The 12 Months of the Islamic Calendar

Twelve lunar months, each beginning with the new crescent moon. "Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve … of these, four are sacred" (Quran 9:36).

12Lunar months

29–30Days in a month

354–355Days in a year

4Sacred months

1 Muharram محرم Forbidden, sacred · Sacred month The first month of the Islamic year and one of the four sacred months. 1Islamic New Year 10Day of Ashura Tue 16 Jun 2026 – Tue 14 Jul 2026 29 days 2 Safar صفر Empty, void The second month, traditionally named after homes left empty as people travelled. Wed 15 Jul 2026 – Thu 13 Aug 2026 30 days 3 Rabi al-Awwal ربيع الأول The first spring The month of the Prophet Muhammad's birth, migration to Madinah and passing. 12Mawlid al-Nabi Fri 14 Aug 2026 – Fri 11 Sep 2026 29 days 4 Rabi al-Thani ربيع الآخر The second spring The second of the two spring months, also called Rabi al-Akhir. Sat 12 Sep 2026 – Sun 11 Oct 2026 30 days 5 Now Jumada al-Ula جمادى الأولى The first month of dryness The fifth month, named after the dry or frozen season it once fell in. Mon 12 Oct 2026 – Tue 10 Nov 2026 30 days 6 Jumada al-Akhirah جمادى الآخرة The last month of dryness The sixth month, closing the first half of the Hijri year. Wed 11 Nov 2026 – Wed 9 Dec 2026 29 days 7 Rajab رجب To respect, to honour · Sacred month A sacred month, traditionally associated with the Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj). 1Start of Rajab (Sacred Month) 27Isra and Mi'raj Thu 10 Dec 2026 – Fri 8 Jan 2027 30 days 8 Sha'ban شعبان Scattered, dispersed The month before Ramadan, in which the Prophet ﷺ fasted more than in any other voluntary month. 15Mid-Sha'ban (Laylat al-Bara'ah) Sat 9 Jan 2027 – Sun 7 Feb 2027 30 days 9 Ramadan رمضان Scorching heat The month of fasting, in which the revelation of the Quran began. 1First Day of Ramadan 17Battle of Badr Anniversary 21Last Ten Days of Ramadan Begin +2 more Mon 8 Feb 2027 – Mon 8 Mar 2027 29 days 10 Shawwal شوال Lifted, raised The month of Eid al-Fitr and the six voluntary fasts of Shawwal. 1Eid al-Fitr Tue 9 Mar 2027 – Wed 7 Apr 2027 30 days 11 Dhu al-Qi'dah ذو القعدة The month of sitting, of truce · Sacred month A sacred month in which pilgrims travel towards Makkah for Hajj. Thu 8 Apr 2027 – Thu 6 May 2027 29 days 12 Dhu al-Hijjah ذو الحجة The month of pilgrimage · Sacred month The month of Hajj, the Day of Arafah and Eid al-Adha. 1First Ten Days of Dhu al-Hijjah Begin 8Day of Tarwiyah (Hajj Begins) 9Day of Arafah +1 more Fri 7 May 2027 – Sat 5 Jun 2027 30 days

Where the Month Names Come From

The month names come from pre-Islamic Arabia, when they were tied to the seasons ("spring", "dryness", "scorching heat"). Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, each month now moves through every season in about 33 years. The four sacred months are Muharram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qi'dah and Dhu al-Hijjah.

How a New Islamic Month Begins

Traditionally a month begins at sunset on the 29th day if the new crescent (hilal) is seen; otherwise the month is completed to 30 days. Saudi Arabia's Umm al-Qura calendar instead fixes each month in advance from astronomical data, and is used here. Countries that rely on an actual sighting, locally or abroad, can therefore start a month one day later. Learn more in how the new crescent moon is sighted and the Umm al-Qura calendar explained.