Jami' al-Saghir / Jam' al-Jawami' (al-Suyuti) 2-1953b

Translation

A man from among the Muslims came from the land of Yemen and said to ʿUmar: “In Yemen I have seen something they call ‘dating’ (the calendar): they write ‘from such-and-such a year and such-and-such a month.’” ʿUmar said: “This is good—so date your documents.” When he had resolved to establish a dating system, he consulted them. Some said: “From the Prophet’s ﷺ birth.” Others said: “From the beginning of his mission.” Others said: “From the time he set out as an emigrant from Makkah.” And one said: “From the time of his death, when he passed away.” Some said: “Date it from his departure from Makkah to Medinah.” Then he said: “With what shall we begin, so that we make it the first of the year?” They said: “Rajab, for the people of the pre-Islamic period used to venerate it.” Others said: “The month of Ramadan.” Some said: “Dhu al-Hijjah.” Others said: “The month in which he departed from Makkah.” Others said: “The month in which he arrived.” Then ʿUthmān said: “Date it from Muharram as the first of the year. It is a sacred month; it is the first of the months in the reckoning; and it is when people return from the Hajj. So make Muharram the first of the year.” That was in the year 17 AH, and it is also said: 16 AH, in Rabiʿ al-Awwal.

Notes

• Ibn Abū Khuthaymah's Tārīkh

• ابن أَبى خيثمة في تاريخه

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