Mohammedan Era, also known as the Islamic Era or Hijri Era, is a calendar system used by Muslims worldwide. The term "Mohammedan" has been criticized as it suggests that Muslims worship Prophet Mohammed, which is not the case. The correct term is "Islamic Era" or "Hijri Era". The IPA phonetic transcription for "Mohammedan" is /mɒˈhæmədən/, which means the stress is on the second syllable and the "a" is pronounced as "æ". It is important to use respectful and accurate terminology when referring to religious traditions or practices.
The term "Mohammedan Era" refers to a chronological system of dating based on the Islamic lunar calendar, which marks the beginning of the era with the Hijra, the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. Also known as the Hijri calendar, it is primarily used by Muslims worldwide to determine religious holidays and events.
This dating system is based on the lunar cycles, where each month starts with the sighting of the new moon. The Islamic lunar year consists of 12 months, totaling either 354 or 355 days, which is approximately 10 to 11 days shorter than the solar Gregorian calendar used in the Western world. As a result, the months of the Islamic calendar shift annually in relation to the Gregorian calendar.
The term "Mohammedan Era" acknowledges the centrality of Prophet Muhammad in Islamic history, as it marks the events from his migration as the starting point of this calendar system. However, it is worth noting that many Muslims argue against its usage, as they believe it implies an undue focus or worship of Prophet Muhammad. Hence, it is more commonly referred to as the "Islamic calendar" or the "Hijri calendar" to avoid any misleading associations.
The Mohammedan Era, or Islamic calendar, holds significant cultural, religious, and historical importance for Muslims globally, as it allows them to commemorate and observe important religious occasions and festivals according to their faith and teachings.
The term "Mohammedan Era" refers to the system of measuring years from the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD. However, it is crucial to note that this term is considered outdated and misleading in modern times.
The etymology of the phrase can be dissected into two parts:
1. Mohammedan: This term derives from the Western European understanding of the name "Muhammad" combined with the suffix "-an" denoting a follower or adherent. It emerged during the medieval period when Western scholars, primarily in Europe, did not have a deep understanding of Islamic culture and mistakenly labeled Muslims as "Mohammedans" regarding Muhammad as a religious figure akin to Jesus in Christianity.
2. Era: The word "era" comes from the Latin word "aera", loosely translating to "epoch" or "age".