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Practice these MCQs in the appQuick fact: The Hijri calendar began in 622 AD, marking the year of the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) migration (Hijrah) from Makkah to Madina.
The Hijri calendar, also known as the Islamic calendar, is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It was established during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (R.A), who set its starting point as the year of the Hijrah (migration) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Makkah to Madina. This event occurred in 622 AD according to the Gregorian calendar. The Hijri calendar begins with the month of Muharram, and the migration itself actually took place in Rabi' al-Awwal, but Muharram was chosen as the first month because it marks the beginning of the Arab year.
The Hijrah was a pivotal turning point in Islamic history, as it marked the establishment of the first Islamic state in Madina. The decision to adopt the Hijri calendar was made in the 17th year of the Caliphate of Umar (R.A) after consultation with senior companions. The Islamic calendar is approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar calendar, which is why Islamic months and festivals rotate through different seasons over the years.
