Jordan’s Prime Minister, Jafar Hassan, has declared Tuesday, June 16, 2026, a public holiday in observance of the beginning of the Islamic Hijri New Year, according to a circular issued on Sunday, June 7.
According to The Jordan Times, the holiday will be observed across ministries, municipalities, joint service councils, government agencies, public institutions and authorities, public universities, the Greater Amman Municipality, as well as companies that are wholly owned by the government.
Jordan remains a predominantly Muslim nation, with Islam serving as the official religion of the state. Sunni Muslims account for an estimated 92% to 97% of the country’s population.
The government directive is understood to exclude ministries, departments and institutions whose operations require them to remain functional during the holiday period.
In commemoration of Hijri 1448 AH, the prime minister urged all ministries, government departments, public institutions and authorities to recognise the importance of the Islamic New Year and mark the occasion in a manner befitting its significance.
Reports indicate that Muharram 1 this year marks 1448 lunar years since the migration of Prophet Mohammad from Mecca to Medina in Saudi Arabia, an event historically known as the “Hijra”.
Importance Of Hijri Calendar
The Hijri calendar has played a central role in the lives of Muslims for centuries, tracing its origins to the pre-Islamic period before being formally established following the Hijrah. It remains the primary calendar used to determine key religious observances, including Ramadan and Hajj.
Major Islamic celebrations such as Eid al-Fitr, observed on 1 Shawwal, and Eid al-Adha, marked on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, are also determined according to the Hijri calendar.
In addition, the Islamic lunar calendar is essential for calculating Zakat (almsgiving) and for establishing personal maturity in matters of Islamic jurisprudence, both of which depend on the measurement of time according to the Hijri year.
