Saudi Arabia finally adopted the Gregorian calendar, the era to the "21st century"

ByNicolas Raymond

It is widely used in Christian era in Japan as well as Japanese calendar, orGregorian calendarIs also beginning to be used in Saudi Arabia, a major country in the Islamic region.

Saudi Arabia adopts the Gregorian calendar | The Economist
http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21711938-hauling-saudi-arabia-21st-century-saudi-arabia-adopts-gregorian

It is said that in fact spring led Saudi Arabia in the spring of 2016Muhammad Bin SalmanAs a part of his own economic reform plan "Vision 2030", Vice Crown Prince decides to use the calendar law in the countryHijra calendarTo the Gregorian calendar. This sets the year to 354 daysLunar calendarFrom 'one year 365 days' adopted by many countries in the worldsolar calendarAt the same time, it means the transition from the calendar used in the Islamic society to the Christian-centered calendar.

It was supposed to be named "Vision 1451" when expressed in the Hijra calendar, the plan named "Vision 2030" based on the Christian era has become a reform plan to rebuild the economy of Saudi Arabia dependent on petroleum, It has become a big project with the survival of the future of the nation. Muhammad deputy crown prince is strengthening ties with countries all over the world, and in September 2016, he visits Japan and has a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. At this time, the Vice Crown Prince is visiting Japan with a large amount of government-dedicated aircraft, which is said to have 12 aircraft, and from that scale "Truly Saudi Arabia"Surprised the peopleIt is also a new place to remember.

Meeting with Prime Minister Abe and Muhammad Bin Salman Saudi Vice Crown Prince | MOFA


Compared with the Gregorian calendar with one year as 365 days, the Hijra calendar with 354 days as one year has fewer days of the year than eleven days, causing problems with the Gregorian calendar in various ways. Also, because the seasons and dates that arise from the movement of the sun do not match, problems also arise in farming. Therefore, in fact, even in Islamic areas there are countries that adopt the Gregorian calendar, as well as the solar calendar that puts the AD in the first year of the Hijras calendarHijra sun calendarSome countries will adopt the Iranian calendar.

Still, from the Muslims in the country, voices of confusion are raised. Is a member of Islamic fundamentalismWahab factionEven though it says that the question "Is it throwing away the prophet Muhammad and obeying Jesus (· Christ)"? Also, in a trial judging a religious heretic, it is said that the judgment has been passed by the conventional Hijra calendar even after changing the calendar law.

In addition, there are voices of confusion among government officials as much as religious people. Initially, this measure had a hue of a reduction in revenue due to a decline in crude oil prices and cost reduction measures by the government to counter military expenses to counter Yemen in the neighboring country, and bonuses that were supposed to be paid to civil servants as a result of a change in calendar law It has been canceled and other benefits are also reduced. Furthermore, as the calendar changed, the fact that the number of days worked in a year increased by 11 days also means that it hurts the conventional people.

ByAl Jazeera English

It can be said that it is an unavoidable measure to keep pace with other countries, especially developed countries, but it is quite easy for the local people who live up to now to change to the Gregorian calendar It does not seem to be said. Besides this, Iran which adopts the Iranian calendar, Kurdistan which uses the Kurdish calendar, Israel which adopts the Jewish calendar etc. exist in the world, and 2016 is "Iran calendar 1395", "Kurdo calendar 2628" It is "Jewish Calendar 5776". Also, using Thai solar calendar (Buddhist calendar), Thailand of "Buddhist calendar 2559" and Japan using "Heisei 28 years" can be one of those friends.