1. 1 Time is not a reality [hupostasis], but a concept [noêma] or a measure [metron]… Antiphon the Sophist (480BC-411BC)

2. 2 Islamic (Hijra) Calendar

3. 3 Calendars calendars are a system of measuring time based either on lunar cycles http://timbeauchamp.tripod.com/moon/mooninfo.htm OR the Earth's orbit around the Sun http://www.uwsp.edu/ge o/faculty/ritter/geog101/ uwsp_lectures/lecture_e arth_sun_relations.html

4. 4 The Islamic calendar is a religious calendar calculated using the cycle of the phases of the Moon http://www.nmm.ac.uk/upload/img/phases.gif

5. 5 An Islamic month the length of each month lasts from the sighting of one crescent moon to the sighting of the next crescent moon http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/projects/3308686.html

6. 6 An Islamic month http://www.hijracalendar.com/HijraCalendar1428.xls

7. 7 The Islamic Months مُحَرَّم Muharram The Sacred Month صَفَر Safar The Void Month رَبِيع الأوَّل Rabi al-Awwal The First Month of Spring رَبِيع الثَّاني Rabi ath-Thani The Second Month of Spring جَمَاد الأوَّل Jumad al-Ula The First Dry Month جَمَاد الثَّاني Jumad ath-Thani The Second Dry Month رَجَب Rajab The Honoured Month شَعْبَان Sha'ban The Month of Separation رَمَضَان Ramadan The Month of Intense Heat شَوَّال Shawwal The Hunting Month ذُو الْقِعْدَة Dhul Qa'dah The Resting Month ذُو الْحِجَّة Dhul Hijjah The Month of Pilgrimage http://www.geocities.com/mutmainaa/kids/islam/months.html

8. 8 an Islamic day begins at sunset and ends the following sunset http://www.zain.madressa.net/Wallpaper%20Sunset%20Screen%20size%201024x768.JPG

9. 9 Islamic Days of the Week الأحَد Al-Ahad - Day One (Sunday) الإثْنَيْن Al-‘Ithnayn - Day Two (Monday) الثُّلاثَاء Ath-Thulatha - Day Three (Tuesday) الأرْبِعَاء Al-'Arba'aa - Day Four (Wednesday) الْخَمِيس Al-Khamees - Day Five (Thursday) الْجُمْعَة Al-Jum'ah - Day of Gathering (Friday) السَّبْت As-Sabt – Day of Rest (Saturday) http://www.geocities.com/mutmainaa/kids/islam/days.html

10. 10 The use of an “H” following an Islamic year number signifies that the dating system begins from the Hijra i.e. the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. According to the Islamic calendar this year (2007) is 1428 H. What year is it now?

11. 11 Some important dates in the Islamic calendar 1 Muharram (Islamic New Year) 1 Ramadan (first day of fasting) Last third of Ramadan which includes Laylat al-Qadr 1 Shawwal (Eid-Ul-Fitr) 8-10 Dhul Hijjah (the Hajj to Mecca) 10 Dhul Hijjah (Eid-Ul-Adha)

12. 12 And their corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar (this year)… Islamic CalendarGregorian Calendar 1428 H2007-2008 1 Muharram- 30 Dhul Hijjah20 January 2007- 9 January 2008 1 Muharram (Islamic New Year) 20 January 2007 1 Ramadan (first day of fasting) 14 September 2007 1 Shawwal (Eid-Ul-Fitr)13 October 2007 8-10 Dhul Hijjah (the Hajj to Mecca) 18- 20 December 2007 10 Dhul Hijjah (Eid-Ul-Adha)20 December 2007

13. 13 Some interesting trivia… every 32.5 years, the Islamic year retrogresses through the entire seasonal year therefore in 1495 H (2072- 2073 CE) these dates should fall on approximately the same dates as they have this year

14. 14 Some more interesting trivia… An Islamic year will be entirely within a Gregorian year of the same number in the year 20874 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_calendar

15. 15 Some more interesting trivia… once every 33 or 34 Islamic years (32 or 33 Gregorian years) the Islamic calendar year occurs entirely within the Gregorian calendar year http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_calendar Islamic year within Gregorian year IslamicGregorianDifference 12281813585 12611845584 12951878583 13291911582 13621943581 13961976580 14292008579 14632041578 14962073577 15302106576 15642139575

16. 16 In summary…A quick comparison! Islamic CalendarGregorian Calendar lunarseasonal 12 months per year 29-30 days per month28-31 days per month 354-355 days per year 365-366 days per year 7 days per week