Rites and Beliefs Connected with the Muhammadan Calendar

Muḥarram, the first month of the Muhammadan year, is in Morocco called š-šhar dĕ l-âšˉůr (l-âšōr, l-‘âšˉůr), “the month of the ‘šˉůr”, or simply l-’âšˉůr (l-âšōr, l-âšūr) or, among the Berbers, by some Berberised form of the same word. It has derived this name from the feast on the tenth day of the month. This day, called nhār (or yåum) ‘āšˆůra (‘āšôra, ‘āšûra) or nhār l-‘āšˉůr, is practically the Muhammadan New Year’s day. Much less notice is taken of the first day of the month; but from a ritual point of view the first ten days sometimes form a period by itself. Townspeople call the first day rās l-‘ām, ¹ whereas among countryfolks this term is used for the first day of the solar year.