A Calendar's Conundrum: Unraveling Afghanistan's Unique Month System

Afghanistan has 12 months in a year, and the country's official calendar is the Solar Hijiri calendar. The first day of the year, Nowroz, starts on March 21st of the Gregorian calendar. The Solar Hijiri calendar is based on the Zodiac, with each month corresponding to a Zodiac sign. Afghanistan also uses the Lunar Hijiri calendar for religious Islamic holidays like Eid Al-Fitr.

Afghanistan's official calendar

The Solar Hijri calendar starts on the March equinox as determined by the astronomical calculation for the Iran Standard Time meridian (52.5°E, UTC+03:30) and has years of 365 or 366 days. The first day of the year, Nowruz, falls on the 21st of March in the Gregorian calendar. The Solar Hijri calendar is older than the Lunar Hijri calendar used by the majority of Muslims, though they both count from the Hijrah, the journey of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in the year 622. The Solar Hijri calendar is astronomically accurate year-to-year, with the start of each year tied to the sun's passage from one zodiacal sign to the next.

The Solar Hijri calendar has twelve months, each corresponding with a zodiac sign. The first six months have 31 days, the next five have 30 days, and the last month has 29 days in common years but 30 days in leap years. The names of the months in the Solar Hijri calendar are:

• Hamal – Aries (March 21)
• Sowr – Taurus (April 21)
• Jowzaa – Gemini (May 22)
• Sarataan – Cancer (June 22)
• Asad – Leo (July 23)
• Sumbula – Virgo (August 23)
• Meezaan – Libra (September 23)
• Aqrab – Scorpio (October 23)
• Qows – Sagittarius (November 22)
• Jadee – Capricorn (December 22)
• Dalwa – Aquarius (January 21)
• Hoot – Pisces (February 20)

The Lunar Hijri calendar is also used in Afghanistan to calculate religious holidays. The Lunar Hijri calendar also starts from the Hijrah and has twelve months, but it is ten days shorter than the Solar Hijri calendar. The ninth month of the Lunar Hijri calendar, Ramadan, is the month of fasting for Muslims.

The Solar Hijiri calendar

The Solar Hijri calendar is one of the world's most accurate calendar systems. It is also known as the Persian Calendar, Iranian Calendar, and SH Calendar. It is the official calendar of Iran and Afghanistan.

The Solar Hijri calendar is a solar calendar, meaning that its time reckoning is based on the Earth's movements around the Sun. It is based on astronomical observations rather than following predetermined rules to stay in sync with the solar year, like the Gregorian calendar. The year in the Solar Hijri calendar begins at midnight closest to the vernal equinox in Iran. The first day of the new year is called Nowruz and it is celebrated by Iranians around the world.

The Solar Hijri calendar is closely tied to the astronomical seasons, making it more accurate than the Gregorian calendar, which deviates from the solar year by 1 day in 3236 years. A year in the Solar Hijri calendar is divided into 12 months of varying lengths. The first 6 months have 31 days, the next 5 months have 30 days, and the last month, Esfand, has 29 days in a common year and 30 days in a leap year.

The Solar Hijri calendar year count starts with the Islamic prophet Mohammed's migration (Hegira or Hijrah) to Medina in 622 CE. This start date is shared with the Islamic Hijri calendar, but the calendar systems are otherwise unrelated. The Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar, which is why the year counts between the two calendars differ substantially.

The Solar Hijri calendar was introduced in Afghanistan in 1957 and has been the official calendar of the country since then. The first day of the calendar year, Nowruz, is the greatest festival of the year in Afghanistan, Iran, and some surrounding historically Persian-influenced regions. The celebration lasts for 13 days, with the last day called siz-dah bedar, meaning "13 to outdoor".

The Solar Hijri calendar is highly accurate due to its close connection with the astronomical seasons. Its accuracy makes it a valuable tool for timekeeping and ensures that cultural and religious events are celebrated at the correct time.

Religious holidays

Afghanistan, officially known as the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, follows the Solar Hijri calendar for its official national holidays and cultural holidays. However, its religious holidays are celebrated according to the Lunar Hijri calendar. Both calendars start in 622 AD (Gregorian calendar), the year Prophet Mohammad migrated from Mecca to Medina.

Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of the month of Ramadan, during which Muslims observe a month of fasting. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated at the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal, and Muslims gather in mosques to offer collective prayers before meeting with friends and family for a feast.

Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha, also known as Eid al-Qurban, is an Islamic festival that falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja (Thou al-Hijja). It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, as described in the Quran. Muslims performing the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) sacrifice a lamb, and the meat is distributed among the poor. Eid al-Adha is celebrated in a similar fashion to Eid al-Fitr, with prayers, feasts, and gift exchanges.

Ashura

Ashura is observed on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, during the Battle of Karbala. It is a day of mourning and is often marked by passion plays and processions.

Prophet Muhammad's Birthday

The birth of Prophet Muhammad is observed by Muslims on the 12th day of the Islamic month of Rabi' al-awwal. It is a day of celebration, with special prayers and visits to mosques. People also visit friends and family.

First Day of Ramadan

The first day of Ramadan is celebrated at the beginning of the Hejrah-e qamari month of Ramadan. Muslims observe a month of fasting during this month, refraining from eating or drinking during daylight hours.

Night of Measure

The Night of Measure is a significant night for Muslims as it is believed to be when God sent down the first verses of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad via the angel Gabriel. It falls within the last third of the Hejrah-e qamari month of Ramadan.

Arafat Day

Arafat Day is celebrated the day before Eid al-Adha and marks the day Prophet Muhammad delivered his farewell sermon on the mountain of Arafat, also known as Jabal ar-Rahmah (Mountain of Mercy). It is the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage.

The Lunar Hijiri calendar

Afghanistan uses three different types of calendars: Hijri Shamsi (solar Islamic), Miladi/Isawee (Gregorian/Christian), and Hijri Qamari (lunar Islamic). The Lunar Hijri calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, is used to calculate the dates of religious holidays and observances.

The Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days. Each month lasts for a full lunation, which is the time span from one new moon to the next. This moon cycle encompasses all the phases of the moon. The timing of the months in the Islamic calendar is based on astronomical observation. A new month can only begin after a waxing crescent moon is observed shortly after sunset. The waxing crescent moon is the moon phase that starts right after a new moon.

The Islamic calendar is completely detached from astronomical seasons, which are marked by the equinoxes and solstices. An Islamic year consistently falls about 11 days short of the solar year. For this reason, the Islamic calendar cannot be used for agriculture or other activities linked to the seasons.

The Islamic calendar is based on a purely lunar calendar, so it cannot be used for agriculture or other activities linked to the seasons. The months are not tied to the solar year, so there is no need for leap days or months to synchronize the calendar with the solar year. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, so each month can have either 29 or 30 days, depending on the visibility of the moon. The beginning of each month is marked by the observance of a new moon seen for the first time. The Islamic calendar is used to determine the dates of religious events and observances, such as the annual fasting and the annual season for the great pilgrimage.

The months of the Hijri calendar are as follows:

• Muharram
• Safar
• Rabi' al-awwal
• Rabi' al-Thani
• Jumada al-awwal
• Jumada al-Thani
• Rajab
• Sha'ban
• Ramadan
• Shawwal
• Dhul Qadah
• Dhul Hijjah

Four of these months are considered sacred: Rajab, and the three consecutive months of Dhul al-Qa'dah, Dhul al-Hijjah, and Muharram. Waging war during these months is forbidden.

The Islamic calendar is based on a lunar year of 354 or 355 days, unlike the solar year of 365 or 366 days. The Islamic New Year starts with Muharram, followed by Safar, Rabi al-awwal, Rabi al-Thani, Jumada al-awwal, Jumada al-Thani, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhul Qadah, and Dhul Hijjah.

The Islamic calendar is used to determine the dates of religious events and observances, such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The beginning of each month is contingent on the visibility of the moon at the end of the previous month. Once the moon is sighted, the new month commences. Each month starts with a new lunar cycle. Therefore, the Islamic calendar gives only a tentative overview of the upcoming Islamic dates, as the start of each month is subject to the sighting of the moon.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. The country is predominantly mountainous with plains in the north and southwest, which are separated by the Hindu Kush mountain range. Kabul is the country's largest city and serves as its capital.

The Taliban government remains internationally unrecognized. The Taliban's Rahbari Shura, or leadership council, is divided between the hardline Haqqani Network and the more moderate Abdul Ghani Baradar over appointments needed to form an inclusive government. The Taliban government is led by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and acting prime minister Hasan Akhund.

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