The Islamic New Year 1447 AH officially begins on Thursday, June 26, 2025, following the confirmed sighting of the new crescent moon on Wednesday evening.
The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia made the declaration after the country’s Crescent Sighting Committee verified credible sightings of the moon, marking the first day of Muharram.
The announcement was also shared by @HaramainInfo, the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.
In Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, also confirmed the moon sighting.
Through the National Moonsighting Committee, the Sultan declared Thursday as the first day of Muharram, officially marking the beginning of the new Hijri year.
Muharram is the first of the 12 months in the Islamic lunar calendar and is regarded as one of the four sacred months in Islam.
The 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura, will be observed on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
The day holds deep spiritual significance for Muslims, commemorating events such as the salvation of Prophet Musa (Moses) and the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), at the Battle of Karbala.
Fasting on Ashura, especially on the 9th and 10th or 10th and 11th of Muharram, is highly recommended in Islamic tradition.
The Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, began in 622 CE with the Prophet Muhammad’s migration (Hijrah) from Makkah to Madinah.
Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Hijri year is based on lunar cycles and is shorter by approximately 10 to 12 days.