๐งช Science ๐ Measuring and time
The Hijri calendar
๐ In short
The Hijri calendar is the Muslims' calendar, also called the Islamic calendar. It's a lunar calendar, which means its months follow the cycles of the Moon. It begins with the Hijra, the Prophet Muhammad's ๏ทบ migration from Makkah to Madinah.
๐คฉ Did you know?
- The Hijri year has about 354 days.
- The Hijri calendar lines up with the solar calendar again about every 33 years.
- There are four sacred months: Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab.
- Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr on the first of Shawwal, and Eid al-Adha on the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah.
๐ Find out more
๐ How the calendar began
In the time of the caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him), Muslims agreed that Islamic dates would start from the year of the Prophet's Hijra to Madinah, and they made Muharram the first month of the year.
๐ The twelve months
The Hijri months are: Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwal, Rabi al-Akhir, Jumada al-Ula, Jumada al-Akhirah, Rajab, Sha'ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa'dah and Dhu al-Hijjah.
๐ก Sighting the crescent
A Hijri month begins when the thin crescent moon appears in the sky after sunset. A month has 29 or 30 days, and people watch for the crescent, especially for Ramadan and Eid.
๐ฏ Ramadan in every season
The Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, so Ramadan moves through the seasons, falling in summer for some years and in winter for others.
๐งฉ Test yourself
1 Which event does the Hijri calendar start from?
2 What is the first month of the Hijri year?
3 When does a Hijri month begin?
4 Which picture shows โThe Hijri calendarโ?