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
the second spring, the last spring
Jumadā al-ʾŪlā
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
the second of parched land, the last of parched land
Rajab
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
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
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
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
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
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.