The Origin of the Islamic Calendar

The most common opinion is that the beginning of the Islamic Calendar was decided during the time of Umar (رضي الله عنه)
Shāʿ’bi رحمه الله  and Muḥammad ibn Sirīn رحمه الله mention, on one occasion Abu Mūsā’ al-Ashʿarī (رضي الله عنه),  wrote a letter to Umar (رضي الله عنه), during the time when he was the Amir al-Mumineen – ‘The Commander of the Faithful’. In the letter, he mentioned that Umar (رضي الله عنه) letters reach him, but there are no dates on the letters.
In the 17th year of Hijrah, Umar (رضي الله عنه) gathered the Sahaba (رضي الله عنه) to discuss how to set a date, in other words, how to fix the Islamic Calendar.

The First Year
The first point of discussion was when should the Islamic Calendar start, i.e., what should be the first year. Some of the opinions were as follows:
• From the birth of Rasulullah  (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم)
• From the time Rasulullah  (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) received Prophethood
• From the time of the Hijrah – Migration to Madinah.
• From the demise of Rasulullah  (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم)

Regarding setting the date from Rasulullah’ s  (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) birth, Umar (رضي الله عنه) didn’t like this opinion as this would resemble the way of the Naṣārah, the Christians, as their calendar starts from when they believe Isa Alayhis Salaam was born.

Regarding setting the date from Rasulullah’ s  (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم)demise,
Umar (رضي الله عنه) did not prefer this opinion either, as the demise of Rasulullah  (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) was a blow to the Ummah. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to mark the start of the calendar with this event.

After the discussion, Umar (رضي الله عنه) came to the decision that the start of the Islamic Calendar should be from the Hijrah – when Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) migrated from Makkah to Madinah. The reason behind this choice was that the Hijrah marked the time when the difference between falsehood and truth, Haqq and Bāṭil became established and it was the beginning of the rise and honour of Islam. All of the Sahaba (رضي الله عنه)agreed with his opinion.

The First Month
Now that the first year had been determined, how will they decide which month should be the first in the Islamic Calendar?

If analogical reasoning was used, the first month should be Rabīʿ al-Awwal, as this was the month in which Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) migrated to the blessed city of Madinah. However, the actual intention for migration was made by Rasulullah  (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) in the month of Muḥarram.
In the 13th year of Prophethood, the Ansaar (Muslims from Madinah) had taken the pledge of allegiance with Rasulullah  (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) on the 10th of Dhul Ḥijjah, which is the day of Eid. At the end of the month of Dhul Ḥijjah, the Ansaar returned to Madinah after completing the rituals of Hajj.
A few days later, in the month of Muḥarram, Rasulullah  (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) made the intention to migrate to Madinah and gave permission to the Sahaba (رضي الله عنه)to also migrate. Therefore, it was decided that the first month of the Islamic Calendar should be Muḥarram.
This was the opinion which both ‘Uthman and Ali L gave to Umar (رضي الله عنه). Other Sahaba (رضي الله عنه)suggested that the year should start with the month of Ramadan, however Umar (رضي الله عنه)
said it should be the month of Muḥarram, as this is the month in which the pilgrims return from Hajj.

All the Sahaba (رضي الله عنه) agreed to this decision.

Maulānā Ebrahim Noor