Islamic Calendar – Barakah Bounty

How the Islamic calendar works

The Islamic calendar has twelve months. Allah says the number of months with Him is twelve, and four of them are sacred.Reference: Qur’an 9:36. The Prophet ﷺ also named the four sacred months in Sahih al-Bukhari 4662.
It follows the moon, not the solar year. The phases of the moon are used as markers of time for people and for Hajj.Reference: Qur’an 2:189 says the new moons are measurements of time for people and for Hajj.
A lunar month is usually 29 or 30 days. If the crescent is seen, the new month begins. If it is not seen because the sky is covered, the month is completed as thirty days.Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1906 and Sahih Muslim 1081b mention beginning and ending Ramadan by sighting the crescent, and completing thirty days when it is cloudy.
The Islamic date begins after sunset in religious practice. This is why Muslims look for the crescent after Maghrib and why the night of Eid, Ramadan nights, and blessed nights are counted before the following daylight hours.Reference: The moon-sighting rule is tied to the appearance of the crescent after sunset; Qur’an 2:189 and the crescent-sighting hadith explain the calendar marker.
The Islamic year is shorter than the solar year. Because it follows lunar months, Ramadan, Hajj days, Muharram, and other sacred times move through different seasons over the years.Reference: The Sunnah mentions lunar months as 29 or 30 days, such as Sahih Muslim 1080h. This is why the Hijri year does not stay fixed to one season.

The twelve Islamic months chart

No.	Month	Status	What readers should know
1	Muharram	Sacred month	The first month of the Hijri year. It includes Ashura, which will be covered in its own page.Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 4662 names Muharram as one of the four sacred months.
2	Safar	Regular month	Safar is not an unlucky month. Muslims do not believe months harm or benefit by themselves.Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5757 rejects omens and harmful superstition attached to Safar.
3	Rabi al-Awwal	Regular month	A month in the Hijri calendar. Love for the Prophet ﷺ is shown by following him throughout the year, not only through calendar emotion.Reference: Qur’an 3:31 teaches that love of Allah is shown by following the Messenger ﷺ.
4	Rabi al-Thani	Regular month	No special universal worship is fixed for this month by Qur’an or authentic hadith. Keep worship steady and sincere.Reference: General worship is commanded throughout life; Qur’an 15:99 commands worship until certainty comes.
5	Jumada al-Ula	Regular month	A normal month for salah, Qur’an, charity, family ties, and repentance without inventing a special ritual for it.Reference: Qur’an 16:97 promises a good life and reward for believers who do righteous deeds.
6	Jumada al-Akhirah	Regular month	A normal month. The believer’s calendar should not become empty just because a month has no famous public event.Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6465 teaches that the most beloved deeds to Allah are those done regularly, even if small.
7	Rajab	Sacred month	One of the four sacred months. Respect it by avoiding sin and increasing obedience, but do not invent fixed Rajab-only worship without proof.Reference: Qur’an 9:36 mentions four sacred months; Sahih al-Bukhari 4662 names Rajab as one of them.
8	Sha‘ban	Preparation month	The Prophet ﷺ fasted much in Sha‘ban. It prepares the heart before Ramadan.Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1969 mentions that the Prophet ﷺ fasted much in Sha‘ban.
9	Ramadan	Fasting month	The month of obligatory fasting and the Qur’an. This will be covered in the next page.Reference: Qur’an 2:185 mentions Ramadan, the Qur’an, and fasting.
10	Shawwal	Eid al-Fitr and voluntary fasting	Begins with Eid al-Fitr. Six voluntary fasts of Shawwal have a special virtue after Ramadan.Reference: Sahih Muslim 1164a mentions the virtue of fasting Ramadan followed by six days of Shawwal.
11	Dhul Qa‘dah	Sacred month	One of the three consecutive sacred months before Dhul Hijjah and Muharram.Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 4662 names Dhul Qa‘dah as one of the sacred months.
12	Dhul Hijjah	Sacred month	The month of Hajj, the first ten days, Arafah, and Eid al-Adha. This will be covered in detail later.Reference: Qur’an 22:27-28 mentions Hajj and appointed days; Sahih al-Bukhari 4662 names Dhul Hijjah as a sacred month.

Quick reading tip: Ramadan is extremely blessed, but it is not one of the four sacred months named in the sacred-month hadith. It has its own special rank because fasting and the Qur’an are connected to it.

Four sacred months chart

Sacred month	Position	Why it matters
Muharram	1st month	Sacred month and includes Ashura. Avoid injustice and sin with even greater care.Reference: Qur’an 9:36 says not to wrong yourselves in the sacred months; Sahih al-Bukhari 4662 names Muharram.
Rajab	7th month	The separate sacred month, between Jumada and Sha‘ban. Respect it without inventing rituals.Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 4662 names Rajab Mudar and places it between Jumada and Sha‘ban.
Dhul Qa‘dah	11th month	The first of three sacred months in a row, leading into the Hajj season.Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 4662 names Dhul Qa‘dah as one of the three consecutive sacred months.
Dhul Hijjah	12th month	Sacred month of Hajj, the first ten days, Arafah, and Eid al-Adha.Reference: Qur’an 22:27-28 mentions Hajj and appointed days; Sahih al-Bukhari 4662 names Dhul Hijjah.

Islamic calendar quick comparison chart

Point	Islamic lunar calendar	Common solar calendar
Month marker	Crescent moon and lunar cycle.Reference: Qur’an 2:189.	Based on the solar year and fixed civil months.
Month length	29 or 30 days.Reference: Sahih Muslim 1080h and Sahih Muslim 1081b.	Usually 30 or 31 days, with February as an exception.
Year length	About 354 or 355 days.	About 365 days.
Worship dates	Ramadan, Eid, Hajj, Ashura, and voluntary fasts follow lunar dates.Reference: Qur’an 2:185 for Ramadan; Qur’an 2:189 for moon phases as time markers for people and Hajj.	Useful for civil planning, school, work, seasons, and public records.
Season movement	Islamic months move through summer, winter, spring, and monsoon across years.	Months remain tied to the same seasons in most countries.

Common calendar mistakes to avoid

Do not treat Safar as unlucky. No month controls harm or benefit by itself.Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5757 rejects harmful superstition attached to Safar.
Do not say Ramadan is one of the four sacred months. Ramadan is blessed and unique, but the four sacred months are Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qa‘dah, and Dhul Hijjah.Reference: Qur’an 9:36 mentions four sacred months; Sahih al-Bukhari 4662 names them.
Do not invent fixed worship for every month. General worship is always good, but a specific date, prayer, fast, or ritual needs evidence.Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 2697 warns against introducing into religion what is not from it.
Do not fight over calendar differences harshly. Communities may differ because moon sighting and official confirmation can differ by place and authority. Keep adab and follow reliable local guidance.
Do not blame time. Days and months do not control destiny. Allah controls time, events, tests, and relief.Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 4826 and Sahih Muslim 2246 warn against abusing time.