Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Islamic New Year (Al Hijra). Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
The Islamic New Year, Al-Hijra, is celebrated by Muslims on the first day of the first month in the Islamic Calendar. This month is called Muharram. The exact day changes every year because the Islamic lunar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar (Western) year. This means that in 2008, there were two Islamic New Years – one on January 9th and another on December 29th. It also means that new year’s day for Muslims can be in the middle of winter or in the middle of summer. The exact date of the next Al-Hijra is not yet known. It is only predicted until there is a sighting of the new moon. Once that happens, governments in Islamic countries tell their citizens when the new year begins.
Al-Hijra is the time when the Islamic prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers moved from Mecca to Medina, where they set up the first Islamic state. This happened in 622AD. Islamic years use the suffix AH (After Hijra) which means the year 2008AD is the Islamic year 1429AH. For Muslims, Al-Hijra is more of a time for personal reflection than parties and celebrations. They think about how to leave behind the bad things from the previous year and move ahead to live a better life in the following year. It is, therefore, a time when people make new year resolutions. A recent trend during Al-Hijra is for people to exchange gifts and cards, although this has not spread throughout the Muslim world.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
celebrated by Muslims on the first
a.
Islamic New Years
2
the Islamic lunar year is
b.
of winter
3.
…in 2008, there were two
c.
11 to 12 days shorter
4.
in the middle
d.
the new year begins
5.
The exact date of the next Al-Hijra
e.
day of the first month
6.
Islamic countries tell their citizens when
f.
is not yet known
Paragraph 2
1.
…his followers moved
a.
for personal reflection
2
they set up the first
b.
the Muslim world
3.
Al-Hijra is more of a time
c.
behind the bad things
4.
think about how to leave
d.
Islamic state
5.
a time when people make
e.
from Mecca to Medina
6.
spread throughout
f.
new year resolutions
LISTENING GAP FILL
The Islamic New Year, Al-Hijra, _________________ Muslims on the first day of the first month in the Islamic Calendar. This month is called Muharram. The _________________ every year because the Islamic lunar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar (Western) year. _________________ 2008, there were two Islamic New Years – one on January 9th and another on December 29th. It also means that new year’s day for Muslims _________________ of winter or in the middle of summer. The exact date of the next Al-Hijra is not yet known. It is only predicted _________________ sighting of the new moon. Once that happens, governments in Islamic countries tell their citizens when the new year begins.
Al-Hijra _________________ Islamic prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers moved from Mecca to Medina, where they _________________ Islamic state. This happened in 622AD. Islamic years _________________ (After Hijra) which means the year 2008AD is the Islamic year 1429AH. For Muslims, Al-Hijra is _________________ personal reflection than parties and celebrations. They think about how to leave behind the bad things from the previous year and _________________ a better life in the following year. It is, therefore, a time when people make new year resolutions. A recent trend during Al-Hijra is for people to exchange gifts and cards, although _________________ throughout the Muslim world.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
The Islamic New Year, Al-Hijra, is __________ by Muslims on the first day of the first month in the Islamic Calendar. This month is __________ Muharram. The exact day changes every year because the Islamic lunar year is 11 to 12 days __________ than the solar (Western) year. This means that in 2008, there were two Islamic New Years – one on January 9th and __________ on December 29th. It also means that new year’s day for Muslims __________ be in the middle of winter or in the middle of summer. The __________ date of the next Al-Hijra is not __________ known. It is only predicted until there is a __________ of the new moon. Once that happens, governments in Islamic countries tell their citizens when the new year begins.
can shorter sighting exact another celebrated yet called
Al-Hijra is the __________ when the Islamic prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers __________ from Mecca to Medina, where they set up the first Islamic __________. This happened in 622AD. Islamic years use the suffix AH (After Hijra) which means the year 2008AD is the Islamic year 1429AH. For Muslims, Al-Hijra is __________ of a time for personal reflection than parties and celebrations. They think about how to __________ behind the bad things from the previous year and move __________ to live a better life in the following year. It is, therefore, a time when people make new year resolutions. A recent __________ during Al-Hijra is for people to exchange gifts and cards, although this has not __________ throughout the Muslim world.
moved trend leave time more ahead spread state
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
The Islamic New Year, Al-Hijra, is celebration / celebrated by Muslims on the first day of the first monthly / month in the Islamic Calendar. This month is called Muharram. The exact / exactly day changes every year because the Islamic lunar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar (Western) year. This means / meaning that in 2008, there were two Islamic New Years – one on January 9th and another / other on December 29th. It also means that new year’s day for Muslims can be in the middle of winter or / nor in the middle of summer. The exact date of the next Al-Hijra is not yet known. It is only prediction / predicted until there is a sighting / sightseeing of the new moon. Once that happens, governments in Islamic countries tell their citizens when the new year begins.
Al-Hijra is the timing / time when the Islamic prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers moved from Mecca to Medina, where they set / setting up the first Islamic state. This happened in 622AD. Islamic years uses / use the suffix AH (After Hijra) which means the year 2008AD is the Islamic year 1429AH. For Muslims, Al-Hijra is more / most of a time for personal reflection / mirror than parties and celebrations. They think about how to leave behind the bad things from the previous / upcoming year and move ahead to live a better life in the following year. It is, therefore, a time when people make new year resolutions. A recent trendy / trend during Al-Hijra is for people to exchange gifts and cards, although this has not spread / sped throughout the Muslim world.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
The Islamic New Year, Al-Hijra, is (1) ____ by Muslims on the first day of the first month in the Islamic Calendar. This month is (2) ____ Muharram. The exact day changes (3) ____ year because the Islamic lunar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar (Western) year. This means that in 2008, there were two Islamic New Years – one on January 9th and another on December 29th. It also (4) ____ that new year’s day for Muslims can be in the middle of winter or in the middle of summer. The (5) ____ date of the next Al-Hijra is not yet known. It is only predicted until there is a sighting of the new moon. Once that (6) ____, governments in Islamic countries tell their citizens when the new year begins.
Al-Hijra is the time when the Islamic prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his (7) ____ moved from Mecca to Medina, where they set up the first Islamic state. This happened in 622AD. Islamic (8) ____ use the suffix AH (After Hijra) which means the year 2008AD is the Islamic year 1429AH. For Muslims, Al-Hijra is (9) ____ of a time for personal reflection than parties and celebrations. They think about how to leave (10) ____ the bad things from the previous year and move ahead to live a better life in the following year. It is, therefore, a time when people make new year resolutions. A (11) ____ trend during Al-Hijra is for people to exchange gifts and cards, although this has not (12) ____ throughout the Muslim world.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
celebration
(b)
celebrating
(c)
celebrated
(d)
celebrates
2.
(a)
called
(b)
calling
(c)
caller
(d)
calls
3.
(a)
all
(b)
every
(c)
whole
(d)
few
4.
(a)
meaning
(b)
means
(c)
meanings
(d)
mean
5.
(a)
exactly
(b)
exactness
(c)
exacted
(d)
exact
6.
(a)
happening
(b)
happen
(c)
happened
(d)
happens
7.
(a)
followed
(b)
follow
(c)
followers
(d)
follows
8.
(a)
annual
(b)
years
(c)
yearly
(d)
annually
9.
(a)
most
(b)
much
(c)
many
(d)
more
10.
(a)
rear
(b)
reverse
(c)
behind
(d)
beyond
11.
(a)
recent
(b)
just
(c)
happened
(d)
now
12.
(a)
spread
(b)
rolled
(c)
soaked
(d)
covered
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
Al-Hijra, is etcaebedlr by Muslims
2.
The xacet day changes every
3.
11 to 12 days reothrs
4.
in the ldemid of summer
5.
a gsihtgin of the new moon
6.
governments in Islamic countries tell their eiisntzc
Paragraph 2
7.
his slelforwo moved from Mecca to Medina
8.
Islamic years use the xfsuif AH (After Hijra)
9.
a time for oprnaesl reflection
10.
leave behind the bad things from the veosprui year
11.
aceenghx gifts and cards
12.
reasdp throughout the Muslim world
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
of the new moon. Once that happens, governments in Islamic countries tell their citizens when the new year begins.
( )
is called Muharram. The exact day changes every year because the Islamic lunar year is 11 to 12 days shorter
( )
AH (After Hijra) which means the year 2008AD is the Islamic year 1429AH. For Muslims, Al-Hijra is more
( )
to Medina, where they set up the first Islamic state. This happened in 622AD. Islamic years use the suffix
( )
behind the bad things from the previous year and move ahead to live a better life in the following
( 1 )
The Islamic New Year, Al-Hijra, is celebrated by Muslims on the first day of the first month in the Islamic Calendar. This month
( )
than the solar (Western) year. This means that in 2008, there were two Islamic New Years – one on January 9th and
( )
of a time for personal reflection than parties and celebrations. They think about how to leave
( )
cards, although this has not spread throughout the Muslim world.
( )
another on December 29th. It also means that new year’s day for Muslims can be in the middle of winter or in the
( )
during Al-Hijra is for people to exchange gifts and
( )
Al-Hijra is the time when the Islamic prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers moved from Mecca
( )
middle of summer. The exact date of the next Al-Hijra is not yet known. It is only predicted until there is a sighting
( )
year. It is, therefore, a time when people make new year resolutions. A recent trend
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
by Muslims on the first day of the first month celebrated
2.
exact The year every changes day
3.
there Years were in two 2008 Islamic , New
4.
exact yet Al-Hijra next date known is of The not the
5.
the when citizens their tell begins year new
6.
moved Mecca Medina followers from to his
7.
use AH Hijra years suffix After Islamic the ( )
8.
is more of a time for personal reflection Al-Hijra
9.
things leave from behind the the previous bad year
10.
has this world Muslim the throughout spread not
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Islamic New Year. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Islamic New Year. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about Islamic New Year. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
