The Muslim Calendar
The Muslim era
is dated from the hejira, Muhammad's
move from Mecca to Medina. In the year 639, Caliph Umar I created a
lunar calendar starting with July 16, 622. The years were subsequently
numbered A.H. for the Latin Anno Hegirae, "in the year of
the Hegira." A little more than a thousand years later, the Ottomans
shifted from a lunar to a solar cycle and thereby created a second Hegira
calendar with different dates.
The twelve months of the Islamic year are: Muharram,
Safar, Rabi' al-Awwal, Rabi' al-Thani, Jumada al-Ula, Jumada al-Akhira,
Rajab, Sha'ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa'dah, and Dhu al-Hijjah.
To roughly convert an Islamic calendar year (AH) into
a Gregorian equivlent (AD), or vice versa, use one of the following
equations:
AD = 622 + (32/33 x AH)
AH = 33/32 x (AD - 622)
Sources: Mitchell G. Bard, The
Complete Idiot's Guide to Middle East Conflict. 3rd
Edition. NY: Alpha Books, 2005; Saudi Aramco World, (January-February
2002) |