As a Muslim, we need to understand that not only the days of the week are different, as well as the months, but so are the years in Islam. The beginning of the Gregorian Calendar that we generally grew up following, is much different than that of the Islamic Calendar. As of a matter of fact, the Hijri (Islamic) Calendar actually was started after the other calendar. It actually began around the year 570 on the Gregorian Calendar.
Therefore, you will find that the number of years recorded are less on the Islamic Calendar. For example, In October 2017 in the Gregorian Calendar, we find that it is the month of Muharram in the year 1439. Without a shadow of a doubt, you see the difference between 2017 and 1439.
Remember though, that this is not a call to leaving off that which we are used to using in our lives. Rather it is just a wake up call to the fact that there a calendar that is specific to the Muslim Ummah. It started with the Hijra of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), which is a time that very important to each and every Muslim. If we are not going to use these years, at least we can take the time to check which year we are in, out of sheer respect for the situation of Islam and it’s history.
Therefore what we want you to understand, is that we are currently in the first month of the year 1439. Hopefully, you all see by now the importance of this topic to the Muslim Ummah. The years are very important in terms of the religion, our history and keeping track of time. Unfortunately, you will be hard pressed to find places around the world (even in some Muslim Countries) that use this calendar, but it is still something that we as Muslims should have some inkling of knowledge about.
