The great scholar, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have Mercy on him), was asked the following question:
There are some people who say: We do not use the Gregorian calendar over the Hijri calendar in order to avoid showing allegiance and support [to non-Muslims]. However, the Gregorian calendar is more consistent than the Hijri calendar, in their viewpoint, saying: Most countries use this calendar, so why do we stand out and contradict them?
ANSWER: The reality is that dating things by lunar phases (i.e. the Hijri calendar) is the foundation, for all of mankind. Read the Statement of Allah, the Most High: “They ask you (O Muhammad) about the lunar phases. Say: They are references of time for the people, and for Hajj.” [2:189]
“For the people” [means]: all of them.
And read the Statement of Allah, the Most High: “Indeed, the number of months with Allah are 12 months, in the Book of Allah, the day He created the heavens and the earth. Of them, there are four sacred ones.” [9:36]
So what are those months? They are the lunar months. Thus, the Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) explained them, meaning: the four [sacred ones], that they are Rajab, Thul-Qa’dah, Thul-Hijjah, and Muharram. This is the foundation. These months which the people use in this time are delusional months anyway. They are not structured around anything real. If they were based on the constellations, they would have some basis. Yet, the constellations are clear in the sky, and their stars and timings are well known. However, these [months] are delusional, not having any basis whatsoever, since some of them are 28 [days] and others are 31. They [Gregorian months] are not based on any foundation.
However, if we face trials wherein we have to mention the Gregorian date, then why would we turn away [completely] from the Islamically legislated Arabic Hijri calendar, when we are still very capable of dating things with the Arabic calendar [firstly], and then we could say: “…Which corresponds to such-and-such [Gregorian date]?” This gives consideration to how many Islamic lands were colonized by disbelievers, and they changed the [Hijri] calendar to their calendar, subjecting the population and humiliating them. Do you understand?
So then we say: If we face [such] trials and must mention the Gregorian date, then let it be that the Islamically legislated Arabic Hijri date is first, and then we say: “…Which corresponds to such-and-such [Gregorian date].”
QUESTIONER: The second part of the question is: Some companies say: We do not use the Gregorian calendar because of religious loyalty, but only because the other global companies that we work with use that calendar, so we must cooperate with them using that calendar. Otherwise, it would cause harm to us in how we set appointments, submit things, issue and receive things, etc. So then what is the ruling [on using the Gregorian calendar within these circumstances]?
ANSWER: The ruling is easy! Is it not possible to combine between both? All of them have the ability to combine both. You say: “So-and-So and I have agreed to such-and-such on Sunday, day number such-and-such of the Islamic Arabic month [of Such-and-Such],” and then [afterwards] you mention the Gregorian date. Is that possible?
QUESTIONER: Of course, that is possible.
SOURCE: Silsilat Liqaa’aat al-Baab al-Maftooh, no.169, accessed directly from the Shaykh’s official website: https://binothaimeen.net/upload/ftawamp3/od_169_06.mp3
Alternate link for original Arabic recording: MP3
Transcript of Q&A with Arabic & translation (updated): PDF
Translated by: Moosaa Richardson for Bakkah.net (1444/5/19, updated: 6/8)
rev.aw
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
JazakAllahu khayran for sharing this immense benefit Shaykh!
Are our ages also according to the Hijri calendar? If so, how can we calculate it if we don’t know our Hijri date of birth?
Also, if we use the Hijri calendar in our affairs, is it considered reviving the sunnah and are we rewarded for doing as such?
May Allah grant you and your family the best of this dunya and aakhirah.
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
You are 35 years old once 35 [real] years pass by since the time of your birth. According to the disbelievers and their baseless calendar, you would only be 34, since their calendar has 10-11 extra days every year.
Yes, using the Hijri calendar in your life is part of your Religion. It is not just an Arabic vs. English calendar. Or an Arab vs. Western thing. This is an issue of Deen. We order our children to pray at seven, and discipline them over the prayer at ten. This is based on the years intended by the Messenger of Allah (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) when he commanded us with those matters, which are not the years counted by the disbelievers on their calendar. We pay Zakaat every year, not every Gregorian year, as that would make us late every single year, in an essential act of worship! And Allah knows best.
Assalaamu alaykum.
In business issues how can we use Hijri for dates in the future? Since dates depend on the visibility of the moon, and it is not precise, and varies from country to country?
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah. It is permissible to use the estimated/calculated dates when needed, in dunyaa matters, not in any worship legislated for certain days (like Hajj or Ramadhaan). When planning something for next month, there is no way to know if the current month will actually be 29 or 30 days based on sighting, so future dates often need to be based on the Umm al-Qura calendar, and Allah knows best.
Assalamualaikum, what did the shaykh intend by “they are not structured around anything real” as one could argue that the Gregorian months are structured around getting the year to be in-sync with the seasonal cycle rather than shifting 11 days every year?
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah. It seems he was referring to the end of one month and the beginning of another, and Allah knows best. Thus he explained it by mentioning that some of their months have as few as 28 days, and others have as many as 31.
It may also be a reference to the fact that the non-Muslims do not claim these months are from any Bible verse or any religious scripture. Comparatively, the months in Islam are based on textual evidence. And Allah knows best.
Assalaamu ‘Alaykum Ustadh, I have a issue and i want to know your opinion, The issue is AI voice translation tool, which converts speakers voice into any other languges with perfect editing of voice with movement of lips. My question is it permissible to AI Translation use for dawah or any other purpose.
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah. When you say, “movement of lips,” I understand that an image is being created. That aspect is impermissible and a major sin, and it is not included in any scholarly differing about photography or videography. That is just the creation of an image, whether still or moving, which is textually forbidden, with severe rebuke connected to it. About the remaining concerns over the voice being imitated, Allah knows best.