Hijri Calendar - Safar 1454 AH
Umm al-Qura with Gregorian Equivalents
About Safar
Safar is the second month of the Hijri year. Pre-Islamic Arabs considered it unlucky, but Islam rejected such superstitions. The battles of Al-Abwa and Buwat occurred in this month.
About the Hijri Calendar
The Hijri (Islamic) calendar is a lunar calendar based on the moon cycle, consisting of 12 months alternating between 29 and 30 days. It begins from the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) migration (Hijra) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, and is also known as the Islamic Lunar Calendar.
The Umm al-Qura calendar is officially used in Saudi Arabia to determine the beginning of Hijri months based on precise astronomical calculations of crescent moon birth and visibility. It is used to set the dates of Ramadan, Hajj, Eids, salaries, and official holidays.
Hijri vs Gregorian Calendar Comparison:
| Feature | Hijri Calendar | Gregorian Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Lunar | Solar |
| Days per Year | 354 or 355 | 365 or 366 |
| Number of Months | 12 months | 12 months |
| Days per Month | 29 or 30 | 28-31 |
| Week Start | Saturday | Sunday or Monday |
| Epoch | Prophet's Hijra (622 CE) | Birth of Christ |
| Primary Use | Religious & official occasions | International affairs |