Direct answer: The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar used by Muslims to mark Islamic months, worship, Ramadan, Hajj, Eid, and important religious dates. It is also called the Hijri calendar because it begins from the Hijrah, the migration of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Muslims from Makkah to Madinah.
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What the Islamic calendar means
The Islamic calendar is the calendar Muslims use for religious dates and acts of worship. It helps Muslims know when Ramadan begins, when Hajj takes place, when Eid is celebrated, and when sacred months occur.
Many Muslims also use the regular Gregorian calendar for school, work, business, and daily appointments. But Islamic worship is tied to the Hijri calendar.
Simple explanation
The Gregorian calendar is solar. The Islamic calendar is lunar. That is why Islamic dates do not stay on the same Gregorian date every year.
Why it is called the Hijri calendar
The Islamic calendar is often called the Hijri calendar because its counting begins from the Hijrah. The Hijrah was the migration of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the early Muslims from Makkah to Madinah.
This migration was not just a journey from one city to another. It marked a major turning point in Islamic history, as the Muslim community moved from persecution in Makkah to establishing a community in Madinah.
“If you do not aid him, Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out...”
Quran, Surah At-Tawbah 9:40The Hijri calendar reminds Muslims that Islam is not only a set of beliefs, but a lived way of life shaped by sacrifice, migration, community, and obedience to Allah.
Helpful related article: Who Is Muhammad (PBUH)?
Why the Islamic calendar is lunar
The Islamic calendar follows the moon. Each month begins with the appearance or calculation of the new lunar month, depending on the method followed by a Muslim community or authority.
A lunar month is usually 29 or 30 days. Because the lunar year is shorter than the solar year, Islamic months move through the seasons over time.
“They ask you about the new moons. Say, they are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj.”
Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:189This verse shows that the moon has a role in marking time for worship and human life.
The twelve Islamic months
The Islamic calendar has twelve months. Some months are especially important because of fasting, Hajj, Eid, or sacred status.
| No. | Islamic month | Basic note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muharram | A sacred month and the first month of the Hijri year. |
| 2 | Safar | The second month of the Islamic calendar. |
| 3 | Rabi al-Awwal | A month known by many Muslims because Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born in it. |
| 4 | Rabi al-Thani | Also called Rabi al-Akhir. |
| 5 | Jumada al-Awwal | The fifth month of the Islamic calendar. |
| 6 | Jumada al-Thani | Also called Jumada al-Akhirah. |
| 7 | Rajab | One of the sacred months. |
| 8 | Sha'ban | The month before Ramadan. |
| 9 | Ramadan | The month of fasting and the month in which the Quran was revealed. |
| 10 | Shawwal | The month that begins with Eid al-Fitr. |
| 11 | Dhul Qa'dah | One of the sacred months. |
| 12 | Dhul Hijjah | The month of Hajj and Eid al-Adha. |
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months in the register of Allah...”
Quran, Surah At-Tawbah 9:36Important months and worship
Some Islamic months are especially connected to worship. Ramadan is the month of fasting. Dhul Hijjah is the month of Hajj and Eid al-Adha. Shawwal begins with Eid al-Fitr. Muharram is a sacred month and the first month of the year.
| Month | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Muharram | The first month of the Islamic year and one of the sacred months. |
| Ramadan | The month of fasting and the month in which the Quran was revealed. |
| Shawwal | The month that begins with Eid al-Fitr. |
| Dhul Hijjah | The month of Hajj, Eid al-Adha, and the days of sacrifice. |
Helpful related articles: What Is Ramadan?, What Is Hajj?, and What Are the Two Major Eids?
Why Ramadan and Eid move every year
Many people notice that Ramadan and Eid do not stay on the same Gregorian date every year. This happens because the Islamic calendar is lunar and shorter than the solar year.
As a result, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Hajj, and Eid al-Adha move earlier by around ten or eleven days each solar year. Over time, Ramadan passes through all seasons: summer, winter, spring, and autumn.
Beginner example
If Ramadan begins in March one year, it may begin around ten or eleven days earlier the following solar year, depending on moon sighting or calculation.
This movement means Muslims around the world experience fasting in different seasons across their lives.
How Muslims use the calendar today
Muslims use the Islamic calendar to plan worship and remember important religious moments. Mosques, Islamic centres, scholars, and Muslim communities often announce the beginning of Ramadan, Eid, and other important dates.
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Ramadan.
Muslims use the Islamic calendar to know when to begin and end fasting. -
Eid.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha follow Islamic dates, not fixed Gregorian dates. -
Hajj.
Hajj takes place in Dhul Hijjah. -
Sacred months.
Muslims recognise months such as Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qa'dah, and Dhul Hijjah. -
Islamic identity.
The calendar connects Muslims to their history and worship.
FAQ: The Islamic Calendar
What is the Islamic calendar?
The Islamic calendar, also called the Hijri calendar, is a lunar calendar used by Muslims to mark Islamic months, worship, Ramadan, Hajj, Eid, and important religious dates.
Why is the Islamic calendar called the Hijri calendar?
It is called the Hijri calendar because it begins from the Hijrah, the migration of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Muslims from Makkah to Madinah.
Is the Islamic calendar lunar or solar?
The Islamic calendar is lunar. Its months are based on the moon, so Islamic dates move earlier each year compared with the solar Gregorian calendar.
How many months are in the Islamic calendar?
There are twelve months in the Islamic calendar, including Muharram, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhul Qa'dah, and Dhul Hijjah.
Why do Ramadan and Eid move every year?
Ramadan and Eid move because the Islamic calendar is lunar and shorter than the solar year. This causes Islamic dates to shift through the seasons over time.