Today is first day of 1436, the Muslim new year
COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Today is new year’s day in the Muslim world.
On this first day of the year 1436 in the Hijra calendar, Muslims also commemorate the flight to Medina of the Prophet Mohammad and his companions to escape persecution from the ruling clans of Mecca in A.D. 578.
Amon Jadid, the first day of Muharam, the first month in the 12-month Hijra calendar, falls on Oct. 25 this year and it is one of the five declared Muslim holidays under Presidential Decree No. 1083, known as the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines, said Director Galay Makalinggang of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) in Central Mindanao.
The pink mosque in Maguindanao province. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Article 170 of PD 1083 states that Muslim holidays will be officially observed in the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and in the cities of Cotabato, Iligan, Marawi, Pagadian and Zamboanga, and in other Muslim provinces and cities created.
No grand celebrations
All Muslim government officials and employees in those places are excused from work so they may be able to observe their holidays.
But unlike Christians, Muslims are not known to hold grand celebrations on their new year’s day, Makalinggang said.
Many Muslims, however, believe that the first 10 days of Muharam are not safe for travel, nor are these good days to start long-term endeavors like business, and engagements like marriage and binding contracts.
Historical records
This belief, according to the old teachings of Sufism, is based on historical records of the murder of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, to stop him from succeeding to the Muslim leadership following the death of his father, Ali.
Abu Yajid of the Umayyad Dynasty, an adversary of the Muslims in Mecca, subsequently embraced Islam and trained his ambition on the top leadership of the Muslim government as a “caliph.”
Yajid plotted the murder of Hussein and 80 of his companions in Mesopotamia, where they had sought refuge.
On the 10th day of Muharam in the early years of the Hijra, they beheaded the prophet’s grandson and Yajid’s troops displayed the head in public to threaten others who wanted to be leader of the government. With a report from Marielle Medina, Inquirer Research
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