NOVEMBER 4 IS MUSLIM NEW YEAR

MARAWI CITY, Nov. 2 -- Muslim Filipinos will join again Muslims all over the world to observe Monday, November 4 as Muslim "AmonJadid" or New Year celebration in the Muslim Hijrah Calendar.

Malacanang had just declared November 4 a non-working holiday.

The AmonJadid is celebrated every first day of Muharram, the first month of the lunar-based Islamic calendar, which falls on November 4 this year in the Gregorian Calendar.

This year Islamic lunar calendar is 1435 years starting from the migration, or hijrah, of Prophet Muhammad to Madina due to persecution he suffered from the Quraishi people of Mecca.

Last year, Amon Jaded fell on October 15.

AmonJadid comes at the end of the annual hajj or pilgrimage to the holy land of Mecca, Saudi Arabia among Muslim faithfuls.

The annual hajj is obligatory for Muslims who can afford to travel from their country of origin to Mecca.

It is one of the five pillars of Islamic religion.

Other pillars include absolute belief in Allah, praying five times a day facing Qiblah, giving of zakat (alms) to the poor, and fasting during the 29 or 30 days of the month of Ramadhan from dawn to sunset

AmonJadid is one of the Muslim Holidays the national government recognizes under PD 1083.