The Peace on The Horizon - 75 Years after The World War 2 in the Middle East (116)

 

(Japanese Version)

(Arabic Version)

 

(contents)

 

Chapter 5: Two calendars (Gregorian & Hijri)

 

116 Gregorian overcomes Hijri (2/4)

Once upon a time a lunar calendar was used in Japan, too. In Japan, additional one month was set up to adjust the seasonal deviation. However, Hijri calendar does not apply such adjustment with Gregorian calendar. Therefore, four seasons gradually get behind every year. For example, the 9^th month of Hijri, Ramadan, known as the fasting month, is sometime in hot summer and sometime in cold winter. Same as the 12th month of Hijri, Hajj, holy month for Muslim worshippers. The lack of additional one-month results that the seasons come back again after 33 lunar-years cycle. Hijri started in 622 AD, and new Hijri year 1446 will begin in April 2024. Gregorian calendar counts 1,402 years from the year 622 till 2024. But Hijri calendar counts 1,446 years. Hijri calendar is 44 years ahead Gregorian calendar.

 

Generally speaking, lunar calendar was widely used in ancient society. Suppose that it is difficult to perceive the difference of daylight hours of yesterday and today because the time of sunrise and sunset changes very slightly day by day. On the other hand, daily phase of the moon can recognize easily. Both Islamic countries and Japan used the lunar calendar, too.

 

But they adopted lunar calendar in different manner. In Japan the seasonal deviation was adjusted by introducing an additional month, but Hijri calendar did not apply such adjustment. It is interesting to analyse the reason why Japanese created an additional month in their lunar calendar whereas Muslims dared to accept the seasonal discrepancy without creating an additional month.

 

Japanese who lives in moderate climates seems that the sun is grace. However, Muslims in the Middle East have unique feeling about moon and sun. Muslim living in the Middle East who suffers harsh and dry climate with glaring sunshine regards that the sun means death. The calm moon night is the time of rest for Muslims. Arab people love the moon more than the sun.

 

(To be continued ----)

 

 

Areha Kazuya

(From an ordinary citizen in the cloud)