In Islamic history, which year is traditionally regarded as the first year of the Muslim calendar (Hijri calendar)?

Introduction / Context:
Calendars often begin from an event that has deep religious, political, or cultural significance for a community. The Muslim calendar, also called the Hijri calendar, is a lunar calendar used to date important events in Islamic history and religious observances. Knowing which year marks the starting point of this calendar helps students connect historical events with the way time is measured in different traditions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for the year that is considered the first year of the Muslim or Hijri calendar.
• Options include AD 622, AD 671, AD 571, and AD 651.
• We assume knowledge that the calendar begins with an important event in the life of Prophet Muhammad and the early Muslim community.
• The correct answer should match the year of that event.

Concept / Approach:
The Muslim Hijri calendar begins from the year of the Hijra, which was the migration of Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina (then called Yathrib). This move marked the formation of the first organised Muslim community and is seen as the starting point of Islamic society and governance. The Hijra took place in AD 622. The year AD 571 is often cited as the year of the Prophet's birth, not the start of the calendar. The years AD 651 and AD 671 are associated with later events in early Islamic history, not with the beginning of the calendar itself. Hence, the first year of the Muslim calendar is AD 622.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Muslim calendar is called the Hijri calendar, named after the event of the Hijra. Step 2: Identify the Hijra as the migration from Mecca to Medina that established the first Islamic state. Step 3: Remember that this migration took place in AD 622. Step 4: Recognise that AD 571 refers to the Prophet's birth and that AD 651 and AD 671 are later dates. Step 5: Select AD 622 as the year that marks the first year of the Muslim calendar.

Verification / Alternative check:
Islamic history references and basic religious instruction commonly state that the year of the Hijra in AD 622 is taken as year one of the Hijri calendar. Dates in this calendar are often written with the suffix AH, meaning "after Hijra". No standard source places the start of the calendar at the Prophet's birth or at later dates, which confirms that AD 622 is correct. This alignment across historical and religious texts supports the chosen answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
AD 571 is significant as the approximate year of the Prophet Muhammad's birth, but the calendar does not begin from this event. AD 651 and AD 671 fall well after the establishment of the Muslim community and are associated with later caliphs and events in the Islamic world. Neither of these years is used as the starting point of the Hijri calendar. Therefore, options B, C, and D do not match the well established tradition regarding the first year of the Muslim calendar.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse the year of the Prophet's birth with the year chosen as the calendar starting point and mistakenly select AD 571. Others might guess a later year without remembering the specific significance of the Hijra. Keeping in mind that the calendar is named after the migration and that this migration occurred in AD 622 helps avoid these errors and ensures a correct answer.

Final Answer:
The first year of the Muslim Hijri calendar is traditionally regarded as AD 622, the year of the Hijra from Mecca to Medina.