As Muslims celebrate New Year, here's how the Hijri calendar started

Every year, Muslims celebrate the start of the New Islamic Year, which honors the event of Hijrah, or the Prophet Mohammad and his devotees' movement, from Makkah to Madinah. 

It was during the era of Muslim leader Omar bin Al Khattab when the calendar was set up. It is narrated that Al Khattab has consulted companions of the prophet on choosing from three events to mark the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

The alternatives were the day and year of Mohammad's introduction to the world, demise or Hijra to Madinah. They conceded to utilizing the date of the prophet's Hijra, which denoted a time of accomplishments for Muslims, and every single future occasion were checked from it. 

The concurrence on this issue was come to in the year 17 of the Hijra, the fourth year of the caliphate of Omar, which compares to year 622 on the Julian date-book. 

The Hijra to Madinah was a turning point in Islamic history, marking the beginning of the Muslim state, and where the prophet established the first civil Muslim society.

At first, there were discussions on whether the first month of the year should be Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, or Muharram. It was then agreed that Muharram will be the first month of the Islamic year given that it comes after Muslims complete annual pilgrimage season during the month of Dhul Hijjah.

There are narrations that say that Prophet Mohammad was the first to care about setting dates in the Islamic era, and that he ordered date setting upon his arrival in Madinah and has used dates in official correspondence.

The Islamic year has 12 months and follows the lunar calendar.