gregorian Date of 1st Muharram 2023 is Wednesday, July 19th, or Thursday, July 20th, 2023 depending on your location and sighting of the Moon of Muharram 1445.

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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 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)

These words of our Prophet (S.A.W.) confirm the sanctity of the month of Muharram.

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WHEN IS ISLAMIC NEW YEAR 2023?

The Islamic New Year — also known as the Arabic New Year or Hijri New Year — begins on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar is lunar-based and only 354 days long. Islamic New Year falls on July 18 of the Gregorian calendar this year.

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Fasting during Muharram

Muharram holds great significance long before the Prophet Mohammad’s (S.A.W.) time. Earlier on, it was obligatory to fast on the 10th of Muharram.  However, later, fasting was made obligatory in Ramadan only, and fasting on 10th Muharram was made optional. As narrated by Ayesha (R.A.) that Prophet (S.A.W.) said:

“Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of ‘Ashura’) may do so; and whoever wishes to leave it can do so.”

(Sahih Bukhari: 1592)

But remember one thing that fasts during the month of Muharram is the most rewarded ones among the optional (Nafil) fasts in the light of following Hadith:

‘The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said: “The best fasting after the month of Ramadan is the month of Allah, Al-Muharram.”’

(An-Nasai: 1613)

The hadith does not mean that the award of Muharram’s fasts can be achieved only by fasting the whole month. On the contrary, each fast during this month has its own merits. Therefore, one should avail of this opportunity and fast as much as one can during this blessed month.

Dates for Muharram

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