Summary
The Hijri calendar, also called the Islamic or Muslim calendar, is a lunar calendar based on the lunar cycle.
Each lunar month begins when the crescent moon (new moon) is sighted.
It was formalized after the Hijrah and introduced by Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab.
The calendar has 12 months, about 354 days in a lunar year—about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.
Muslims around the world use it to set religious events like Ramadan, Hajj, and Laylatul Qadr.
The Hijri calendar—also called the Islamic calendar, Muslim calendar, or lunar or Hijri calendar—helps Muslims know when to observe their holy days. It is a lunar calendar, which means it follows the lunar cycle instead of the sun.
Month Begins: Each new month starts when people spot the crescent moon in the sky.
New Moon: The very first sliver of moon after the new moon marks day one of the month.
Religious Purposes: This calendar is key for religious observances like fasting in Ramadan or going on the Hajj pilgrimage.
Civil Purposes: In many Muslim countries, it also marks the new year and other official dates.
Because the Hijri year is about 354 days, its dates move back roughly 11 days each year in comparison to the Gregorian calendar.
Before Islam, Arab tribes in the Arabian Peninsula used various agricultural calendars to track time. These calendars were often tied to planting seasons and weather.
Pre-Islamic Arabs: They watched the moon and stars but had no single, shared system.
Agricultural Calendars: Some groups added extra days—like “leap days”—to keep their months lined up with the seasons.
After the Hijrah (the Prophet’s migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE), the need for a unified calendar grew.
Islamic Calendar Is Based on the idea that time should link to Allah’s guidance, not just farming.
Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab chose the year of the Hijrah as the start of the Anno Hegirae (AH) era.
First Month: He named Muharram as month one, making it the first month of the Hijri year.
This system replaced older local calendars and became the official way to note significant events in Muslim history.
The Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar made up of twelve months that follow the lunar cycle. A lunar year has about 354 days, so it is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.
Islamic Months
Muharram
Safar
Rabi al-Awwal
Rabi al-Thani
Jumada al-Awwal
Jumada al-Thani
Rajab
Sha’ban
Ramadan
Shawwal
Dhu al-Qadah
Dhu al-Hijjah
Month Length
Each lunar month lasts either 29 or 30 days, depending on moon sightings.
Day one of a new month begins when observers spot the crescent moon after the new moon.
In some years, scholars add leap days to keep holidays from drifting too far across the seasons, though most Arab tribes did this only for agricultural calendars.
Year Count
Years are counted from the Hijrah (the Prophet Muhammad’s migration), called Anno Hegirae (AH).
The Hijri year moves through all seasons; for example, Ramadan can fall in July one decade and in January the next.
Many Muslim countries use the Hijri calendar for religious purposes, and some also use it for civil purposes like naming a new year.
Ramadan (9th month) is a holy month of fasting from dawn to sunset. It is one of the most sacred months in the Islamic year.
Shawwal (10th month) begins with Eid al-Fitr, a festival that ends the fast.
Dhu al-Hijjah (12th month) is the month of the pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca, one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
The first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah include Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice.
Al Isra’ wal Mi’raj (“Night Journey”) is widely believed to occur on the 27th night of Rajab (7th month).
Laylatul Qadr (“Night of Power”) occurs during the last ten nights of Ramadan, and many scholars recommend focusing worship then.
The Prophet’s birth in Rabi al-Awwal (3rd month) is also celebrated by Muslims around the world.
These Islamic calendar dates guide every religious event, from daily prayers to yearly festivals, and connect Muslims around the world through shared observances.
Each of the twelve months in the Hijri calendar has its own meaning and importance. Here are a few key ones:
Muharram (1st month) is one of the sacred months when fighting is forbidden.
Safar (2nd month) follows Muharram. While it has no major festivals, some Muslims reflect on lessons from the Prophet Muhammad’s early life.
Rabi al-Awwal (3rd month) is the month of the Prophet’s birth. Celebrations often include special prayers and learning about his teachings.
Rabi al-Thani (4th month) continues the themes of gratitude and following the Prophet’s example.
Jumada al-Awwal (5th month) and Jumada al-Thani (6th month) are times for community gatherings and spiritual renewal. Some recall the pre-Islamic Arabs’ use of lunar months for tracking time.
Rajab (7th month) is another sacred month; many remember Al Isra’ wal Mi’raj (the Night Journey) on the 27th night.
Sha’ban (8th month) is when the moon sightings begin to prepare for Ramadan.
Ramadan (9th month) is a holy month of fasting, prayer, and charity.
Shawwal (10th month) starts with Eid al-Fitr, celebrating the end of the fast.
Dhu al-Qadah (11th month) is a time of calm before the pilgrimage season.
Dhu al-Hijjah (12th month) is the month of Hajj, and it includes Eid al-Adha, remembering Prophet Abraham’s devotion.
These Islamic months tie together religious events, history, and community life for Muslims around the world.
The Hijri calendar is more than a way to count days—it is a guide for worship and a link to faith.
Connecting with Allah
By following the lunar cycle, believers see how Allah designed time.
Observing new month beginnings reminds Muslims of Allah’s signs in nature.
Marking Religious Observances
Dates like Ramadan, Hajj, and Laylatul Qadr are set by the Hijri calendar, so everyone fasts, prays, and gives charity together.
Celebrating Al Isra’ wal Mi’raj and the Prophet’s birth happens on the correct lunar month each year.
Honoring Islamic History
The calendar starts at the Hijrah, the Prophet’s move to Medina, showing the importance of his mission.
Every Hijri year reminds Muslims of their shared past and values, from pre-Islamic era lessons to the spread of Islam.
Fulfilling Religious Duties
Knowing the right dates ensures that obligations—like fasting in Ramadan or performing Hajj—are done at the right time.
It unites the global community, as all Muslims follow the same Islamic year for worship.
Through its structure and use, the Hijri calendar brings spiritual meaning to everyday life and keeps believers connected to their faith and to each other.
The Hijri calendar serves both religious purposes and civil purposes for Muslims around the world.
Determining Ramadan and Hajj
The calendar tells when Ramadan begins and ends, guiding the month-long fast.
It fixes the dates for Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, each year.
Setting Festival Dates
Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal) and Eid al-Adha (10 Dhu al-Hijjah) rely on the Hijri months.
Observances like Laylatul Qadr during Ramadan and Al Isra’ wal Mi’raj in Rajab use moon sightings to pick the exact night.
New Year Celebrations
The first day of Muharram marks the Islamic new year. Some countries hold public holidays or cultural events.
Official Documents and Contracts
In nations using the Islamic calendar officially, legal papers may cite the Anno Hegirae (AH) year.
Daily Life and Community Planning
Farmers, teachers, and businesses plan community events and school holidays around key Islamic months.
In rural areas, some still recall how pre-Islamic Arabs used lunar or agricultural calendars to time planting.
The Hijri calendar differs from both the Gregorian calendar and the Persian calendar in important ways.
Feature | Hijri Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Persian Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
Type | Lunar calendar | Solar calendar | Solar-lunar (tropical solar) |
Year Length | ~354 days (12 lunar months) | ~365 days (12 solar months) | ~365 days, leap years finely tuned |
Month Start | Crescent moon sightings | Fixed dates (Jan–Dec) | First day of spring (Nowruz) |
Drift vs. Seasons | Shifts ~11 days each year | Remains aligned with seasons | Remains aligned with seasons |
Main Use | Religious events (Ramadan, Hajj) | International civil use | Official calendar in Iran & Afghanistan |
Gregorian Calendar
Used globally for business, travel, and daily life.
Months are fixed in length; the year stays aligned with Earth’s orbit around the sun.
Persian Calendar
Also called the Solar Hijri calendar but is different from the lunar Hijri calendar.
Begins on the spring equinox, ensuring months stay in the same season each year.
Because the Hijri calendar depends on the lunar cycle, its dates—unlike those of the Gregorian or Persian calendars—move through all seasons over a 33-year cycle. This shifting nature keeps Muslim calendar events from falling in the same season each decade.
The Hijri calendar is more than dates—it shapes Islamic culture and identity for Muslims around the world.
Shared Rhythm
All Muslims observe Ramadan, Hajj, and Eid on the same lunar month, whether in Canada, the Arabian Peninsula, or beyond.
This shared timing builds a sense of unity across diverse cultures.
Festivals and Traditions
Celebrations like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha bring families together for prayers, feasts, and charity.
Local foods and customs vary, but the religious events remain tied to the Hijri year.
Link to the Prophet Muhammad
By counting years from the Hijrah, the Islamic year honors the Prophet’s move to Medina.
Remembering pre-Islamic era calendars and the calendar’s reform under Caliph Umar connects modern life to early Muslim calendar history.
Cultural Expressions
Poetry, songs, and art often reference lunar months like Rabi al-Awwal (the Prophet’s birth month) or Dhu al-Hijjah (pilgrimage month).
Building mosques and organizing processions during sacred months reflects deep respect for the Islamic calendar.
Learning the Hijri calendar teaches about Islamic history, science, and values.
Timeline of Events
Students learn when the Prophet’s birth, the Night Journey (Al Isra’ wal Mi’raj), and the Hijrah took place.
Placing these on a lunar calendar helps connect dates to stories and lessons.
Role of Scholars
Many scholars recommend focusing on the last nights of Ramadan (including Laylatul Qadr) for deeper study and worship.
Research into how lunar or Hijri calendar rules were set shows the care taken by early Muslim scholars.
Lunar Cycle in Nature
Spotting the crescent moon teaches about astronomy and the lunar cycle.
Comparing a lunar year (354 days) to a solar year (365 days) introduces calendar science.
Critical Thinking and Adaptation
Discussing why some agricultural calendars added leap days shows how societies adjust calendars to match seasons.
Comparing the Hijri calendar with the Gregorian and Persian calendars enhances understanding of different time-keeping systems.
The Hijri calendar—also known as the Islamic calendar, Muslim calendar, or lunar or Hijri calendar—is a special system based on the lunar cycle. From its roots in the pre-Islamic era to its formal start with the Hijrah, it has guided Muslims around the world for centuries.
It has twelve lunar months, each beginning with the crescent moon sighting.
Its 354-day lunar year shifts about 11 days earlier every Gregorian calendar year.
It sets the dates for key religious events like Ramadan, Hajj, Eid al-Fitr, and Laylatul Qadr.
Beyond worship, it shapes culture, education, and even civil purposes in many countries.
By marking time this way, the Hijri calendar links believers to Allah’s signs in nature, the life of the Prophet Muhammad, and a shared heritage that spans continents and generations. It remains an essential tool for observing religious observances, learning about Islamic history, and celebrating a global community of faith.
