Islamic New Year - 1 Muharram, the first day of the Hijri calendar

Islamic New Year on 1 Muharram marks the first day of the Hijri lunar calendar. Observed by Muslims worldwide; a public holiday in Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and several other Muslim- majority and Muslim-minority countries. Not a public holiday in Egypt, Turkey, or Pakistan.

The one-line summary

Islamic New Year on 1 Muharram, the first day of the Hijri lunar calendar. Religious observance across the Muslim world; public holiday in Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and other countries.

Origin

The Hijri calendar was established in 638 CE by the second caliph, Umar ibn al- Khattab, four years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. The caliphate needed a calendar for the rapidly expanding Muslim community, and a committee recommended using the Hijra (migration) of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE as the epoch (year 1).

The Hijri calendar is purely lunar, with 12 months of 29 or 30 days each. Each month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon (hilal). Because the Hijri year is 10 to 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar year, Islamic dates shift through the Gregorian calendar over time, completing a full cycle every approximately 33 years.

1 Muharram (the first day of the first month of the Hijri year) is observed as Islamic New Year across the Muslim world. The observance is generally reflective rather than festive, focused on prayer, religious lectures, family gatherings, and quiet reflection on the passage of time.

When it falls

1 Muharram falls approximately 11 days earlier each Gregorian year. Recent and upcoming dates include:

• 2025: approximately July 6 (1 Muharram 1447 AH)
• 2026: approximately June 25 (1 Muharram 1448 AH)
• 2027: approximately June 15 (1 Muharram 1449 AH)
• 2028: approximately June 4 (1 Muharram 1450 AH)
• 2029: approximately May 24 (1 Muharram 1451 AH)
• 2030: approximately May 13 (1 Muharram 1452 AH)

Exact dates depend on the local sighting of the new crescent moon, so observances may fall one day earlier or later in different countries.

How it is observed

Islamic New Year is observed with prayers, religious lectures, family gatherings, and quiet reflection. Muslims often attend dawn and evening prayers at mosques, listen to sermons recounting the Hijra and the meaning of the new Hijri year, and spend time with family. Many Muslims use the day to renew intentions for the coming year.

In Indonesia, Islamic New Year is called Tahun Baru Islam or 1 Muharram and is one of 16 libur nasional (national public holidays) under Keputusan Presiden 24/2016. The day is observed with religious lectures, Quran recitations, and community gatherings, particularly in Muslim-majority regions like Aceh and West Sumatra.

In Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and other Gulf states, Islamic New Year is a public holiday with government offices, banks, and most private employers closed. In Malaysia and Brunei, the day is similarly observed as Awal Muharram or Maal Hijrah.

Regional variations

Islamic New Year is observed across the Muslim world, with public holidays in Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Brunei, and several other Muslim-majority countries. It is not a public holiday in Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, or Bangladesh, though it is still observed by Muslim communities in these countries.

In Malaysia, the day is often called Maal Hijrah and is the occasion for the national-level Maal Hijrah celebration attended by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King). In Singapore, it is observed by the Malay-Muslim community as Awal Muharram with mosque gatherings. In South Africa, the day is observed by the Muslim minority community as a public holiday in some provinces.

Legal status

Islamic New Year is a national public holiday in Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Brunei, and several other Muslim- majority countries. It is not a public holiday in Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, or Bangladesh.

Islamic New Year: key figures

A few reference points that frame Islamic New Year messaging:

The Hijri calendar

The Hijri calendar is the official calendar in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, and several other Muslim- majority countries, and is widely used alongside the Gregorian calendar throughout the Muslim world for religious purposes. The 12 Hijri months are: Muharram, Safar, Rabi\u2019 al- Awwal, Rabi\u2019 al-Thani, Jumada al- Ula, Jumada al-Thani, Rajab, Sha\u2019ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qi\u2019dah, and Dhu al-Hijjah.

Because the Hijri calendar is purely lunar, it does not align with the solar year or the seasons. This is why Ramadan (the ninth month) shifts through the Gregorian year, falling earlier each year over a 33-year cycle. Saudi Arabia and other countries have at various points considered calendar reforms to align the Hijri calendar with the solar year for non-religious purposes, but the religious calendar remains strictly lunar.

Key facts at a glance

A quick reference for Islamic New Year:

• Date: 1 Muharram (lunar; shifts ~11 days earlier each Gregorian year)
• Category: Religious, minor tier
• Established: 638 CE by Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab
• Epoch: 622 CE, year of the Hijra
• Calendar type: Purely lunar (12 months, 354-355 days per year)
• Public holiday in: Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and 25+ countries
• Indonesian name: Tahun Baru Islam / 1 Muharram
• Related observance: Ashura (10 Muharram)

Related observances

Related Islamic observances include Ashura on 10 Muharram (a major Shia observance and recommended Sunni fast), Ramadan (the ninth month), Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal), Eid al-Adha (10 Dhu al- Hijjah), and Mawlid al-Nabi (12 Rabi\u2019 al-Awwal). Islamic New Year marks the start of the Hijri year that contains all of these observances.

Islamic New Year FAQs

• When is Islamic New Year? 1 Muharram, the first day of the Hijri calendar.
• Who established the calendar? Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab in 638 CE.
• Why is it reflective rather than festive? The Hijri year is a time for renewal and reflection, not celebration in the way of Eid al-Fitr.
• Is it a public holiday? Yes in Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and many Muslim-majority countries; not in Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, or Bangladesh.
• What is the difference between 1 Muharram and Ashura? 1 Muharram is the first day of the Hijri year; Ashura falls on 10 Muharram and commemorates the Battle of Karbala.

Outlook

Islamic New Year observances have grown in prominence in many Muslim-minority countries as Muslim communities increasingly seek public recognition of their religious calendar. Several European cities have begun to mark 1 Muharram with official statements or events, though it remains a working day in most non-Muslim-majority contexts.

The Indonesian observance is expected to remain robust, with religious lectures and mosque gatherings continuing to draw large audiences. The annual Tahun Baru Islam period is a focus for Islamic schools (pesantren) and Muslim organisations, which use the occasion for community education and outreach.

Sources

• Keputusan Presiden Nomor 24 Tahun 2016 tentang Hari Libur Nasional dan Cuti Bersama, Republic of Indonesia.
• Saudi government public holiday calendar (MoL).
• UAE government public holiday calendar (Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship).
• Malaysian government Awal Muharram / Maal Hijrah observance calendar.
• Pew Research Center, global Muslim population estimates.

Tahun Baru Islam - ringkasan dalam Bahasa Indonesia

Tahun Baru Islam (1 Muharram) diperingati oleh umat Islam di Indonesia sebagai pergantian tahun dalam kalender Hijriah. Peristiwa ini memperingati perjalanan hijrah Nabi Muhammad SAW dari Kota Mekkah ke Kota Madinah pada tahun 622 Masehi - titik awal penanggalan Islam. Penetapan awal Muharram dilakukan oleh Kementerian Agama RI berdasarkan hisab (perhitungan astronomis) dan rukyatul hilal.

Meskipun bukan libur nasional, Tahun Baru Islam sering diperhitleran oleh pondok pesantren, masjid, dan organisasi Islam dengan acara pengajian, dzikir, dan doa bersama. Beberapa daerah seperti Jawa Barat dan Banten memiliki tradisi khusus seperti pawai obor dan kultum (kuliah tujuh menit) untuk mengisi malam 1 Muharram. Sebagai catatan, Tahun Baru Hijriah pada 1 Muharram 1447 Hijriah jatuh sekitar pertengahan tahun 2025 Masehi.