A group of religious scholars here say reliance on the Hijri calendar for official business is isolating Saudi Arabia politically and economically from the rest of the world. They said companies are being harmed by this especially since the Hijri calendar does not match the Gregorian calendar used for international trade. They added that this does not mean they are rejecting the Hijri, or lunar calendar, which has a deep-rooted historical and religious significance for Muslims across the globe. Dr. Abdulmohsen Al-Obeikan, Advisor at the Royal Court, said it was Omar Bin Al-Khattab, the Second Caliph, who introduced the Hijri calendar to mark the migration of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Makkah to Madina. Al-Obeikan rejected arguments that the Hijri calendar is isolating Saudi Arabia politically and economically from the rest of the world. He said the country has never been adversely affected by using the Hijri calendar in official business since its foundation. Dr. Hamad Al-Majed, a lecturer in the Faculty of Shariah at Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, believes that both calendars can be used. Although the Kingdom is the only country in the world following the Hijri calendar, there is no Islamic text “that makes it obligatory for us to use only the Hijri calendar”. He urged political and economic leaders and thinkers to discuss this matter and formulate a common vision for the country, particularly considering the need to use the lunar calendar to determine the start and end of the month of Ramadan (for fasting) and Dhul Hijjah (for Haj). “It should be understood that we should not undervalue the Hijri or lunar calendar.” Dr. Noh Al-Shihiri, Supervisor of the Prince Sultan Chair for Youth Research, said: “The Hijri calendar is part of Islamic history so it is not easy for Muslim society to stop using it. The Islamic calendar shows we are distinct from the rest of the world and we should stick to it.” Dr. Yahia Koshak, a member of the Board of Directors of Tawafa Corporation, said the Hijri calendar must be used because it “covers all our religious occasions”. Rejecting the calendar was like “getting rid of our traditional dress and replacing it with something else,” Dr. Koshak added. __
