Muslims Await New Hijri Year on Thursday

Muslims worldwide are anticipating the beginning of the new Hijri year on Thursday, October 15, depending on what comes out from the moon-sighting committees on Wednesday.
Expecting the new 1437 Hijri year on Thursday, United Arab Emirates has announced October 15 a public holiday, Gulf News reported.
The day will mark the beginning of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar.
It is also known as the day in which Muslims celebrate the Hijrah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Makkah to Madinah.
In Pakistan, the central Hilal Committee (the country’s moon-sighting committee) will look for the crescent moon on Wednesday night.
If sighted, Thursday will be the first day of the new Hijri year. Otherwise, Friday will be the first of Muharram.
It commemorates the Hijra or the migration of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his followers to the city of Madinah, Saudi Arabia in 622 CE. This migration for freedom to worship one God, marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar and has since come to be known as Hijrah in the Islamic world.
Ashura, another important religious occasion, is observed on the 10th day of the month of Muharram with prayers, fasting and supplications. Fasting the 9th and the 10th of Muharram is a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that goes back to a long time before imam Hussein.
For Sunni Muslims, `Ashura’ marks the day that Prophet Musa, peace be upon him, was saved from the Egypt’s pharaoh. Muslim scholars have agreed that it is good to fast on the day of `Ashura’, although it is not obligatory.
`Ashura also marks the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) in 680 in Karbala. Black flags, representing the sadness of Shiites during `Ashura, are seen all over Karbala.

source: OnIslam