How to Write Hijri Dates in Arabic: A Comprehensive Guide31

The Hijri calendar, also known as the Islamic calendar, is a lunar calendar used by Muslims worldwide to mark religious events and dates. Understanding how to write Hijri dates in Arabic is crucial for anyone engaging with Islamic culture, history, or religious practices. This guide will comprehensively explore the various aspects of writing Hijri dates in Arabic, addressing different writing styles and conventions.

The Hijri calendar begins with the Hijra, the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is solar, the Hijri calendar is lunisolar, meaning its months are lunar, approximately 29.5 days each, and its years are based on the lunar cycles. This results in a slightly shorter year than the Gregorian calendar, leading to a gradual shift in the correlation between the two calendars over time.

Writing the Year: The year in the Hijri calendar is written using Arabic numerals (٠١٢٣٤٥٦٧٨٩). These numerals are distinct from Western Arabic numerals and are often referred to as "Eastern Arabic numerals" or "Hindu-Arabic numerals." It's important to use these numerals when writing Hijri dates in Arabic to maintain cultural accuracy. For example, the year 1445 AH (Anno Hegirae – in the year of the Hegira) would be written as ١٤٤٥ هـ.

Writing the Month: The months of the Hijri calendar are: محرم (Muharram), صفر (Safar), ربيع الأول (Rabi' al-Awwal), ربيع الثاني (Rabi' al-Thani), جمادى الأول (Jumada al-Ula), جمادى الآخرة (Jumada al-Akhira), رجب (Rajab), شعبان (Sha'ban), رمضان (Ramadan), شوال (Shawwal), ذو القعدة (Dhu al-Qa'da), and ذو الحجة (Dhu al-Hijja).

These month names are written in Arabic script. There's no standardized abbreviation for the months, so it's generally best to write them out fully. However, in informal settings, abbreviations might be used, but consistency is key. When writing the date, the month name usually precedes the day.

Writing the Day: The day of the month is also written using Arabic numerals (٠١٢٣٤٥٦٧٨٩). It follows the month name. For example, the 15th of Ramadan 1445 AH would be written as: ١٥ رمضان ١٤٤٥ هـ

The "هـ" Abbreviation: The abbreviation "هـ" (hāʾ) is commonly appended to the Hijri year to clearly indicate that it's a Hijri date, differentiating it from a Gregorian date. This abbreviation is a shortened form of the word هجرية (Hijriyya), meaning "of the Hijra." Its use is essential for avoiding confusion.

Different Writing Styles and Conventions: There can be subtle variations in how the Hijri date is presented. Some might use a slightly different ordering of elements, or include additional contextual information, particularly in formal documents. For example, a full date might include the day of the week, written in Arabic. However, the core elements—day, month, and year—remain consistent.

Using Arabic Script: It's crucial to remember that the Arabic script is written from right to left. Therefore, the year (with the هـ), the month, and the day will be written in reverse order from what you might expect in English. This is fundamental to writing Hijri dates correctly in Arabic.

Digital Representations: While writing the date manually is important for understanding the conventions, digital tools and software often provide automatic conversion between Gregorian and Hijri dates. These tools can be helpful for accuracy and convenience, but it's still beneficial to understand the underlying principles of writing the date manually.

Examples:
1st Muharram 1445 AH: ١ محرم ١٤٤٥ هـ
10th Ramadan 1446 AH: ١٠ رمضان ١٤٤٦ هـ
25th Dhu al-Hijja 1447 AH: ٢٥ ذو الحجة ١٤٤٧ هـ

Avoiding Common Mistakes:
Using Western Arabic numerals instead of Eastern Arabic numerals.
Writing the date from left to right instead of right to left.
Omitting the "هـ" abbreviation.
Inconsistent abbreviation or spelling of the months.

Conclusion: Mastering the writing of Hijri dates in Arabic requires understanding the specific Arabic numerals, the names of the months in Arabic script, the correct right-to-left writing direction, and the crucial "هـ" abbreviation. By following these guidelines, one can accurately and respectfully represent Hijri dates in the Arabic language, enhancing communication and cultural understanding.

This comprehensive guide aims to provide a clear and complete understanding of the subject, facilitating accurate and culturally sensitive writing of Hijri dates. Continued practice and exposure to the language will further solidify this understanding.

2025-04-06

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