Islamic, Christian and Jewish (Hebrew) Calendars
As we approach the new years of both the Islamic and Christian (Gregorian) calendars, it would be appropriate to review the basics of the Islamic, Jewish and Christian calendars.
Jewish Calendar
- The Jewish calendar (Hebrew calendar) is based on lunisolar calendar (based on phases of the moon and the solar cycles).
- The calendar is based on the creation, which according to Jewish religion happened around 3760 BC.
- This calendar has anywhere between 353 to 385 days.
- New day in the Jewish calendar starts at sunset.
- The twelve regular months include: Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishrei, Marcheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, and Adar.
Islamic Calendar
The Islamic calendar (also known as the Hijri calendar)
- The calendar is based on the lunar cycle (based on the phases of the moon).
- It is believed that Caliph Umar (second Capliph after the death of prophet Muhammad) started numbering the years of the Islamic calendar from the year of the Hijra (Prophet’s emigration from Makkah to Al-Madinah)
- The Islamic calendar has approximately 12 months and 354 days
- New day in the Islamic calendar starts at sunset.
- All Muslim holidays are based on the Islamic calendar.
- The 12 Islamic months in the Islamic calendar are Muharram, Safar, Rabi’ al-awwal, Rabi’ al-thani, Jumada al-awwal, Jumada al-thani, Rajab, Sha’aban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qi’dah and Dhu al-Hijjah.
Christian Calendar
- The Gregorian calendar is also sometimes referred to as the Christian or Western calendar
- The years in this calendar are based on Jesus’s birth. So, according to Christians, “AD 2007″ literally means “in the 2007′th year since the birth of Jesus.
- There were other calendars introduced before the Gregorian calendar such as the Julian calendar. However, the Gregorian calendar sought to improve the earlier versions. The Christian calendar went through many changes with the last change named after Pope Gregory XIII
- The Gregorian calendar comprises of 12 months, and 365 days (366 days in a leap year). The months in the Gregorian calendar are of 30 or 31 days with February having 28 days and 29 days in a leap year.
- New day in the Gregorian calendar starts at midnight.
- Gregorian calendar forms the basis of the current day’s calendar.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:51 am
Good and useful info. I had no idea about the Jewish Calendar. Many thanks.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:56 am
There are some additional things about the various calendars. Both the Islamic and Jewish calendars begin their months on the same day (namely the night of the crescent moon following the new moon and each month ends on the night of the new moon). This differs from the pagan calendar which is also lunar but each month begins on the night of the full moon. The Jewish calendar is essentially the calendar of Nippur a city in Ancient Sumer in Mesopotamia, which although lunar, resets the calendar by the addition of a thirteenth month so that each month always occurs in the same part of the solar year. The Islamic calendar lacks this adjustment to realign the calendar with the solar year which causes the Islamic months to move forward each solar year by a couple weeks each year.
There is also a correction; the Gregorian calendar is divided between A.D. and B.C. The A.D. is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase Anno Domini which literally translates as “Year of our Lord”. This does refer to Jesus’ birth but is not actually in the translation of the phrase. The abbreviation B.C. stands for Before Christ, Christ being English for Kristos which is Greek for Messiah.
December 31st, 2007 at 8:09 am
Quite an interesting piece of information
January 10th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Assalam alaekun. How many Muslims know about Islamic calendar? Or how many out of those who know do not think it is wrong to use it in the ‘Western world’. I say when are we going to stop being slaves of our own created fears?!
N.B. MAKE A RESOLUTION: “I WILL TELL PEOPLE ABOUT ISLAMIC (HIJRI)CALENDAR”(If these months are from Allah, then what other empowering do we need?!)
June 21st, 2008 at 5:57 am
Sallam allykum,
what is the differnce between the jews and the christians?. Some christians proclaimed that there is only one God Hence their belief coincide with Muslims beliefs. Therefore could there be any way for mus;ims and christians to be one ? I have a strong belief that Allah cannot send Prophet Issa (a.s.w.) with a message and send prophet Muahammad with a different one on same issue