12 Islamic months, four of them sacred
It is currently Jumada al-Awwal 1448 AH, the 5th month. See today's Islamic date
- 354 or 355 Days in a Hijri year
- 29 or 30 Days in a Hijri month
- 11 days Earlier each Gregorian year
Muharram through Dhul Hijjah
- 01 Muharram محرم Sacred month
- 02 Safar صفر
- 03 Rabi al-Awwal ربيع الأول
- 04 Rabi al-Thani ربيع الثاني
- 05 Jumada al-Awwal جمادى الأولى Current month
- 06 Jumada al-Thani جمادى الآخرة
- 07 Rajab رجب Sacred month
- 08 Shaban شعبان
- 09 Ramadan رمضان
- 10 Shawwal شوال
- 11 Dhul Qadah ذو القعدة Sacred month
- 12 Dhul Hijjah ذو الحجة Sacred month
What each name means
| # | Month | Arabic | Days in 1448 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muharram Sacred month | محرم | 29 | Forbidden. Fighting was prohibited during it. |
| 2 | Safar | صفر | 30 | Empty or void, from the homes left empty when tribes travelled. |
| 3 | Rabi al-Awwal | ربيع الأول | 29 | The first spring, from the season the name was fixed in. |
| 4 | Rabi al-Thani | ربيع الثاني | 30 | The second spring, following Rabi al-Awwal. |
| 5 | Jumada al-Awwal | جمادى الأولى | 30 | The first of the dry months, from a root meaning frozen or dry land. |
| 6 | Jumada al-Thani | جمادى الآخرة | 29 | The last of the dry months. |
| 7 | Rajab Sacred month | رجب | 30 | To respect. One of the four sacred months. |
| 8 | Shaban | شعبان | 30 | To disperse, from the scattering of tribes in search of water. |
| 9 | Ramadan | رمضان | 29 | Scorching heat, from the dry season the month once fell in. |
| 10 | Shawwal | شوال | 30 | To lift or carry, from the she-camels raising their tails. |
| 11 | Dhul Qadah Sacred month | ذو القعدة | 29 | The sitting. Tribes sat and did not travel to war. |
| 12 | Dhul Hijjah Sacred month | ذو الحجة | 30 | The month of Hajj, when the pilgrimage is performed. |
A dot marks a sacred month. Day counts are for 1448 AH and change year to year.
The four sacred months. Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qadah, and Dhul Hijjah. Three fall in sequence, Dhul Qadah then Dhul Hijjah then Muharram, with Rajab standing alone.
Islamic month questions
What are the 12 Islamic months in order?
Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwal, Rabi al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada al-Thani, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhul Qadah, and Dhul Hijjah.
What Islamic month is it now?
It is currently Jumada al-Awwal 1448 AH, the 5th month of the Hijri year. Today is 27 Jumada al-Awwal 1448 AH.
Which Islamic months are sacred?
Four of the twelve are sacred: Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qadah, and Dhul Hijjah. Three of them fall in sequence, Dhul Qadah, Dhul Hijjah, and Muharram, with Rajab standing on its own.
How many days are in an Islamic month?
Either 29 or 30, set by the lunar cycle. No Hijri month has a fixed length from year to year.
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Dates follow the Umm al-Qura calendar, the calculated Hijri calendar used in Saudi Arabia, covering 1437 to 1456 AH. Months that open with a moon sighting, Muharram, Ramadan, Shawwal, and Dhul Hijjah, can begin a day either side of the calculated date, so please confirm observance dates with your local mosque.
