1 Muharram — Islamic New Year
Marks the start of the Hijri year. It commemorates the Hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ from Makkah to Madinah, which Umar ibn al-Khattab used as the calendar's epoch.
Hijri calendar
Islamic calendar
The Hijri calendar is lunar: twelve months, about 354 days, and a year that drifts earlier through the seasons. Here is today's date, the months in order, and the days Muslims plan around.
Today
Rabiʻ I 2, 1448 AH
Friday, August 14, 2026
Calculated for your browser's timezone using the Islamic calendar. Local moon-sighting announcements can differ by a day — that is normal, not an error.
How the Hijri calendar works
Each month begins with the new crescent. Because a lunar month is about 29.5 days, months alternate between 29 and 30 days, and a full Hijri year is roughly 10–11 days shorter than a Gregorian year. That is why Ramadan moves through winter and summer over a generation.
The calendar's starting point is the Hijrah — the migration of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE — which Caliph Umar established as year 1 AH (Anno Hegirae).
Four months are traditionally called sacred (ashhur hurum): Muharram, Rajab, Dhul-Qaʿdah and Dhul-Hijjah. Fighting was forbidden in them in pre-Islamic Arabia, and the Qur'an affirms their special status.
The 12 Islamic months
- 1. Muharramمحرم
The first month of the Islamic year. The 10th day is Ashura.
- 2. Safarصفر
The second month. No prescribed fasts or festivals of its own.
- 3. Rabiʿ al-Awwalربيع الأول
The month of the Prophet's birth. Many communities mark Mawlid here.
- 4. Rabiʿ al-Thaniربيع الآخر
Also called Rabiʿ al-Akhir. An ordinary month in the ritual calendar.
- 5. Jumada al-Ulaجمادى الأولى
The fifth month. No obligatory rites attached to it.
- 6. Jumada al-Akhirahجمادى الآخرة
The sixth month, closing the first half of the Hijri year.
- 7. Rajabرجب
One of the four sacred months. Historically associated with Isra and Miʿraj.
- 8. Shaʿbanشعبان
The month before Ramadan. The 15th night (Laylat al-Baraʾah) is observed by many.
- 9. Ramadanرمضان
The month of fasting. The last ten nights include Laylat al-Qadr.
- 10. Shawwalشوال
Begins with Eid al-Fitr. The six recommended fasts of Shawwal follow.
- 11. Dhul-Qaʿdahذو القعدة
A sacred month and the first of the Hajj season months.
- 12. Dhul-Hijjahذو الحجة
The month of Hajj. The Day of Arafah and Eid al-Adha fall here.
Sacred days most people track
10 Muharram — Ashura
A day of recommended fasting. For Sunni Muslims it recalls Musa (peace be upon him) and the Children of Israel being saved; for Shia Muslims it is also the day of the martyrdom of Husayn at Karbala.
Ramadan — the month of fasting
Dawn-to-sunset fasting for every able adult Muslim. The last ten nights are especially sought for Laylat al-Qadr, whose exact night is not known with certainty.
1 Shawwal — Eid al-Fitr
The festival that ends the Ramadan fast. It begins with the sighting (or calculation) of the Shawwal crescent and includes the Eid prayer and Zakat al-Fitr.
9 Dhul-Hijjah — Day of Arafah
The climax of Hajj. For non-pilgrims, fasting on this day is strongly recommended and is said to expiate the previous and coming year.
10 Dhul-Hijjah — Eid al-Adha
The Festival of Sacrifice, coinciding with the completion of Hajj. Those who are able offer an animal sacrifice (udhiyah / qurbani) and share the meat.
Sighting vs calculation
Some Muslim communities begin a month only after a reliable local sighting of the crescent. Others follow a pre-calculated table or the announcement of a national authority. Both approaches are used by serious scholars. For prayer and fasting in your city, follow the mosque or council you normally trust — and expect neighbouring countries to sometimes differ by a day.