Saudi Arabia Sights Muharram Crescent Moon
If the moon is confirmed, it means Saudi Arabia will celebrate the first day of Hijri year tomorrow.
If not confirmed, the Hijri year will start on Friday.
Astronomers believe the beginning of the new year in the Gulf country will start on Thursday.
Unlike Saudi Arabia, analysts believe Morocco will celebrate the first day of Muharram on Friday.
UAE and many other countries are expected to announce Thursday as the first day of Muharram. Tags: moon sightingMuharramSaudi Arabia
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Morocco World
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Oldest Mosque, Golden Treasures: Sijilmassa Reveals 10 Centuries of History
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Treasures of Islamic art and gold coin production come to light These decorations, featuring finely crafted geometric, vegetal and epigraphic motifs, represent the oldest known Islamic art specimens in Morocco. The discovery showcases the artistic sophistication of early Islamic Morocco. The team found hundreds of painted wood fragments from the 18th century in the Alaouite madrasa ruins. These cedar pieces display vibrant polychrome and include evidence of gold leaf gilding (tadhhīb), providing the first material evidence of Alaouite architectural decoration at Sijilmassa. Long sought by archaeologists, evidence of monetary activity in Sijilmassa has finally emerged near the mosque. A 'honeycomb' ceramic mold for manufacturing gold coin blanks still contains gold residue in its cavities, confirming its use in producing the famous Sijilmassian dinars. 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Each house organizes around a central patio, with living quarters, storage spaces, and rich domestic furnishings, including dishware. These elements help reconstruct the daily life practices of the inhabitants. Archaeobotanical analysis of samples from these spaces identified remains of dates and other agricultural products, providing valuable insight into the residents' diet in a pre-Saharan context. The analysis lays bare important information about agricultural practices and food consumption patterns in this semi-arid region. The scale, state of preservation, and richness of data from this discovery provide the first material evidence of the ancient presence of Alaouite Chorafa in Sijilmassa. It opens a new chapter in the site's history, shedding light on a previously undocumented occupation phase essential to understanding the city's urban, social, and political evolution over time. Archaeological excavations conducted between 2024 and 2025 at Sijilmassa have uncovered exceptional discoveries that reshape our understanding of Morocco's medieval heritage. City of gold confirms its historical legacy The discovery allows researchers to better understand the territorial roots, population dynamics, and forms of daily life associated with the beginnings of the Alaouite dynasty. This contributes to a renewed reading of the history of Morocco's reigning dynasty. The results of these archaeological digs extend beyond the local context. They provide essential elements for understanding the history of settlement, art and trans-Saharan exchanges. The INSAP team's work brings historical texts to life through material evidence. The remains unshrouded in these recent campaigns evoke the city described in historical texts. Its mosque, madrasa, streets, houses, and workshops emerge once again from the sands, opening a new chapter in reading Sijilmassa's rich history. The discoveries from the 2024 and 2025 campaigns paint a comprehensive picture of this once-thriving desert metropolis, firmly positioning Sijilmassa as a key archaeological site within Morocco's shared African heritage. Tags: Alaouite DynastysijilmassaSijilmassa archeological site
Ya Biladi
27-06-2025
- Ya Biladi
Morocco announces start of Hijri year 1447 on Friday, June 27
The 1st of Muharram, marking the beginning of the new Hijri year 1447, will fall on Friday, June 27, in Morocco, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs announced on Thursday. In a statement, the ministry confirmed that the crescent moon marking the start of the month of Muharram was sighted at sunset on Thursday, 29 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 H, corresponding to June 26, 2025.
