The Al-Mu'minaat Organisation has urged Muslims to revive the use of the Hijri calendar in their daily lives, describing it as an essential part of Muslim identity, worship, and historical heritage. This call was made at a strategic meeting on Islamic dates, organised by the national headquarters of the organisation in Lagos. The programme aimed to reconnect Muslims with an important aspect of their Islamic heritage and encourage them to make Hijri dates part of their everyday lives.
The National Amirah of Al-Mu'minaat, Hajia Jelillah AbdulHamid, said the programme was aimed at promoting awareness and use of the Hijri calendar. She observed that many Muslims were more familiar with the Gregorian calendar than the Islamic calendar, despite the latter being connected to important acts of worship and significant events in Islamic history. AbdulHamid urged Muslim women to become conscious custodians of Islamic heritage.
AbdulHamid also called for greater collaboration among Muslim women organisations. She proposed the establishment of a strategic collaborative committee to identify areas of common interest and develop practical initiatives for the Ummah. The National Amirah said such collaboration should be based on mutual respect, consultation, transparency, sisterhood, and a shared commitment to serving the Muslim community.
Imam Sherifdeen Ibrahim, Deputy Director of Shari'ah Compliance at the Halal and Haram Distinction Development Initiative, described the Hijri calendar as more than a system for counting days and years. He explained that the Islamic calendar is based on lunar months established in Islamic teachings and is closely connected to acts of worship and other Shariah rulings.
Ibrahim explained that the Hijri calendar became the starting point for Muslims during the caliphate of Umar ibn Al-Khattab. The Companions consulted on the appropriate event from which to begin the Islamic era and eventually chose the Prophet Muhammad's Hijrah from Makkah to Madinah. This event marked a transition from persecution to the establishment of a Muslim community.
The importance of the Hijri calendar is evident in its connection to several major acts of worship, including Ramadan, Hajj, and fasting on the Day of Arafah and Ashura. The lunar calendar is also relevant to certain Zakat calculations, waiting periods, and other time-bound matters in Islamic jurisprudence. Understanding the Hijri calendar helps Muslims organise their worship and appreciate the rhythm established by Islamic teachings.
Hajia Sherifah Yusuf-Ajibade, in her presentation, urged Muslims to incorporate Hijri dates into their everyday activities. She identified religious obligations, preservation of Islamic history and identity, and unity among Muslims as key reasons for maintaining awareness and use of the calendar. Yusuf-Ajibade suggested that families begin by teaching children the names and significance of the 12 Islamic months and using Hijri dates alongside Gregorian dates.
Key points
- Al-Mu'minaat Organisation calls on Muslims to revive use of Hijri calendar
- Hijri calendar is essential for Muslim identity, worship, and historical heritage
- Muslims urged to incorporate Hijri dates into everyday activities
