Muslims in Ghana join the world Saturday, October 25, to welcome the New Year on the Islamic Calendar. 

The anniversary falls on 25th of October 2014, and 1436 on the Islamic calendar worldwide, marking the beginning of a new year for Muslims in the month of Muharram all over the world.

In Ghana, the leadership of Warasul Umma is calling on Muslims to use the occasion to “recognize the importance of freedom of worship of God, respect for each other’s faith, accord each other the space and free mind to worship God Almighty”.

The group in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Alhaji Issa Monnie therefore urged the Ghana Muslim Mission, Islamic Research Center, Al Sunna, Shi’ite, Ahamadyya Movement, COMOG and all other Muslim groups, to focus on addressing debilitating issues affecting Muslims in the country.

"For the second year running, Ghanaian Muslims are being called upon to ensure peaceful coexistence with other faith as a sign of Godliness and respect for each other’s rights, liberties and freedoms as enshrined in the national constitution and supported by the Holy Qur-an  Chapter 49, Verse 13 : 'O mankind! We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know and honor each other (not that you should despise one another). Indeed the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most righteous."

It listed some of the issues as poverty, health, education and the huge language barrier in reading and understanding the Holy Qur-an and religious tolerance”.

"The Holy Qur-an chapter 2:256 says  'Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth has been made clear from error. Whoever rejects false worship and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks. And Allah hears and knows all things".

The statement also encouraged Muslim youth and adults alike, to endeavor learn the names of the months on the Islamic calendar just like they memorise the Gregorian and western calendar.

According to Islamic tradition the Holy Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) under persecution from the people of Makka, took a journey to Madina in A.D. July 16 ,622. This migration for freedom to worship, marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar and has since come to be known as Hegira in the Islamic world.

According to many Muslim scholars, the celebration of the Islamic new year is news to many largely due to ignorance. This is also because, after the month of Ramadan in which Muslims fast for 30 days and follow it with id-ulfitr and subsequent visit to Makka to perform the hajj and also celebration of Id-ul adha.