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The Twelve Months of the Islamic Calendar
From Muharram to Dhu al-Hijjah, the Hijri year has twelve lunar months, four of them sacred. Learn what each month is, the key observances they carry, and how to track them against the Gregorian calendar.
Updated 20 August 2026 · 2 min read
The Islamic year is made up of twelve lunar months, each beginning with the new moon. Some pass quietly; others carry the calendar's most significant observances. Knowing the shape of the year helps you anticipate Ramadan, Hajj and the sacred months — and understand why they land on different Gregorian dates each year.
The twelve months in order
- Muharram — the first month, and one of the four sacred months. It contains the Day of Ashura.
- Safar — the second month.
- Rabi' al-Awwal — associated with the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Rabi' al-Thani — the fourth month.
- Jumada al-Awwal — the fifth month.
- Jumada al-Thani — the sixth month.
- Rajab — a sacred month, traditionally a time of increased worship.
- Sha'ban — the month before Ramadan.
- Ramadan — the month of fasting, and the most significant month of the year.
- Shawwal — begins with Eid al-Fitr, celebrating the end of Ramadan.
- Dhu al-Qi'dah — a sacred month.
- Dhu al-Hijjah — a sacred month; the time of Hajj and Eid al-Adha.
The four sacred months
Four of the twelve — Muharram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qi'dah and Dhu al-Hijjah — are designated sacred months in which fighting was traditionally forbidden and good deeds carry special weight. Three of them fall consecutively at the end of the year (Dhu al-Qi'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah) into the start of the next (Muharram), with Rajab standing alone.
The months that carry the big observances
- Ramadan — a month of fasting from dawn to sunset, and the month in which the Qur'an was first revealed.
- Shawwal — its first day is Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the fast.
- Dhu al-Hijjah — the month of the Hajj pilgrimage, with Eid al-Adha on the 10th.
- Muharram — the Day of Ashura falls on the 10th, observed with fasting by many Muslims.
Why the dates move each year
Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, its year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian one, so every month shifts roughly 11 days earlier against the Western calendar each year. That's why Ramadan gradually moves through the seasons over time. The full explanation is in our guide on how the Hijri calendar works.
To see exactly when a given Islamic month or date falls this year, the Hijri date converter turns any Gregorian date into its Islamic equivalent and back. It's also handy for fixing your annual zakat date to a set point in the Islamic year.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the four sacred months in Islam?
- Muharram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qi'dah and Dhu al-Hijjah. Fighting was traditionally forbidden during these months and good deeds are considered to carry special weight. Three fall consecutively (Dhu al-Qi'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram) and Rajab stands alone.
- Why does Ramadan start on a different date every year?
- Because the Islamic calendar is lunar. A Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than a Gregorian year, so Ramadan and every other Islamic month move roughly 11 days earlier each Gregorian year, gradually shifting through the seasons.