The 12 Islamic Months Explained
The Hijri year consists of twelve lunar months, each lasting 29 or 30 days depending on the moon cycle. Four of them — Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qadah, and Dhul Hijjah — are known as the sacred months. Below is a short guide to each month and the occasions commonly observed in it. You can see where today falls on the Hijri calendar.
1. Muharram
The first month of the Hijri year and one of the four sacred months. The Islamic New Year falls on 1 Muharram, and the Day of Ashura on 10 Muharram is widely observed with voluntary fasting.
2. Safar
The second month. No specific major observance is prescribed in Safar; it is an ordinary month for worship and work.
3. Rabi al-Awwal
The third month, historically significant as the month of the Prophet Muhammad's birth. Many communities commemorate the Mawlid on 12 Rabi al-Awwal, though practice varies by region and tradition.
4. Rabi al-Thani
The fourth month, also called Rabi al-Akhir. An ordinary month with no prescribed major occasion.
5. Jumada al-Awwal
The fifth month, originally named after the dry season in pre-Islamic Arabia.
6. Jumada al-Thani
The sixth month, also called Jumada al-Akhirah, completing the first half of the Hijri year.
7. Rajab
The seventh month and one of the sacred months. The Isra and Mi'raj — the night journey of the Prophet — is commonly commemorated on 27 Rajab in many communities.
8. Sha'ban
The eighth month, directly before Ramadan. The Prophet is reported to have fasted frequently in Sha'ban, and the middle night (Nisfu Sha'ban) is observed in many regions. Muslims often use this month to prepare for Ramadan.
9. Ramadan
The ninth and most well-known month: the month of obligatory fasting from dawn to sunset. The Quran was first revealed in Ramadan, and Laylat al-Qadr — the Night of Decree, better than a thousand months — is sought in the odd nights of the last ten days. Accurate Fajr and Maghrib times matter most in this month, since they mark the start and end of each fasting day.
10. Shawwal
The tenth month begins with Eid al-Fitr on 1 Shawwal, celebrating the end of Ramadan. Many Muslims also fast six voluntary days during Shawwal.
11. Dhul Qadah
The eleventh month and a sacred month, traditionally a month of truce in which fighting was forbidden.
12. Dhul Hijjah
The twelfth and final month, and a sacred month. The Hajj pilgrimage takes place in its first ten days: the Day of Arafah falls on 9 Dhul Hijjah, followed by Eid al-Adha on 10 Dhul Hijjah and the days of Tashreeq on 11–13 Dhul Hijjah. The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are considered among the best days of the year for good deeds.
A Note on Dates
Because Hijri months depend on the moon, the exact Gregorian date of each occasion differs from year to year and can vary by a day between countries. Check the calendar page for the current month, and follow your local religious authority for official observance dates.