Rabat – Several countries have announced Thursday as the beginning of the Islamic New Year, including Saudi Arabia.
The announcement came this evening from Saudi authorities, who confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon of Muharram – the first month in the Islamic year.
The Islamic New Year, known as Hijri, is named after the Arabic word for “migration.”
The occasion commemorates the Prophet Mohammed’s migration from Mecca to Medina, two holy Muslim cities in what is now Saudi Arabia. The milestone event took place in 622 AD and marked the beginning of the Hijri or Islamic New Year as 1 AH (After Hijra).
UAE announced that private and public sectors will enjoy a three-day long weekend between Friday and Sunday this week in celebration of the Islamic New Year.
In the Arab world, the day holds profound significance, unlike in Morocco, where the day is a holiday.
In Morocco, the majority of Moroccans do not celebrate the day, unlike other Islamic holidays like Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha.
For Morocco, the Hijri New Year is expected to start on Friday, with Thursday being the day astronomers expect to sight the crescent moon.
