In common with all the other religions. Islam has accepted the advantages of a natural division of time and thus a calendar. It lays stress on the strict observance of time and its delibrate violation is considered a minor sin. The beginning of a calendar generally synchronises with some important and unforgattable event. In Islam also, there are historical reasons for adopting 622 A.D.as the commencement of the Hijri calendar. The Holy Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad, was born in Mecca around 570 A.D., he recieved the first Divine Message which he continued to recieve from time to time. They now form the Holy Book of the Muslims. He transmitted the Divine Message first in Mecca for 12 years. But the Meccans were not responsive and were weak. Thereafter under Divine Inspiration, he migrtaed to Medina in 622 A.D., where his prophetical mission had immediate acceptance. The migration of the Holy Prophet from Mecca to Medina is a significant event in the spread of Islam. The Hijri Calendar commences from the date of his migration. In Arabic, Hijra means "Migration". Before the advent of Islam, both solar and lunar calendars were in vogue among the Arabs.

However, they were not arrnged properly and were cumbersome. There was need for a simple calendar and this was met by introduction of the Hijri Calendar. This calendar, based on twelve lunar months, is both simple and natural. It can be chronologically arranged by an ordinary person by seing the new moon with the naked eye without the help of any instrument or mathematical calculations. The 14th Century of the Hijri era ends this year and the 15th Century commences. It brings new hope of Peace and Fratenity with others, which is the meaning and keynote of Islam. Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is happy to issue a special postage stamp to commemorative the commencement of the 15th Century Hijri. (The above text is based on material published elsewhere and/or supplied by the sponsors).

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India