What is "hilal"

Hilal \Hi"lal\, a. Of or pertaining to a hilum.

Etymology 1 a. Of or pertaining to a hilum. Etymology 2

n. The crescent moon, used in determining the start and end of Islamic months in the Hijri calendar.

Hilal ( hilāl) is an Arabic term, first developed in pre-Islamic Arabia, meaning crescent moon specifically, the very slender crescent moon that is first visible after a new moon. Muslims look for the hilal when determining the beginning and end of Islamic months, but do not worship it. The need to determine the precise time of the appearance of the hilal was one of the inducements for Muslim scholars to study astronomy.

The Quran says: "And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if you (really) worship Him." ( sura 41 (Fussilat) 37). In another verse, “They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say, ‘They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj.’” ( sura 2 (al-Baqara) 189)

Hilal Is a masculine given name in the Arab world and in Muslim majority countries. Hilal or Al Hilal (Arabic الهلال 'the crescent') may also refer to:

Hilal is a station on the İzmir Metro. It is located at the famous Hilal Junction on the site of the former Hilal railway station, that was demolished in 2002.

Category:İzmir Metro Category:Railway stations opened in 2000