Islamic New Year in Mauritania
Mauritania’s 1992 law lists Mouharram among the country’s legal holidays and says these holidays are non-working and paid.[1] The day falls on the first day of Muharram, the opening month of the Islamic calendar; its Gregorian date shifts because that calendar follows lunar months.[3]
Legal status and time off
Mauritania’s Law 92.018 names Mouharram as a legal holiday. It says legal holidays are non-working and paid, establishing the holiday’s status in national law.[1]
The same law allows the president, by decree, to declare additional days or parts of days as holidays and non-working in particular circumstances. It says the decree will specify whether that time off is to be made up or exceptionally paid. The text does not set an automatic substitute day when a listed holiday falls on a weekly rest day.[1]
Why Muharram begins the year
Muharram is the first month of the Hijri calendar, whose era commemorates the migration of the Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina. The Metropolitan Museum of Art describes the migration, known as the Hijra, as the event that marks year one of the Islamic calendar.[2]
The Islamic calendar has twelve lunar months and no intercalation to keep it aligned with the seasons. As a result, its months move through the Gregorian year over time. For religious purposes, months begin in principle with the first sighting of the lunar crescent, though countries and authorities can differ in how they determine a new month.[3]
Observance and practical planning
Mauritania’s holiday law establishes the day off but does not describe prayers, public ceremonies, customary meals or regional traditions for Islamic New Year.[1] Avoid assuming there are particular gatherings or foods.
For residents and visitors, the clearest practical point is the statutory non-working, paid status. Check with the relevant office or provider before making an appointment or travel plan.[1]
Frequently asked questions
Is Islamic New Year a public holiday in Mauritania?
Yes. Mauritania’s law lists Mouharram as a legal holiday and says legal holidays are non-working and paid.[1]
When does it take place?
Will shops, banks and transport be open?
Check directly with the shop, bank or transport provider before visiting or travelling.[1]
Is there an automatic substitute day if it falls on a rest day?
The law allows additional holidays by decree in particular circumstances, with the decree setting whether time off is made up or exceptionally paid. It sets no automatic substitute-day rule for Mouharram.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Islamic New Year in Mauritania:
- LOI 92.018 DU 7 DÉCEMBRE 1992 FIXANTLES FÊTES LÉGALES EN MAURITANIE- Ministère de la Fonction Publique et du Travail
- Islam and religious art: Unit 1, The Hijra- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Calendars and their History- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center