Islamic Calendar and its Conversion into Gregorian P

Islamic calender is different from the Solar calendar.The Solar (Gregorian) calendar is divided between BC and AD,the BC era is too long and the AD is 2007.The Islamic calendar(lunar-Muslim)started after the migration of the Holy Prophet and some of his companions from Makka to Madina.A full solar (gregarion) calendar is of 365 days while the Islamic(Lunar) year is generally of 355 days depending upn th 30 day and 29 day months.The month of Islamic calendar begins from the next day of the sighting of moon which will be the first day of succeeding month.As a result of this the dates of the Islamic calendar can seldome match the solar (Gregorian) calendar except by rare coincidence.

The months of Islamic calendar are as follows:
1.Moharram-ul-Haraam
2.Safar.
3.Rabi-ul-Awwal
4.Rabi-ul-Sani or Aakhir
5.Jamadi-ul-Awwal
6.Jamadi-us-Sani or Aakhir
7.Rajab-ul-Murrajab
8.Shaabaan
9.Ramdhan
10.Shawwaal
11.Zeequaad(Zulqadah)
12.Zilhijja

Moharram-ul-Haraam the first month of the Islamic calendar and its 10th day " Roz-e-Aushora"was reckoned as auspicious and sacred day.according to some traditions the Holy Prophet(SAS)used to observe fast on that day ,he gave up observing fast on that date after fasting during the month of Ramdhan became compulsory,according to some less reliable traditions of the same book, Bokhari Shareef,he continued to observe fast on the 10 th of Moharram, the reliability of the former is much more because the former is associated with the name of his most beloved wife (Ummul Momineen Aaiysha (RU). After the demise of the HOly Prophet(SAS) when his grand son Imam Hussain (AS) was martyred by the so called followers of the Holy Prophet, in 63 Hijri in Karbala, the day and the Month of Moharram became more auspicious for Islam because it was revitalised by the sacrifice of IMAM Hussain, some minor sects of Muslims ignore it, but all major sects of Muslims mourn it .

Safar is in continuation of Moharram on the 20 the of Safar the prisienars of the family of the Holy prophet were released by Yazid Ibn Muawia.On the 7th of Safar,128 Hijri the 7th Imam of the Shia Sect was born.

According to Quran ,Chapter V-36 four months are sacred during these months( Moharram,Rajab,Ramzan and zilhijja)fighting is considered a sin. Some of the months are more sacred than others because of the events that took place on a particular date of the month like Rabi-ul- Awwal during which the Holy Prophet(SAS)was born it is a different matter that there is no unianimity among different historians on the date of birth of the Holy Prophet,although all agree on the Year which was the year of Elephant (UmmulFeel).Some Muslim sects hold that he was born on 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal( Sir Syed Ahmad Khan; Essays in the birth and children of Mohammad (SAS) 1979 p.1),some others hold( Mohammad Khavaindshah Mir Akhund; Rauzat-us-Safa,the Garden of Purity, volume II p.98) believe that he was born on 11th of Rabi-ulAwwal, others believe and hold that he was born on 17th of Rabi-ul-Awwal(Tawheedi;A Glance of the life of Holy Prophet(SAS)Mustazafeen Foundation, N.Y. USA,1989,p.20). he was born on 17th of Rabi-ul-awwal which is also important for the shia sect as the 6th Imam of the Shia sect, Imam Jafar Sadiq(AS),was born on that date.

Rabi-us-Sani or Aakhir is the 4th month of muslim Calendar,on the 10th of the month 10th Imam( Imam M.Naqui) of the Shia Sect was born.

Next month( 5th month of the Islamic Calendar) is Jamadi-ul-Awwal, on 15th of the month(38th Hijri)the 4th Imam of the Athnae-Ashari sect, Imama Zainul Abedeen, was born .He was the eye witness to the tragedy to the family of Prophet in Karbala in 63 Hijri. He is credited with his two collections Sahifaye-Kaamila and Sahefaye-Sajjadia.

Jamadee-ul-Aakhir( the 6th Month of the Islamic Calendar) is the month without any significant event.

Rajab-ul-Murrajab( 7th month of thr Muslim Calendar) is the month full of events mostly dear to the Imamia Sect of Muslims. On Ist of Rajab the fifth Imam of the Shia sect were born, on fifth of Rajab Imam Hasan Askari was born and on 10th of Rajab Imam Mohammad Taqi was born and on 13th of Rajab Imam Ali the son in Law of the Holy Prophet, and the first male individual who embrassed Islam was born.He was among the four reverred individuals( Fatima,Hasan,Hussain)other than the Holy Prophet who were ordained to argue with Christian Monks about the existance of God and the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet (SAS).

Shaabaan(8th month) is the next month of the Islamic Calendar ,on the 3rd of the month( 4th Higri) 2nd grand son ,Imam Husain, (AS) was born and on 15th of the month(235 Hijri) the "awaited" Imam was born ,Shaabaan has become auspicious bnecause of his birth.

Ramdhan( 9th in sequence)b is another month sacred for all sects of Muslims during which all able bodied Muslims fast and special prayers are offered,piety comes to its peak charities are distributed between the needy in bulk for the sake of advantages to be realised in the next world,equally important is the fact that Quran was revealed during the month of Ramdhan.Extra specials prayers are offered during three nights. On 15th of Ramdhan, Hijri 3( the 2nd Imam Of the Shia Sec. Imam Hasan (AS) was born.

Shawwal is the 10th month of the Muslim Calendar,on the first of this month, after 29 or 30 days of fasting, Id is celeberated throughout the Muslim world.

Zeequad is the 11th month of the Muslim Calendar on the 7th of this month ther 8th Imam of the Shia sect were born.

Zilhijja is(the last month of Muslim Calendar) another sacred month,the last,on the 10th of the month the Pilgrimage to Makka ( Haj) is performed in Makka and in the rest of the world Id is celeberated, Id prayers are performed all over the world where Muslims live. Animals are sacrificed in all parts of the world for next 2days also. Formalities of Haj at Makka take a couple of days.Pilgrimage to Makka is the cherished desire of all Muslims who believe in the book(Quran) and the Holy Prophet (SAS). In his lifetime the Holy Prophet delivered two memorable speeches named as "Khutba-e-Hajjatul Vida and Khutba-e-Ghadeer-e-Khum were delivered by the Holy Prophet, both the speeches were for guidance of the followers of Islam.The first one was for informing the people that this was his last Haj and what Muslims have to follow and practice in future and the second was delivered a couple of days later i.e. on 17th of Zilhijja declaring that Ali bin Abu Talib will be the Maula of all Muslims whose Maula was he. Most of the Historians ignore this speech and even do not refer in passing.Those who are interested to read the second speech can read it from this same Website under the heading Memorable speaches of the Holy Prophet.