About Muharram
Muharram (مُحَرَّم) is the first month of the Hijri calendar. Its name means “Forbidden.” The first month of the Hijri year and one of the four sacred months. The Islamic New Year falls on 1 Muharram, and the Day of Ashura is marked on 10 Muharram. It is one of the four sacred months (Dhu al-Qadah, Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab), in which fighting was traditionally prohibited.
Like every Hijri month it has 29 or 30 days, determined in the Umm al-Qura calendar by the official tables and in the tabular calendar by a fixed arithmetic rule. Because the lunar month depends on the sighting of the new crescent, the exact first day can differ by a day from the calculated date. Our guide on Umm al-Qura, tabular and moon-sighting calendars sets out how far apart the three methods actually land.
Dates in Muharram
- Islamic New Year - 1 Muharram. The first day of Muharram, when the Hijri year count advances.
- Day of Ashura - 10 Muharram. The tenth of Muharram, marked by many Muslims with fasting and remembrance.