I have some questions from your honors:
1. What is the desired calendar by Imam Mahdi (may our souls being sacrificed for him)? Lunar or solar?
2. Is the origin of the lunar calendar, which is the immigration of the God’s Messenger, confirmed by his Excellency?
3. Is the beginning of the lunar year, which is the first day of Muharram, approved by his Excellency?
Thank you for your kindness in answering my questions.
The answers of your questions are as follow respectively:
1. The calendar in Islam is lunar; as God has said: ﴿يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ ۖ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ﴾[1]; “They ask you about the phases of the moon, say: They are time-marks for the people and Hajj”.
2. The Hijri calendar is narrated from Ali Ibn Abi Talib, and has been practiced and used by the Ahl al-Bayt and Mahdi is from the Ahl al-Bayt.
3. Considering Muharram as the beginning of the lunar year is one of the customary credentials signed by the ruler, and the narrations that have considered Ramadan or the night of Qadr as the beginning of the lunar year, indicate on their priority in terms of merit, not in terms of sequence.
