The 12 Hijri months
| # | Month | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muharram | Islamic New Year; Day of Ashura (10th) |
| 2 | Safar | — |
| 3 | Rabi' al-awwal | Mawlid (Prophet's birthday, 12th) |
| 4 | Rabi' al-thani | — |
| 5 | Jumada al-awwal | — |
| 6 | Jumada al-thani | — |
| 7 | Rajab | Sacred month |
| 8 | Sha'ban | Preparation for Ramadan |
| 9 | Ramadan | Fasting month |
| 10 | Shawwal | Eid al-Fitr (1st) |
| 11 | Dhu al-Qa'dah | Sacred month |
| 12 | Dhu al-Hijjah | Hajj; Eid al-Adha (10th) |
Why Ramadan moves every year
A lunar month averages 29.53 days, so 12 of them make ~354 days — about 11 days short of the solar year. The Hijri calendar never corrects for this drift (unlike lunisolar calendars), so Ramadan cycles through all four seasons over roughly 33 years. Each month traditionally begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon, which is why exact start dates can differ by a day between countries.
Leap years in the Hijri system
The calculated (tabular) Hijri calendar adds a leap day to Dhu al-Hijjah in 11 years of every 30-year cycle (years 2, 5, 7, 10, 13, 16, 18, 21, 24, 26 and 29), making those years 355 days. Saudi Arabia's official Umm al-Qura calendar, meanwhile, uses astronomical calculation rather than the fixed cycle.
❓ Hijri Calendar FAQs
What is the Hijri calendar?
The Islamic lunar calendar: 12 months, 354–355 days a year, with year 1 = the Hijra in 622 CE.
Why is the Hijri year shorter?
It follows the Moon. Twelve lunar months ≈ 354 days, ~11 days fewer than the solar year, so dates drift earlier annually.
What are the 12 Hijri months?
Muharram, Safar, Rabi' al-awwal, Rabi' al-thani, Jumada al-awwal, Jumada al-thani, Rajab, Sha'ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah.
Does the Hijri calendar have leap years?
Yes — 11 leap years per 30-year cycle in the tabular calendar, each adding a day to Dhu al-Hijjah.
Related: What Is Nisab in Zakat? · What Is the Qibla? · Free Hijri Date Converter