The coming of sunset yesterday marked the beginning of the month of Muharram and the new 1435th Hijri year.

The day of Ashura, day of commemoration of the prophets falls on November 13 this year.

Islamic moon calendar is used in modern Islamic society for determining dates of religious festivals and has official status in a number of Muslim countries. This calendar starts with Hijra, emigration of Prophet Muhammad and first Muslims from Mecca to Medina that took place on June 16, 622 AD.