The Establishment of the Ummul Qura Calendar as An Effort To Unify the Global Islamic Calendar

Abstract

A calendar is a unit of time consisting of months and days. Calendar has a function to determine the day, month, year or phenomenon of something. Calendars also serve to limit time and as a means of coordinating time. The calendar cannot stand alone, but the calendar is related to civilization and culture. This research will discuss the Ummul Qura calendar made by the Saudi Arabian government. The Ummul Qura calendar is one of the calendars made in an effort to declare the global Islamic calendar. This calendar was prepared by the Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics under the auspices of a research institute engaged in astronomy and geography called King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). The calendar is based on modern astronomical theories regarding the sun and moon. This study aimed to see the feasibility level of the Ummul Qura calendar as a global Islamic calendar. The results of this study show that the Ummul Qura calendar as a whole can only be used for civil purposes, not to be used as a determination of the beginning of the new month.