It means that it has been 1443 years since Prophet Mohammed's migration from Mecca to Medina. This year, the Islamic New Year is referred to as Hijri 1443 AH (Anno Hegirae in Latin or the year of the Hijra). Unlike the Gregorian calendar that consists of 365 days, Islamic calendar has about 354 days divided into 12 months and depends on the sighting of the crescent moon which varies from country to country. If it is not sighted on 29th, the ongoing month completes 30 days and a new month starts the next day. A new month begins when the new moon is sighted on the 29th day of the ongoing month. A month lasts for 29 or 30 days in this calendar, depending on the moon sighting. The Islamic calendar is based on a lunar cycle, unlike the Gregorian calendar. While the first day of Muharram is known as Al Hijri or Arabic New Year, the tenth day is celebrated as Ashura by Muslim community across the world. The word Muharram means ‘not permitted’ or ‘forbidden’ hence, Muslims are prohibited from taking part in activities like warfare and use it as a period of prayer and reflection. Iraqi Shiite Muslims take part in a mourning procession during the month of Muharram leading up to the day of Ashura, at the Imam Abbas shrine in Iraq's holy city of Karbala(Photo by Mohammed SAWAF/AFP) It is the most sacred month in Islam after Ramadan and marks the beginning of the lunar calendar which Islam follows. Muharram is the first month in Islamic calendar followed by the lunar months of Safar, Rabi-al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada ath-Thaniyah, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Zu al-Qadah and Zu al-Hijjah.
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