Islamic Months in Order: All 12 Months and Key Dates
The Islamic calendar, also called the Hijri calendar, has 12 lunar months. Each month begins with the sighting of the new moon and lasts 29 or 30 days, so the Islamic year is about 354 days long. That is why Islamic months move about 10 to 11 days earlier in the Gregorian calendar every year, and why Ramadan, Eid, and Hajj fall in a different season every decade or so. This guide lists all 12 Islamic months in order, with the key dates and events in each one.
The 12 Islamic months at a glance
| No. | Month | Key dates and events |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muharram | Islamic New Year (1 Muharram); Ashura (10 Muharram) |
| 2 | Safar | No major fixed observance; second month of the year |
| 3 | Rabi al-Awwal | Birth of the Prophet Muhammad, observed by many on 12 Rabi al-Awwal |
| 4 | Rabi al-Thani | Also called Rabi al-Akhir; no major fixed observance |
| 5 | Jumada al-Ula | Also called Jumada al-Awwal; no major fixed observance |
| 6 | Jumada al-Akhirah | Also called Jumada al-Thani; no major fixed observance |
| 7 | Rajab | Sacred month; Isra and Miraj observed by many on 27 Rajab |
| 8 | Shaban | Shab-e-Barat observed by many on 15 Shaban; preparation for Ramadan |
| 9 | Ramadan | Month of fasting; Laylat al-Qadr in the last ten nights |
| 10 | Shawwal | Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal); six fasts of Shawwal |
| 11 | Dhul Qadah | Sacred month; preparation for Hajj |
| 12 | Dhul Hijjah | Hajj (8 to 13 Dhul Hijjah); Day of Arafah (9th); Eid al-Adha (10th) |
1. Muharram — the first month
Muharram opens the Islamic year, and 1 Muharram is the Islamic New Year. It is one of the four sacred months. The 10th of Muharram is Ashura, a day of fasting and remembrance. Muslims observe Ashura in different ways: many fast on this day following the practice of the Prophet, while Shia Muslims mark it as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain at Karbala. Muharram is a month of reflection, and the new year is a natural time for Muslims to review their habits and set intentions for the year ahead.
2. Safar — the second month
Safar is the second month of the Islamic calendar. No major Islamic observance is fixed in Safar. Some cultural superstitions about Safar being an unlucky month exist in parts of South Asia, but these have no basis in the Quran or authentic teachings, and scholars advise against treating any month as unlucky.
3. Rabi al-Awwal — the third month
Rabi al-Awwal is best known for the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Many Muslims observe 12 Rabi al-Awwal as Mawlid, marking the birth with gatherings, recitation, and charity. The exact date of the birth is a matter of scholarly discussion, with 12 Rabi al-Awwal being the most widely cited date, while some scholars hold other dates. Muslims also note that the Prophet passed away in the same month, which is why Rabi al-Awwal carries both joy and reflection.
4. Rabi al-Thani — the fourth month
Rabi al-Thani, also called Rabi al-Akhir, is the fourth month. No major Islamic observance is fixed in this month. In South Asia, some communities associate the 11th of Rabi al-Thani with the scholar Abdul Qadir Jilani, but this is a cultural observance rather than a date fixed in Islamic law.
5. Jumada al-Ula — the fifth month
Jumada al-Ula, also called Jumada al-Awwal, is the fifth month of the Islamic year. No major Islamic observance is fixed in this month. Its name comes from an Arabic root linked to freezing, a reminder that the early Islamic calendar months were named in a time when they fell in particular seasons, long before the lunar calendar began drifting through the solar year.
6. Jumada al-Akhirah — the sixth month
Jumada al-Akhirah, also called Jumada al-Thani, is the sixth month. Like the month before it, it has no major fixed Islamic observance, and it marks the midpoint of the Islamic year, with Rajab, Shaban, and Ramadan following soon after.
7. Rajab — the seventh month and a sacred month
Rajab is one of the four sacred months and stands alone in the middle of the year, unlike the other three sacred months which cluster around the Hajj season. Many Muslims observe 27 Rajab as the night of Isra and Miraj, the miraculous night journey and ascension of the Prophet. The exact date of Isra and Miraj is not agreed upon by all scholars, so 27 Rajab is best described as the commonly observed date rather than a certain one. Rajab is also a month when many Muslims begin preparing spiritually for Ramadan, two months later.
8. Shaban — the eighth month
Shaban is the month before Ramadan and is known as a month of preparation. Many Muslims increase voluntary fasting in Shaban. In South Asia, the night of 15 Shaban, known as Shab-e-Barat, is widely observed with prayers and reflection, and many believe it is a night when destinies for the coming year are decided. Views on the status of this night differ among scholars, so it is observed with varying emphasis. Practically, Shaban is the month to settle missed fasts from the previous Ramadan and to build the habit of daily Quran reading before Ramadan begins.
9. Ramadan — the ninth month, the month of fasting
Ramadan is the most important month of the Islamic year. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset for the whole month, abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours. Muslims believe the Quran began to be revealed in Ramadan. Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree, is sought in the last ten nights of Ramadan, most commonly on the odd nights, and is described in the Quran as better than a thousand months. Taraweeh prayers are offered at night, charity increases, and the month ends with Eid al-Fitr in Shawwal.
10. Shawwal — the tenth month
Shawwal begins with Eid al-Fitr on 1 Shawwal, the festival that marks the end of Ramadan fasting. Many Muslims also fast six days in Shawwal, a voluntary practice that, combined with Ramadan, is described in tradition as carrying the reward of fasting the whole year. These six fasts can be kept on any days of the month, consecutively or separately, and missed Ramadan fasts are made up separately.
11. Dhul Qadah — the eleventh month and a sacred month
Dhul Qadah is the third of the four sacred months and the month before Hajj. In early Islamic history it was a month of truce, when travel to Makkah for pilgrimage was safe. Today it is the month when pilgrims finalise their Hajj plans and when Muslims intending to perform Hajj enter the state of Ihram preparation. No major festival falls in Dhul Qadah itself, but its sacred status makes it a month of restraint and good deeds.
12. Dhul Hijjah — the twelfth month, the month of Hajj
Dhul Hijjah is the final month of the Islamic year and the fourth sacred month. Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah, takes place in this month: pilgrims arrive in the first days, spend 8 Dhul Hijjah at Mina, stand at Arafat on 9 Dhul Hijjah (the Day of Arafah, the most important day of Hajj), and celebrate Eid al-Adha on 10 Dhul Hijjah with the sacrifice of an animal. The days of Hajj run from 8 to 13 Dhul Hijjah, and the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are regarded as among the best days of the year for good deeds. Non-pilgrims often fast on the Day of Arafah.
Why Islamic dates in Pakistan can differ by a day from Saudi Arabia
Each Islamic month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon, and the moon is not always visible on the same evening in every country. Pakistan announces the start of each month through its own Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, based on moon sighting reports from within Pakistan. Saudi Arabia makes its own announcement based on sighting there. Because of differences in geography, weather, and sighting criteria, the new moon can be seen in Saudi Arabia a day before it is seen in Pakistan, or sometimes the reverse.
That is why Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha in Pakistan can fall a day later than in Saudi Arabia, and why dates can also differ between other countries. It is not an error by either side; it is the natural result of a calendar tied to local moon sighting. For planning, treat any Gregorian calendar date for an Islamic event as expected until the official moon sighting announcement confirms it.
Want to see the current Hijri month laid out day by day? Use the Hijri calendar month generator, or convert a Gregorian date to Hijri with the Hijri date converter.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first month of the Islamic calendar?
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months, and the Islamic New Year begins on 1 Muharram. The 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura, is a day of fasting and remembrance observed by Muslims in different ways.
Which Islamic months are the sacred months?
The four sacred months are Muharram (month 1), Rajab (month 7), Dhul Qadah (month 11), and Dhul Hijjah (month 12). Fighting was traditionally forbidden in these months, and good deeds in them carry special weight. Rajab stands alone in the middle of the year, while the other three run together around the Hajj season.
In which Islamic month is Ramadan, and what happens in it?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset throughout the month, and Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree, is sought in the last ten nights, most commonly on the odd nights. Muslims also believe the Quran began to be revealed in Ramadan.
In which month is Hajj performed?
Hajj is performed in Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar. Pilgrims gather in Makkah during the first days of the month, stand at Arafat on 9 Dhul Hijjah, and celebrate Eid al-Adha on 10 Dhul Hijjah. The days of Hajj run from 8 to 13 Dhul Hijjah.
Why do Islamic dates in Pakistan sometimes differ by a day from Saudi Arabia?
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia announce the start of each Islamic month based on their own moon sighting. The new moon may be visible in one country a day before the other because of geography, weather, and different sighting criteria. Pakistan follows the announcement of its own Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, so Ramadan and Eid dates in Pakistan can fall a day later, or occasionally earlier, than in Saudi Arabia.