Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I have a question which was asked by one of my Non muslim friend that A year is the time between two recurrences of an event related to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun.This phenomenon takes approximately 365 days which is right according to english(Cristian) calender but not right according to arabic calender,so is that arabic calender has some errors and need to be chanced accordingly....... please reply me as soon as possible

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Answer:

Solar lunar year

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 10 Surah Yunus verse 5:

5 It is He (Allah) Who made the sun to be a shining glory and the moon to be a (reflected) light, and measured out stages for her: that ye might know the number of years and the count (of time). Nowise did Allah create this but in Truth. (Thus) doth He explain His Signs in detail for those who understand.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 36:

36 The number of months in the Sight of Allah is twelve (in a year), so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth.

The Gregorian or English calendar is based on the time it takes for the earth to rotate around the sun; ie.365 days which constitutes a solar year.

The Islamic or lunar calendar is based on the time it takes for the moon to rotate around the earth; ie. 29/30 days, which constitute a lunar month.

Throughout the annuls of human life, man has determined the count of the passage of time either through the lunar months or the solar year, and both are acceptable.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan