The Islamic year
The twelve Hijri months
The Islamic calendar is lunar: twelve months of 29 or 30 days, about eleven days shorter than the Gregorian year. Four of the months are sacred. Each guide below covers a month's name, meaning, and what it marks.
مُحَرَّم1. MuharramForbiddenصَفَر2. SafarEmpty / voidرَبِيع ٱلْأَوَّل3. Rabi al-AwwalThe first springرَبِيع ٱلثَّانِي4. Rabi al-ThaniThe second springجُمَادَىٰ ٱلْأُولَىٰ5. Jumada al-AwwalThe first of parched landجُمَادَىٰ ٱلثَّانِيَة6. Jumada al-ThaniThe second of parched landرَجَب7. RajabTo respectشَعْبَان8. ShabanScattered / dispersedرَمَضَان9. RamadanScorching heatشَوَّال10. ShawwalRaised / liftedذُو ٱلْقَعْدَة11. Dhu al-QadahThe one of truceذُو ٱلْحِجَّة12. Dhu al-HijjahThe one of pilgrimage