Islamic New Year 1449: Date and the Meaning of the Hijra
The Islamic New Year is 1 Muharram. In 1449 AH it falls, according to the Umm al-Qura calendar, on Sunday 6 June 2027; the year 1448 AH therefore ends on Saturday 5 June 2027, after 355 days that began on Tuesday 16 June 2026.
The Hijra in a few lines
The Hijra is the migration of the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions from Mecca to Medina (Yathrib) in 622, after thirteen years of preaching in Mecca. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq travelled with him, and they stayed three nights in the cave of Thawr before continuing. The Hijra marked the start of a new period, in which the first Muslim state took shape in Medina, which is why the Companions chose it as the starting point of the calendar.
Why does the year begin with Muharram?
The Prophet ﷺ reached Medina in Rabi' al-Awwal, but under the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab the Companions began the calendar at the start of the year of the Hijra, not on the day of the Hijra, and chose Muharram as the first month. Details in The history of the Hijri calendar. Muharram is one of the sacred months, and it is the month of Ashura, which falls in 1449 AH on Tuesday 15 June 2027.
Dates of the Islamic New Year
| Year | 1 Muharram according to Umm al-Qura |
|---|---|
| 1448 AH | Tuesday 16 June 2026 |
| 1449 AH | Sunday 6 June 2027 |
| 1450 AH | Thursday 25 May 2028 |
Two consecutive new years are 354 or 355 days apart, so the date moves about eleven days earlier each Gregorian year.
Hijri New Year greetings
Many Muslims exchange greetings as the new Hijri year begins. The Greeting cards page offers ready-made messages to copy, send by WhatsApp or download as an image. They are general greetings and prayers written by the site, and we do not attribute them to the Quran or the Sunnah.
Why can the date differ?
The new year depends on the start of Muharram. If the month begins in your country on a different day after the crescent is sighted, the date can differ by one day from the Umm al-Qura calculation. Follow the days left in the Islamic New Year countdown and the details in When is the Islamic New Year 1449?
Dates of the following years
Looking further ahead, 1451 AH begins according to Umm al-Qura on Monday 14 May 2029, and 1452 AH on Saturday 4 May 2030. The Islamic New Year will move into April in the years after that.
Common questions
Is the Islamic New Year a public holiday?
It depends on the country. In Morocco, for example, 1 Muharram is a public holiday, as it is in several Arab and Muslim countries; the day is set by the announcement of the start of the month in each country.
When does the eve of the Islamic New Year begin?
At sunset on the last day of Dhu al-Hijjah. In 1449 AH it begins on the evening of Saturday 5 June 2027, since the Hijri day begins at sunset. See When does the Hijri day begin?
How many days are there in 1448 AH?
355 days according to Umm al-Qura, from Tuesday 16 June 2026 to Saturday 5 June 2027. A Hijri year has 354 or 355 days, about eleven days fewer than a Gregorian year.
What is the difference between the Islamic New Year and the anniversary of the Hijra?
The new year is 1 Muharram, the start of the calendar year. The Prophet’s ﷺ arrival in Medina, the event of the Hijra itself, took place in Rabi' al-Awwal of the first year according to the books of Sirah. The calendar starts with the year of the Hijra, not its day, so the two dates do not coincide.
How can I find the Hijri year of a Gregorian date?
Use the Gregorian to Hijri converter. A single Gregorian year spans two Hijri years: 2027 begins in 1448 AH and ends in 1449 AH.