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Tonight, after sunset, the hijri New Year of 1439 begins. Hijri calendar was introduced by Caliph Umar in 637 A.D

Canonically, New Year is not a Muslim religious feast, but the hijrah (resettlement of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, from Mecca to Medina) was a landmark event symbolizing the dawn for Muslim civilization and establishing Islam as a world religion. This event symbolized transgression from the state of persecuted community whose members had been targeted, humiliated, harassed, tortured and even killed, to a community in the making of new, progressive society. Towards the society that had a constitutional act, freedom of religion and democratic institutions, and at the same time praised thirst for knowledge; made use of the most cutting-edge ideas, technologies and inventions of that era.

Thus, while Hijri New Year is not a religious feast, it is, though, a good opportunity for every Muslim to think if they are a part of that progressive driving force of the society they live in. Remember that the best of believers is the one most useful for their community and the society they live in!