Hijra is the migration or journey of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Yathrib, later renamed by him to Medina, in 622 CE.[1] In May 622 CE, after being warned of a plot to assassinate him.
The Muslim year during which the Hijrah occurred was designated the first year of the Islamic calendar by Umar in 638 or 17 AH (anno hegirae = “in the year of the Hijrah”).
However, The birthplace of Islam containing Mecca – Islam’s holiest site – shifted to the western Gregorian calendar on Sunday, despite using the hijra calendar since the founding of the kingdom.
The real reason behind the decision has been speculated to be due to the need to conserve funds.
Saudi Arabia like other oil exporting countries is facing an unprecedented cash squeeze, with the government slamming salary cuts all over.
The Islamic lunar calendar is actually 15 days shorter than the 365-day solar year. The calculation is that the measure will save the kingdom money by cutting salary days for many public servants.
Saudi Arabia has shifted to the Gregorian or “Western” calendar as a basis for paying civil servants as part of an austerity package. The kingdom adopted the lunar Islamic calendar when it was founded in 1932.
The birthplace of Islam containing Mecca – Islam’s holiest site – shifted to the Western Gregorian calendar on Sunday, bringing the oil-rich kingdom in line with many of its energy customers.
The Islamic lunar calendar is actually 11 days shorter than the 365-day solar year, which will actually save the kingdom money by cutting salary days for many public servants.
