Sacred Hijri month ushers in a new year of reflection, renewal
MUSCAT: Muslims around the world marked the arrival of the Hijri New Year, AH 1447, on June 27, which corresponds to Muharram 1 in the Islamic calendar. This significant date commemorates the Hijra, the historic migration of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Mecca to Medina, which laid the foundation for the Islamic community.
Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is considered one of the four sacred months in Islam and holds deep religious and historical significance. Warfare is strictly prohibited during this month, emphasising peace and reflection.
For Shia Muslims, Muharram is a time of profound mourning, particularly in remembrance of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn ibn Ali, the beloved grandson of Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala. This tragic event symbolises the struggle against oppression and tyranny. Meanwhile, Sunni Muslims also observe Muharram, with the tenth day — Ashura — commemorating events such as the parting of the Red Sea and the salvation of Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Israelites.
'As Muharram begins, we believers need to renew our intentions, strengthen our connection with Allah and embrace kindness in all we do. The new Islamic year is a chance to grow in faith, spread goodness and reflect on what truly matters,' said Ismail ibn Musa Menk, popularly known as Mufti Menk, a prominent Zimbabwean Islamic scholar and head of the fatwa department for the Council of Islamic Scholars of Zimbabwe.
The relevance of Muharram remains profound in today's world. Its timeless lessons emphasise resistance against oppression, the pursuit of justice and the upholding of moral integrity — values powerfully embodied in the story of Karbala.
The month inspires Muslims to strive for righteousness, show compassion and build a more just society. It also serves as a time for self-reflection, forgiveness and a renewed commitment to faith and community.
'Muharram is a month for standing against injustice, commemorating Imam Hussain's (AS) ultimate sacrifice at Karbala and reaffirming the importance of moral courage,' said Abdurahiman Sakhafi, a religious scholar based in Muscat. 'It is a time to renew our lives in the pursuit of justice, enhance moral integrity, engage in spiritual reflection, observe fasting and increase acts of charity. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) recommended fasting on the tenth day of Muharram, known as Ashura'.
As Muslims embark on a new year, Muharram serves as a powerful call to embody faith through action, compassion and unwavering commitment to justice — values that resonate deeply across cultures and generations.
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Observer
19 hours ago
- Observer
Sacred Hijri month ushers in a new year of reflection, renewal
MUSCAT: Muslims around the world marked the arrival of the Hijri New Year, AH 1447, on June 27, which corresponds to Muharram 1 in the Islamic calendar. This significant date commemorates the Hijra, the historic migration of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Mecca to Medina, which laid the foundation for the Islamic community. Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is considered one of the four sacred months in Islam and holds deep religious and historical significance. Warfare is strictly prohibited during this month, emphasising peace and reflection. For Shia Muslims, Muharram is a time of profound mourning, particularly in remembrance of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn ibn Ali, the beloved grandson of Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala. This tragic event symbolises the struggle against oppression and tyranny. Meanwhile, Sunni Muslims also observe Muharram, with the tenth day — Ashura — commemorating events such as the parting of the Red Sea and the salvation of Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Israelites. 'As Muharram begins, we believers need to renew our intentions, strengthen our connection with Allah and embrace kindness in all we do. The new Islamic year is a chance to grow in faith, spread goodness and reflect on what truly matters,' said Ismail ibn Musa Menk, popularly known as Mufti Menk, a prominent Zimbabwean Islamic scholar and head of the fatwa department for the Council of Islamic Scholars of Zimbabwe. The relevance of Muharram remains profound in today's world. Its timeless lessons emphasise resistance against oppression, the pursuit of justice and the upholding of moral integrity — values powerfully embodied in the story of Karbala. The month inspires Muslims to strive for righteousness, show compassion and build a more just society. It also serves as a time for self-reflection, forgiveness and a renewed commitment to faith and community. 'Muharram is a month for standing against injustice, commemorating Imam Hussain's (AS) ultimate sacrifice at Karbala and reaffirming the importance of moral courage,' said Abdurahiman Sakhafi, a religious scholar based in Muscat. 'It is a time to renew our lives in the pursuit of justice, enhance moral integrity, engage in spiritual reflection, observe fasting and increase acts of charity. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) recommended fasting on the tenth day of Muharram, known as Ashura'. As Muslims embark on a new year, Muharram serves as a powerful call to embody faith through action, compassion and unwavering commitment to justice — values that resonate deeply across cultures and generations.
Observer
19 hours ago
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When the moon turns the page
Some years arrive like parades — loud, bright, bustling with fireworks and clock towers. But the New Hijri Year arrives not with noise and celebration, but with reflection and the sacred stillness of faith. It comes like a whisper through the air; no countdown, just a small crescent in the dark sky, quietly turning the page of time. As the sky dims and the first slight curve of Muharram appears, a quiet moment washes over the hearts of millions. It is not marked by fireworks or fanfare, but with something deeper: a pause, a prayer, a promise. The Islamic calendar is lunar. It does not chase the sun, but follows the moon, measuring time in silver arcs and silent revolutions. It begins not with conquest, but with migration — not with celebration, but with sacrifice. Its first breath was drawn on the sands between Mecca and Madinah, in the exhausted, but faithful steps of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and his companions, who left behind maltreatment not in fear, but in faith. The Prophet's migration (Hijrah) was more than just a change in location. It was a movement of the soul: from oppression to liberation, from fear to trust, from survival to purpose. As the clock resets, we are called not merely to celebrate, but to transform. The first month of the Islamic year, Muharram, is cloaked in stillness and sacredness. It is one of the four months honoured by Allah, where peace is not only encouraged, but divinely prescribed. The battlefield of anger, hatred and injustice is laid to rest. Even the word 'Muharram' means 'forbidden' — a divine signpost reminding us to choose restraint over reaction, mercy over revenge. The arrival of the Hijri New Year is a time to pause and reassess one's spiritual path. Muslims around the world use this time to reconnect with Allah, seek forgiveness and set intentions for self-improvement in the year ahead. It is a reminder that time is a blessing — and every new year, a sacred opportunity for growth, gratitude and service. The New Hijri Year is more than a date on a calendar; it is a divine invitation. In Islam, time is not something to spend; it is something to honour. Like a traveller in the desert cherishing every drop of water, the believer treats each moment as a trust from Allah. This occasion reminds us that every heart has its own journey to take in the year ahead. And so, each year, the New Hijri Year calls on us not just to remember history, but to live its spirit. It asks: What must we leave behind? And what must we move towards? What did we do with the year that passed? What did we nurture? Whom did we help? Which wounds did we heal — and which did we ignore? For Muslims, welcoming the New Hijri Year is not merely a commemoration of a historical event; it is a living tradition — one that emphasises spiritual resilience, community and hope. In a fast-paced world, the Islamic New Year offers a sacred pause to reflect, recalibrate and realign with higher values. Let the New Hijri Year be a garden for your soul. Plant seeds of new intentions and water them with prayer. Uproot the weeds of regret and resentment. Watch as something beautiful grows — not instantly, but with patience and purpose. Start again, not because the past year failed, but because every sunrise is a mercy, and every new moon a reminder that it is never too late to return, to apologise, to restart. The New Hijri Year doesn't just begin on a calendar page; it begins in you. Each of us journeys from one chapter of our soul to the next: from ego to surrender, from noise to stillness, from shadows to light.
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Omani publications corner inaugurated in Chechnya to mark 40 years of Oman-Russia ties
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