In September, UAE residents expect an extra weekend to celebrate the Islamic New Year.
Dubai, UAE. In September, residents of the United Arab Emirates expect an extra weekend on the occasion of another religious holiday - the Islamic New Year, or the New Year on the Hijra. The new month of Muharram is expected to come on Tuesday, September 11, or Wednesday, September 12, when a young moon appears in the sky.
The Hijra Muslim calendar means “relocation”: this refers to the relocation of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622. Muslim New Year has its own traditions. So, preparation for it begins a month before the onset. It is accompanied by a thorough cleaning of the home, a few days before the celebration, Islamic families are actively preparing New Year's dishes and inviting relatives and friends to visit. On the eve of the holiday, it is also customary to honor the deceased relatives.
On New Year's Day, every Muslim man is obliged to come to the mosque to read prayers and in order to once again hear a sermon on the relocation of the Prophet Muhammad to Medina. After the holiday comes the fasting period.
The first month of the New Year on Hijrah - muharram - is one of the four months (rajab, dhul kaada, dhul hija, muharram) during which conflicts, blood feud, war, etc. are prohibited. The first ten days of Muharrama are considered blessed for all good undertakings (including marriage). Like the holy ramadan, this is the month of giving alms in favor of the poor, for the improvement of mosques. It is believed that as a believer spends this first month of the year, the whole year will pass.
