Blog
Guides to the Hijri calendar, the Islamic months, moon sighting, Ramadan, prayer times and the Hijri–Gregorian calendar.
The Four Sacred Months in Islam
Muharram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qi'dah and Dhu al-Hijjah are the four sacred months. What the Quran and Sunnah say about them and why they matter.
Read more →Why Ramadan Comes 11 Days Earlier Every Year
Ramadan moves through all four seasons in about 33 years. The arithmetic behind it, what it means for fasting hours, and the years with two Ramadans.
Read more →How to Convert Hijri Dates to Gregorian (and Back)
Quick approximations, the Julian Day Number method used by converters, and why a converted Hijri date can be one day off from the date you see in your country.
Read more →How to Find the Qibla Direction
The qibla is the direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah. How the direction is calculated on a sphere, why it is not a straight line on a flat map, and how to check it with the sun.
Read more →How Prayer Times Are Calculated: Angles, Methods and the Asr Schools
Each of the five daily prayers is tied to the sun's position. How Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha are calculated, why methods use different angles, and the Hanafi Asr.
Read more →The Solar Hijri (Shamsi) Calendar Explained
The Solar Hijri calendar counts years from the Hijra but follows the sun, beginning at the March equinox with Nowruz. Its months, leap years and how it differs from the lunar Hijri calendar.
Read more →Hijri vs Gregorian Calendar: The Key Differences
Lunar months versus solar months, 354 versus 365 days, a year counted from 622 versus year 1: the main differences between the Islamic and Gregorian calendars.
Read more →Why Islamic Dates Differ Between Countries
Ramadan and Eid often begin on different days in different countries. The reasons: sighting versus calculation, local versus global sighting, and the geography of the crescent.
Read more →The Umm al-Qura Calendar Explained
The Umm al-Qura calendar is Saudi Arabia's official calculated Hijri calendar. How its months are fixed, how it differs from sighting, and why HijriTime uses it.
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