Hijri Calendar

The Hijri lunar Calendar.

Above dates are approximate because each month is established by the sighting of the new moon

The Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) emigrated from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution by the various tribes of the Quraish. This occurred in the year 622 of the Common Era (CE) and this emigration marks the beginning of the Islamic Calendar, also known as the Hijri (H) Calendar. All months of the Hijri calendar begin with the sighting of the new moon and it is based on 12 months. The lunar calendar is shorter than the Gregorian calendar which based on the sun. The months are as follows:

  • Muḥarram
  • Ṣafar
  • Rabīʿ al-Awwal
  • Rabīʿ al-Thānī
  • Jumādā al-Awwal
  • Jumādā al-Thānī
  • Rajab
  • Shaʿbān
  • Ramaḍān (the month of fasting)
  • Shawwāl
  • Dhū al-Qaʿdah
  • Dhū al-Ḥijjah

There are only 2 celebrations in the Islamic Calendar. They are:

  1. Shawwal- 1st day: Eid ul Fitr. “The Little Eid” concludes the month of fasting of Ramadan
  2. Dhu al-Hijjah- 10th day: Eid ul Adha. “The Big Eid” known as the Feast of Sacrifice which commemorates willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (as) to sacrifice his son.

There are other important days in the Calendar. Though they are not considered Eid days (day of festival/holiday), they are times of observance, fasting, or gaining reward through good deeds.

  • Every Friday: Jumuah
  • Sha’ban- whole month: An opportunity to prepare for Ramadan fasting. “The Messenger (saws) used to fast until we thought he would never break his fast, and not fast until we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allah fasting for an entire month except in Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more than he did in Sha’ban.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim).
  • Rajab- 27th: Laylat al-Mi’raj (Isra and Mi’raj). Marks the night that Allah (swt) took Prophet Mohammad (saw) in body and soul, on a journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and then to the 7 Heavens.
  • Ramadan- Last 10 nights: Laylat-al-Qadr (night of power). This night is better than a thousand months. It’s exact date is unknown but we are to seek the reward of it in the last 10 nights of Ramadan.
  • Dhu al-Hijjah- First 10 days. Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There are no days greater in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during this time recite a great deal of Tahlil (saying: ‘there is no god but Allah’), Takbir and Tahmid. (Reported by Ahmad)
    • Dhu al-Hijjah- 9th day: Day of Arafah (day before Eid al-Adha). It is the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage. Prophet Muhammad (saw) gave one of his last famous sermons in the final year of his life. Muslims hold that part of the Qur’anic verse announcing that the religion of Islam had been perfected was revealed on this day.

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