According to the Hijri calendar, the year 1448 has begun to be observed with the start of the month of Muharram. Accepted as the first month of the year in the Islamic world, Muharram is not only the beginning of a new calendar period; it also brings the historical memory carried by the Hijra, the culture of social solidarity and the call for spiritual self-reflection back to the agenda.
The first day of Muharram began on Monday, June 15, 2026, according to the time calculations of the High Council of Religious Affairs of the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet). Thus, the year 1448 has been entered in the Hijri calendar. Because the Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar determined by the movements of the moon, there is a shift of approximately 10-11 days each year compared to the Gregorian calendar. For this reason, Muharram, Ramadan and other religious days fall on different dates in the Gregorian calendar each year.
The beginning of the Hijri calendar is accepted as being based on the migration (Hijra) of Prophet Muhammad and the Muslims with him from Mecca to Medina. In Islamic history, this event is considered a turning point not merely as a move from one city to another, but in terms of protecting freedom of belief, establishing a new social order and shaping the political and social existence of Muslims.
With the Hijra, a transition was made from the heavy pressure conditions of the Meccan period to a new institutionalized social life in Medina. The bond of brotherhood established between the emigrants (Muhajirun) and the helpers (Ansar) in Medina is recounted as one of the most important examples of solidarity in Islamic history. During this process, regulations defining the rights and responsibilities of different religious and social groups in Medinan society also came to the fore.
The month of Muharram is accepted as one of the months held in respect in Muslim societies. Traditions such as fasting in this month, increasing sharing with family and neighbors, and preparing and distributing ashura come to the fore. At the same time, the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein and those with him in Karbala gives the month of Muharram a deep dimension of sorrow and remembrance.
This year, Ashura Day will be observed on Thursday, June 25, 2026, which corresponds to the 10th day of Muharram. Ashura holds a place in the collective memory of society as a symbolic sharing dish prepared by combining different ingredients in the same pot. Traditionally shared with families, neighbors and those in need, ashura strengthens the emphasis on unity and solidarity.
According to the assessments of experts from the High Council of Religious Affairs, the Hijri new year is important in terms of taking stock of the past year and demonstrating a will for spiritual renewal for the coming period. The message of the Hijra is interpreted as a call to keep alive the consciousness of justice, brotherhood, responsibility, sharing and coexistence in social relations as well as in individual life.
With the beginning of the Hijri year 1448, the meaning of the month of Muharram, the place of the Hijra in Islamic history and the social dimension of Ashura Day will be addressed in mosques, religious publications and various programs. Experts state that this period should be seen not only as a calendrical renewal, but also as an opportunity to remember shared values and strengthen social solidarity.
