Egypt s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail issued a decree on Saturday making 21 September a paid day off for both public and private sector workers on the occasion of the start of the Islamic new year 1439, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.
The first month of the year 1439 in the Islamic calendar is named Muhurram.
The Hijri calendar, which began in AD 622, is a lunar calendar that determines for Muslims around the globe the date of the holy month of Ramadan -- during which Muslims fast during daylight hours -- as well as the Hajj pilgrimage and Muslim festivals.
