محرم
Muharram
محرم (Muharram) is the Arabic word for the English phrase "muharram", which refers to the first month of the Islamic calendar.
The word is used both to name the specific first month of the Islamic lunar calendar and to refer to the period of mourning in certain Islamic traditions.
Meaning: the first month of the Islamic calendar (name)
How do you pronounce it?
Muharram
Did you know?
- The term محرم can also refer to a 'mahram', a close relative whom a woman is forbidden to marry, because both words share the root for 'forbidden'.
- Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, محرم rotates through all four seasons every 33 years, meaning the month of mourning can occur in either summer or winter.
- The word محرم literally means 'forbidden'. This is because it was one of four months in pre-Islamic Arabia where fighting was strictly prohibited to ensure safe travel and trade.
Examples in context
- شنو خطة رأس السنة الهجرية بـ 2022؟What are the plans for the Hijri New Year in 2022?
- نحن الآن في شهر محرم.nahnu al-āna fī shahri muharram.We are now in the month of Muharram.
Example conversation
Layla and Omar are discussing the Islamic calendar.
- ليلى Laylaهل تعرف متى يبدأ محرم؟Hal ta'rif mata yabda' Muharram?Do you know when Muharram starts?
- عمر Omarأعتقد أنه يبدأ في الأسبوع القادم.A'taqid annahu yabda' fi al-usbu' al-qadim.I think it starts next week.
- ليلى Laylaهذا رائع، إنه أول شهر في السنة.Hadha ra'i', innahu awwal shahr fi al-sana.That's great, it is the first month of the year.
- عمر Omarنعم، محرم هو بداية السنة الهجرية.Na'am, Muharram huwa bidayat al-sana al-hijriyya.Yes, Muharram is the beginning of the Hijri year.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries محرم, CC BY-SA 4.0.
