Islamic calendar

Islamic months/ Hijri calendar

Name

Arabic

Meaning

Note

al-Muḥarram

ٱلْمُحَرَّم‎

forbidden

A sacred month, so called because battle and all kinds of fighting are forbidden (ḥarām) during this month. Muharram includes Ashura, the tenth day.

Ṣafar

صَفَر‎‎

void

Supposedly named this because pre-Islamic Arab houses were empty this time of year while their occupants gathered food.

Rabīʿ al-ʾAwwal

رَبِيع ٱلْأَوَّل‎‎‎

the first spring

Also a very holy month of celebration for many Muslims, as it was the month the Prophet Muhammad was born.

Rabīʿ ath-Thānī
or
Rabīʿ al-ʾĀkhir

رَبِيع ٱلثَّانِي

‎or

رَبِيع ٱلْآخِر‎‎‎‎

the second spring, the last spring

Jumadā al-ʾŪlā

جُمَادَىٰ ٱلْأُولَىٰ‎‎‎‎‎

the first of parched land

Jumādā may also be related to a verb meaning “to freeze” and another account relates that water would freeze during this time of year.

Jumādā ath-Thāniyah
or
Jumādā al-ʾĀkhirah

جُمَادَىٰ ٱلثَّانِيَة

or

جُمَادَىٰ ٱلْآخِرَة‎‎‎‎‎‎‎

the second of parched land, the last of parched land

Rajab

رَجَب‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎

respect, honour

This is the second sacred month in which fighting is forbidden. Rajab may also be related to a verb meaning “to remove”, so called because pre-Islamic Arabs would remove the heads of their spears and refrain from fighting.

Shaʿbān

شَعْبَان‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎

scattered

Marked the time of year when Arab tribes dispersed to find water. Sha‘bān may also be related to a verb meaning “to be in between two things”. Another account relates that it was called thus because the month lies between Rajab and Ramadan.

Ramaḍān

رَمَضَان‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎

burning heat

Burning is related to fasting as with an empty stomach one’s worldly desire will burn. Supposedly so called because of high temperatures caused by the excessive heat of the sun. Ramaḍān is the most venerated month of the Hijri calendar. During this time, Muslims must fast from pre-dawn until sunset and should give charity to the poor and needy.

Shawwāl

شَوَّال‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎

raised

Female camels would normally be in calf at this time of year and raise their tails. At the first day of this month, the Eid al-Fitr, “Festival of Breaking the Fast” begins, marking the end of fasting and the end of Ramadhan.

Ḏū al-Qaʿdah

ذُو ٱلْقَعْدَة‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎

the one of truce/sitting

This is a holy month during which war is banned. People are allowed to defend themselves if attacked.

Ḏū al-Ḥijjah

ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎

the one of pilgrimage

During this month Muslim pilgrims from all around the world congregate at Mecca to visit the Kaaba. The Hajj is performed on the eighth, ninth and the tenth of this month. Day of Arafah takes place on the ninth of the month. Eid al-Adha, the “Festival of the Sacrifice”, begins on the tenth day and ends on sunset of the twelfth, and this is a fourth holy month during which war is banned.