The Story of AlHadi

It was Safar 1411 AH when the story began—with nothing more than a sheet of paper and a pen. Inspired by a sincere desire to serve the community, Shaikh Tawfiq bin Nasser Al-Buali set out to compile the prayer times for the month of Safar for the city of Al-Ahsa in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With the assistance of Amir Hasan Al-Mohammed Saleh, the prayer timetable was carefully organized, printed, and distributed throughout the community.


Within just a few months, the calendar had expanded to cover four major cities across Saudi Arabia. From that moment onward, it continued to grow and flourish, reflecting the saying, "Whatever is done sincerely for the sake of Allah continues to grow and endure." The impact of this blessed initiative gradually extended to 143 cities around the world, where monthly electronic calendars were published and printed copies were distributed in mosques, Hussainiyas, and community gatherings, until the launch of the AlHadi Prayer smartphone application, which became the finest continuation of this journey.


The numbers tell the story. Nearly 10 million printed copies of the calendar have been produced for the major cities of Saudi Arabia, including Al-Ahsa and its surrounding towns; a combined edition serving Dammam, Dhahran, Khobar, and Qatif; as well as dedicated editions for Jubail and Riyadh. In addition, electronic editions were published for these cities and many others around the world, where they were widely shared through social media platforms.


The electronic editions of the calendar were downloaded more than two million times between their launch on the Imam AlHadi Committee website in Shawwal 1429 AH and Jumada Al-Awwal 1443 AH. Meanwhile, the AlHadi Calendar webpage, established by Hassan Abdulhadi Al-Sabti, recorded more than 15 million visits since 1439 AH.


It is only fitting to recognize the dedicated efforts made under the direct guidance, supervision, and close oversight of Shaikh Tawfiq bin Nasser Al-Buali, from the very first printed calendar to what has evolved into today's AlHadi Prayer smartphone application.


That is how the story began... and this is the story we proudly share.

1411

Amir Hasan Al-Mohammed Saleh

Every month began with a familiar appointment—upon the confirmation of the Hilal. Once the prayer times for the entire month had been compiled, Shaikh Tawfiq would visit Amir at his home in the Al-Zuqayjan neighborhood of Al-Ahsa. After the warmth of a simple and generous welcome, Amir would take up a ruler and a pen, carefully drawing the calendar tables, arranging them with precision, and embellishing them with inspiring sayings and words of wisdom.

Those gatherings marked the beginning of a remarkable journey. What began as a humble effort gradually flourished into a lasting legacy of goodness and blessing by the grace of Allah. Shaikh Tawfiq would dictate each prayer time, while Amir patiently recorded every one of them by hand. The Al-Ahsa Calendar was the first edition, soon followed by a combined calendar serving Dammam, Dhahran, Khobar, and Qatif, together with dedicated editions for Jubail and Riyadh.

This blessed collaboration continued for four years, until the end of 1414 AH. Month after month, one would dictate the prayer times while the other carefully wrote them down, transforming numbers into a calendar that would serve an entire community. Their gatherings were filled with warm hospitality, careful craftsmanship, and sincere devotion, producing prayer timetables ready for printing and distribution.

May Allah grant you both the best and most abundant reward for every believer who, through this calendar, was guided to prepare for prayer and observe it at its proper time.

(Safar 1411 AH / August 1990 AD – Dhu al-Hijjah 1414 AH / May 1994 AD).

1415

The late Hajj Yaseen Abdulhamid Al-Baghli

The calendar inspired Hajj Yaseen, awakening in him a determination to develop it further and present it in a more refined and appealing format. The work began modestly at the beginning of 1415 AH, when the process consisted solely of entering prayer times into calendar tables.

Driven by a sincere desire to do good, Hajj Yaseen devoted himself to studying and understanding the astronomical equations used to calculate prayer times. He then programmed these calculations into a computer, gradually transforming the production of the calendar into an automated process that required only one manual step: selecting the day on which the Hilal was confirmed in accordance with Islamic criteria.

His dedication was extraordinary, and his achievement truly remarkable. Over a journey that continued until 1435 AH, spanning more than twenty years, his efforts culminated in a comprehensive software system capable of calculating prayer times for any city in the world based on its geographic coordinates. The program also calculates solar eclipses, lunar eclipses, and monthly Hilal information for any location.

In addition, it includes a wealth of valuable information, including the birth and martyrdom anniversaries of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), major monthly historical events, the solar calendar, stellar information, the Days of Scorpio and Mahaq and Kawamil days.  

By the grace of Allah alone, this tremendous work became the driving force behind the remarkable expansion of the calendar. It eventually grew to serve 143 cities around the world, following requests from residents who contacted Shaikh Tawfiq to obtain editions tailored specifically to their own cities.

Congratulations, Abu Ghassan, on all that you have devoted sincerely for the sake of Allah.

(Muharram 1415 AH / June 1994 AD – Rajab 1435 AH / April 2014 AD).

1415

Hasan Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Salam

When the calendar became an integral part of society and was issued on a monthly basis, Hasan was the one who pledged himself to sit down every month to prepare the monthly calendar and make ready for printing using the program founded by Yassin Al-Baghli. Tirelessly, Hasan made this effort for ten continuous years. So You shall be rewareded by Allah for such great efforts Hasan (Muharram 1415 / July 1994 to Dhu al-Hijjah 1424 / January 2005).

1415

The first text ads

The month is Ramadan Al-Khair for the year 1415 AH, when the first humble attempt to transform the calendar into an advertising medium began. In the photo library on the home page, you will find the first text ad posted on the back page of the calendar. This modest initiative lasted for several months, but ended as modestly as it began (February 1995).

1425

Shaikh Tawfiq

Shaikh Tawfiq

1428

Al-Duwail Forum

The credit was given to the owners of the Al-Duwail Forum in lifting up and transforming the calendar into a prestigious paper advertising medium for cities whose calendars are printed out. Where the calendar was re-produced and beautiful formats were introduced, and it changed monthly in a manner consistent with the main events of the month, which made it an attractive means for local advertisements, which was successfully managed by the owners of the forum. In the photo library on the home page, you can see one of the paper copies of the advertisements that were published with the calendar (Shawwal 1428/October 2007 to Dhul Qi’dah 1440/June 2019).

1429

Imam Al-Hadi Committee website

In the month of Shawwal for the year 1429 AH, the initiative to upload electronic copies of the calendar for (143) cities around the world began on the website of the Imam Al-Hadi Committee, peace be upon him, www.alhadi.ws. So it became the main destination for obtaining Al-Hadi calendar around the world. And until the month of Jumada al-Awwal for the year 1443 AH, the number of downloads for the electronic copies of the calendar reached more than two million times for all cities for which the calendar is issued. Behind this charitable work was Hasan Habib Al-Haddad for nearly fourteen years of relentless effort. Where he was uploading calendars on the site on a monthly basis for (143) cities around the world. May Allah reward you for that Hasan (Shawwal 1429/October 2008 to Jumada Al-Awwal 1443/December 2021).

1430

Adopting Al-Hadi Calendar Name

The name Al-Hadi Calendar was adopted in the month of Rabi` al-Akhar for the year 1430 AH, corresponding to March 2009.

1439

Hani Naser Al-Buali

Hani took the initiative to prepare the monthly calendar using the program that was done by Yassin Al-Baghly. Then, Hani sends the calendar for printing at the Al-Duwail Press, until the paper printing stopped and he continued to issue the electronic version of the calendar on a monthly basis. This effort and commitment extended for five years tirelessly. May Allah reward you on behalf of the community (Rabi Al-Awwal 1439 - November 2017).

1439

Hasan AbdulHadi Al-Sabti

The initiative was personal and smart when Hasan presented the www.sabti-h.com page to the community after preparing it to display AlHadi calendar with the addition of a countdown to the next prayer and a prominent display of the time of the next prayer. It was a trial work by Hasan, but in a few months it turned into a central and important page that many rely on to know prayer times. Allah has ordained for her a great fortune of success and repayment, as the number of visits to his page reached more than (15) million visits from the year 1439 AH to the time of writing these lines. The zakat of your knowledge, Hasan, was great, and we ask Allah Almighty to perpetuate your success (Rabee Awwal 1439 / November 2017).


1440

Yousif & Adam

Yousif & Adam

1441

stop paper

stop paper

1441

Mohammad Albahrani

Mohammad Albahrani

1441

Sami Albaghli

Sami Albaghli

1442

First app Android

First app Android

1443

2nd app launch

2nd app launch

1444

AlHadi webpage

AlHadi webpage

1447

A New Identity… The Same Enduring Message

In Ramadan 1447 AH, we launched our new identity under the slogan: A New Identity… The Same Enduring Message.

A step forward in our journey of continuous development and a renewed commitment to our mission.

أحمد ابن الشيخ توفيق البوعلي

أطربَت مسامعه حكايات والده بكل حب وعاطفة عن تقويم الهادي وتطوره خلال السنين والجهود المبذولة فيه. فتراءى له في مُحيّا والده الباسم وحَدَقَة عينه إرثاً عظيماً وكياناً شامخاً قدمه والده للمجتمع خلال هذه السنين. فقدم الولد لوالده فكراً جديد وعملاً دؤوباً وتكريس لقدراته ومهاراته في تأسيس وإطلاق تطبيقي الهادي في نسختيه الأولى والثانية ليكون امتداداً لتقويم الهادي ، هذا الإرث العظيم والكيان الشامخ الذي بذره والده منذ أكثر من ثلاثين سنة فأصبح المجتمع يقطف من ثماره خلال السنين سائلاً من الله أن يتقبل منه هذا الجهد كقليلٍ من بر الوالدين في صحيفة أعماله.

 

وفي الختام ، نذكر أسماء ممن قدم جهود في خدمة التقويم وهم علي حسن علي المطوع و المرحوم المهندس حسين أحمد الحمراني أو ساعد في نشر وتوزيع التقويم وهم حسن حبيب الحداد و يوسف حسين الهلال والمرحوم آدم علي المبارك ويوسف أحمد البراهيم وعلي أحمد العشوان. سائلين من الله لجميع هذه الجهود التوفيق والقبول.