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​​​​​​​JERUSALEMÌý- JULY 7, 2024:ÌýPalestinians in Jerusalem marked Sunday the Islamic Hijri New Year 1446 with celebrations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex.Footage shows many believers reding the holy Qoran and reciting prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque.This year, July 7th is the first day of Muharram, the initial month of the Islamic lunar calendar.The day marks the historic al-Hijra (migration), the journey of Prophet Muhammad and his companions from Mecca to the blessed city of Medina to escape persecution by powerful tribes in 622 AD.Its exact date on the Gregorian calendar varies every year, depending on the sighting of the new moon.Muslims adopt the lunar calendar for religious purposes, utilizing it to determine significant events such as Ramadan fasting and other Islamic occasions.In 638 AD, Islam’s second caliph, Omar bin al-Khattab, a close companion of the Prophet, unveiled the new Islamic calendar using the day of the Hijrah as its starting point.Throughout the Islamic world, the celebration of the Hijri New Year may differ, influenced by diverse cultural traditions and customs. Yet, at its core, it is a time of profound spiritual reflection and renewal, a moment when Muslims start a new chapter in their lives.(Footage by Mohammad Hamad /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)