Islamic Calendar

Today’s Islamic Date

Welcome to the Noor After Dark Islamic Calendar, your guide to the Islamic calendar and Hijri calendar. Find the Islamic date today, current Hijri date, Islamic month, and corresponding Gregorian date in one place.

Explore the Islamic months, important Islamic dates, religious occasions, and key events throughout the Hijri year.

Whether you want to check today’s Hijri date or learn more about the Islamic calendar, this page provides a simple and easy-to-use calendar for Muslims around the world.

Islamic Calendar

Why Is It Called the Hijri Calendar?

The word “Hijri” refers to the Hijrah, the migration of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Makkah to Madinah.

The Islamic era was formally established during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه. The Hijri calendar uses the year of the Prophet’s ﷺ migration as its historical starting point.

The first month of the Hijri calendar is Muharram, not the month in which the Hijrah itself took place.

Four months are designated as sacred months:

• Muharram
• Rajab
• Dhu al-Qi’dah
• Dhu al-Hijjah

The 12 Islamic Months

The Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, consists of 12 lunar months. Each Islamic month begins with the sighting of the new moon and has its own significance in Islamic history and tradition.

The 12 Islamic months are Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwal, Rabi al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada al-Thani, Rajab, Sha’ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qi’dah, and Dhu al-Hijjah. Learn about each Islamic month, its meaning, important Islamic dates, and significant events throughout the Hijri year.

Allah mentions the number of months in the Qur’an:

“Indeed, the number of months ordained by Allah is twelve—in Allah’s Record since the day He created the heavens and the earth—of which four are sacred. That is the Right Way. So do not wrong one another during these months. And fight the polytheists together as they fight together against you. And know that Allah is with those mindful ˹of Him˺.”
Qur’an 9:36

1. Muharram — مُحَرَّم

• Order: 1st Islamic month
• Meaning: “Forbidden” or “sacred”
• Status: One of the four sacred months.
• Importance: Muharram is a month in which fighting was traditionally prohibited.
• Special virtue: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described Muharram as the best month for voluntary fasting after Ramadan.
• Ashura: The 10th of Muharram is known as Ashura.
• Fasting: The Prophet ﷺ fasted on Ashura and intended to fast the 9th along with the 10th.
• Historical note: The martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali رضي الله عنهما occurred on 10 Muharram 61 AH at Karbala. This is an important historical event, but it should not be presented as the reason why Muharram is a sacred month.
• Key references: Qur’an 9:36; Sahih Muslim 1163; Sahih al-Bukhari 2004.

2. Safar — صَفَر

• Order: 2nd Islamic month
• Meaning: Commonly associated with the idea of being “empty” or “vacant.”
• Status: Not one of the four sacred months.
• Important belief: Islam rejects the pre-Islamic superstition that Safar itself brings bad luck or misfortune.
• Prophetic teaching: The Prophet ﷺ said there is no bad omen associated with Safar.
• Key lesson: Muslims should not consider a particular Islamic month inherently unlucky.
• Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5757; Sahih Muslim 2220.

3. Rabi al-Awwal — رَبِيع الأَوَّل

• Order: 3rd Islamic month
• Meaning: “The first spring.”
• Status: Not one of the four sacred months.
• Seerah importance: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born in Rabi al-Awwal according to the widely held traditional view, although the exact date of his birth is disputed among scholars.
• Hijrah: The Prophet ﷺ arrived in Madinah during Rabi al-Awwal after his migration from Makkah.
• Passing of the Prophet ﷺ: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ died in Rabi al-Awwal in 11 AH.
• Important note: Muslims should distinguish established historical facts from dates for which there is scholarly disagreement.

4. Rabi al-Thani — رَبِيع الآخِر

• Order: 4th Islamic month
• Other name: Rabi al-Akhir.
• Meaning: “The second spring.”
• Status: Not one of the four sacred months.
• Qur’an/Hadith: There is no authentic evidence assigning a special religious ritual or obligatory worship specifically to this month.
• General practice: Muslims continue their normal acts of worship, including prayer, Qur’an recitation, charity, fasting, and remembrance of Allah.

5. Jumada al-Awwal — جُمَادَى الأُولَى

• Order: 5th Islamic month
• Meaning: Traditionally connected with dryness or the drying up of water.
• Status: Not one of the four sacred months.
• Historical significance: Several events from early Islamic history occurred during this month.
• Religious status: There is no authentic evidence establishing a special form of worship specifically for Jumada al-Awwal.
• General practice: Muslims should continue regular Islamic worship throughout the month.

6. Jumada al-Thani — جُمَادَى الآخِرَة

• Order: 6th Islamic month
• Other names: Jumada al-Akhirah or Jumada al-Thaniyah.
• Meaning: “The second dry period.”
• Status: Not one of the four sacred months.
• Historical note: Important events in Islamic history are associated with this month.
• Religious status: No particular prayer, fast, or celebration is established specifically for this month by an authentic Qur’anic or Prophetic text.

7. Rajab — رَجَب

• Order: 7th Islamic month
• Meaning: Associated with reverence and respect.
• Status: One of the four sacred months.
• Sacred months: Muharram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qi’dah, and Dhu al-Hijjah.
• Qur’anic reference: Qur’an 9:36 identifies four sacred months.
• Important caution: There are many popular claims about special prayers and specific fasting practices for Rajab that are not established by authentic evidence.
• Isra and Mi’raj: The exact date of the Prophet’s ﷺ Night Journey and Ascension is not established with certainty by an authentic hadith.
• General practice: Muslims should increase good deeds and avoid sins, as they should throughout the year.

8. Sha’ban — شَعْبَان

• Order: 8th Islamic month
• Meaning: Traditionally associated with spreading out or dispersing.
• Status: Not one of the four sacred months.
• Connection to Ramadan: Sha’ban comes immediately before Ramadan.
• Fasting: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was known to fast frequently during Sha’ban.
• Preparation: It can be a useful month for preparing spiritually for Ramadan.
• Mid-Sha’ban: The night commonly called Laylat al-Bara’ah or 15th of Sha’ban is treated differently across Islamic traditions; claims about specific prayers or rituals should be supported by appropriate scholarly evidence.
• Key reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1969; Sahih Muslim 1156.

9. Ramadan — رَمَضَان

• Order: 9th Islamic month
• Meaning: Traditionally associated with intense heat or burning.
• Status: The month of obligatory fasting for Muslims who are able to fast.
• Qur’an: The Qur’an was revealed in Ramadan.
• Fasting: Muslims fast from dawn until sunset during Ramadan.
• Laylat al-Qadr: The Qur’an describes Laylat al-Qadr as better than a thousand months.
• Special worship: Ramadan is a month of fasting, prayer, Qur’an recitation, charity, repentance, and other acts of worship.
• Beginning and ending: Ramadan begins and ends according to the Islamic lunar calendar, with moon sighting playing an important role.
• Key references: Qur’an 2:183–185; Qur’an 97:1–5; Sahih al-Bukhari 1901.

10. Shawwal — شَوَّال

• Order: 10th Islamic month
• Meaning: Traditionally associated with lifting or raising.
• Eid al-Fitr: The first day of Shawwal is Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.
• Fasting: Muslims are prohibited from fasting on the day of Eid al-Fitr.
• Six days of Shawwal: The Prophet ﷺ encouraged fasting six days of Shawwal after Ramadan.
• Important note: The six fasts may be observed throughout Shawwal according to the relevant Islamic rulings.
• Key references: Sahih Muslim 1164; Sunan Abi Dawud 2416.

11. Dhu al-Qi’dah — ذُو القِعْدَة

• Order: 11th Islamic month
• Meaning: Commonly understood as referring to sitting down or refraining.
• Status: One of the four sacred months.
• Historical connection: It was traditionally a month in which fighting was prohibited.
• Hajj connection: Dhu al-Qi’dah comes immediately before Dhu al-Hijjah, the month of Hajj.
• Umrah: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ performed several Umrahs, including Umrah during Dhu al-Qi’dah.
• General worship: No particular obligatory worship is assigned specifically to Dhu al-Qi’dah apart from the general importance of observing the sacred months.

12. Dhu al-Hijjah — ذُو الحِجَّة

• Order: 12th and final Islamic month
• Meaning: “The month of Hajj.”
• Status: One of the four sacred months.
• Hajj: The major pilgrimage to Makkah takes place during Dhu al-Hijjah.
• First ten days: The first ten days are regarded as especially virtuous.
• Day of Arafah: The 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah is the Day of Arafah and is one of the most important days of Hajj.
• Eid al-Adha: The 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah is Eid al-Adha.
• Qurbani/Udhiyah: Animal sacrifice is associated with Eid al-Adha and the days of sacrifice.
• Days of Tashreeq: The 11th, 12th, and 13th are known as the Days of Tashreeq.
• Fasting Arafah: For those not performing Hajj, fasting on the Day of Arafah is highly virtuous.
• Key references: Qur’an 2:197; Qur’an 9:36; Sahih al-Bukhari 969; Sahih Muslim 1162.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Hijri Calendar?

The Hijri Calendar is a lunar Islamic calendar with 12 months. It is used to determine important Islamic dates and religious occasions.

2. What is the Islamic date today?

The Islamic date today depends on the current lunar month and local moon-sighting or calculation method.

3. How many months are in the Islamic Calendar?

There are 12 Islamic months.

4. What are the four sacred months?

The four sacred months are Muharram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qi’dah, and Dhu al-Hijjah.

5. Is the Hijri Calendar based on the Moon?

Yes. The Hijri Calendar follows the lunar cycle, with months lasting about 29 or 30 days.

6. What is the first Islamic month?

Muharram is the first month of the Hijri Calendar.

7. What is the ninth Islamic month?

Ramadan is the ninth month and the month in which Muslims observe the obligatory fast.

8. What is the last Islamic month?

Dhu al-Hijjah is the twelfth and final Islamic month. It includes Hajj, the Day of Arafah, and Eid al-Adha.

9. Can the Hijri date differ by country?

Yes. Differences in moon sighting and calculation methods can sometimes cause a one-day difference.

10. How can I check today’s Hijri date?

Use the Noor After Dark Islamic Calendar to find today’s Hijri date, Islamic month, Gregorian date, and important Islamic dates.