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The principal problem in drawing up calendars arises
from the fact that the solar day, the lunar month and the tropical year- the most
immediate natural time units- are not simple multiples of each other. In practice
a solution is found in basing the system either on the phases of the moon (lunar calendar)
or on changing of the seasons (solar calendar). The difficulty that days eventually
get out of step with the moon or the seasons is got over by adding in (intercalating)
one or more extra days or months at regular intervals in an extended cycle of months
or years. The earliest Egyptian calendar had a year of twelve months with 30 days
each though later 5 extra days were added at the end of each year so that it approximated
the tropical year of 365.25 days. In classical times, the Greeks came to use a lunar
calendar in which 3 extra months were intercalated in every eight years (the octennial
cycle) though in about 432 BC the astronomer Meton discovered that 235 lunar months
fitted exactly into 19 years (the Metonic cycle) this becoming the basis of modern
Jewish and Ecclesiastical calendars. The Roman calendar was reformed under Julius
Caesar in 46BC fixing the year at 365 days but intercalating an additional day every
fourth year (thus giving an average 365.25 day year).The 366 day-year is known as
a leap year. This Julian calendar continued in use until 16th century when it had
become 10 days out of step with the seasons, the tropical year in fact being a little
less than 365.25 days. Therefore in 1582 Pope Gregory 13 ordered that 10 days be omitted
from that year. Furthermore the century year would no longer be leap years unless
divisible by 400, so that there would be no recurrence of any discrepancy. This Gregorian
calendar was only slowly adopted, particularly in non-catholic countries- the reform
waiting until 1752 in England and its American Colonies, by which time 11days had
to be dropped. But today it is in civil use throughout the world.
Various proposals for further reform have come to nothing.
Islamic Calendar
The aim of this site is to propagate the knowledge of the Hijra calendar, which is
according to the holy Qur'aan and the Sunnah of Muhammed Musthafa (saw), the last
Prophet of Allah (swt)) the most merciful and the most beneficent. There are many
calendar systems in the world. However, all these systems except the Islamic lunar
calendar i.e, the Hijra calendar are not natural. So they get out of step with the
Moon or the seasons and need adjustments in the long run and they become defective.
• This site gives useful information regarding calculation of time.
• In the expanding universe every thing is in motion. Man is at a loss to know
the passage of time and the measure of it, because he does not have a fixed point
of reference.
• Scientists and astrophysicists of fame, like Stephen Hawking wonder and say
that there is no way to understand about our distant past. Then how can we say any
thing about our future?
• The Qur'aan informs us that we can calculate the exact number of days depending
on the moon and its phases for which purpose it has been created.
The Sunnah or the Hadees of the prophet teach us how to measure and record time in
this world without errors in it. Let us step in and examine the wonders.
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