he number of months in the reckoning of Almighty Allah is 12 (months); this has been entrenched in the Book of Allah since the day He created  the heaven and the earth. In it are four scared months (in which warfare is prohibited) ……”   Q 9: 36

The wonderful nature of creation, the seven firmament heavens, the highly expansive earth space with its rocky hills and mountains, including its desert and deep forests are more than enough to appreciate the greatness of Allah who created all these beautiful signs. One of excellent signs of Allah is the moon.

The moon is a satellite of the earth- a natural body that illuminates the earth during the night when it radiates its light. The moon is one wonderful sign of Allah that has been researched into and discovered as having an uneven surface. It was also observed that the moon hills and valleys are called “crater”. Also, the moon has level places while some parts are said to be rocky and some dusty. The moon is scientifically believed to be void of air, meaning that there is no human existence around the moon.

The shape of the moon (as different from the sun) varies from new moon to full moon. It emerges like a crescent and very tiny when it first appears. It attains its full shape when it has spent thirteen days in the sky. Thus on the fourteenth, it gives its brightest light. This is called Lailatul Qadr. Its emergence has a very great significance in Islam because it marks the beginning of a new month full of blessing. The moon revolves round the earth and completes one revolution in a lunar month. At its emergence and its sighting, the Holy prophet (SAW) taught us to pray; Allahumma Ahillahu aleena bil-Amni wal-‘Imaan, wa salaamati wal- Islam; Robbi wa Robbuka Allhu: Meaning; O Allah, let it dawn on us with security and faith and peace and Islam; my Lord and your Lord (the moon) is Allah.

As against the popular solar calendar which the British colonialist imposed on Africa and some other parts of the world, the reckoning which Allah (SWT) decrees for us as Muslims is based on the lunar months. The twelve lunar months which Almighty Allah (SWT) is making reference to in His Book (Al-Quran) are Muharram, Sofar, Rabiul-Awwal, Rabiu-Thani, Jumaadah-l-Uulah, Jumadah-Thaniyah, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhul-Qo’dah, Dhul-Hijah.

Deliberately, Allah (SWT) attached two of the five pillars of Islam to the lunar calendar so that we may know the essence of this lunar months. This two pillars are Al-sawm (fasting), which comes up in the ninth month (Ramadan) and Al-Hajj (Holy Pilgrimage to Makkah), which is the fifth pillar that comes up in the last month called Dhul-Hijah. Lunar calendar is further stressed in the Holy Quran where Allah (SWT)says,  “they ask thee (o Muhammad) about the crescents ,  say it is the time stipulated for mankind to reckon with (in his daily activities) and the Hajj”   Q2:189.

This particular verse stipulates that the evolvement of the crescent should be a religious sign that should be taken with its spiritual enshrinement. It helps the Muslims to know the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth of every month when they are to observe certain superogatory day of fasting. Which is part of the sunnah of their prophet.

Besides, understanding and following the lunar calendar in our daily life activities is a rligous diety which we owe our lord because if is the practice of our predecessor. From the caliphacy of Sayyidina Umar bn Al-khattah who opened the Islamic calendar in commemoration of the prophets emigration (Hijrah) from Makkah I-Mukarama . Part of the obligations of the Muslims towards institutionalizing the Hijrah calendar is to start using the date in their private institution (such as schools and colleges, hospitals and market). This shall pave the way for its future approval and endorsement by the government to entrench the Hijrah calendar in her annual programme and calendar.

Also, the Hijrah calendar should be used in dating our letters and taxt messages to keep it earrings. Besides, our Imams and Alfas should keep emphasising and re-echoing it into the hearing of the congregations during the Friday sermons so that the date would be at the fingertips of every Muslims young and old.

In addition, the monthly financial contribution boards in every mosque should date Muharram and Sofar instead of January and February as been the order of contented with what Allah has given to them and embrace Allah’us blessing instead of poke nosing into that which dies not avail them the least. May Allah bless us in this new Hijrah year (1433H) and grant us long life to witness many more in peace and security.