Most of us plan our lives around the Gregorian calendar – school terms, work schedules and holidays. But as Muslims, we also live by another calendar: the Islamic (Hijri) calendar. It tells us when Ramadan begins, when to celebrate Eid, when to perform Hajj and when to fast the special Sunnah days. Today, 27 Rabi' al-Thani 1448 AH, is a good moment to understand how it works.
What Is the Hijri Calendar?
The Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar. Each month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon, and each month is either 29 or 30 days long. Twelve lunar months make a year of about 354 or 355 days – roughly 11 days shorter than the solar year. That is why Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier every year in the Gregorian calendar.
Allah says: "It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases – that you may know the number of years and account (of time)." (Surah Yunus, 10:5)
Why Is It Called "Hijri"?
The calendar is counted from the year of the Hijrah – the migration of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE. During the caliphate of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), the companions agreed to start the Islamic calendar from that year, because the Hijrah marked the beginning of the Muslim community in Madinah.
The 12 Islamic Months
- Muharram
- Safar
- Rabi' al-Awwal
- Rabi' al-Thani
- Jumada al-Awwal (Jumada al-Ula)
- Jumada al-Thani (Jumada al-Akhirah)
- Rajab
- Sha'ban
- Ramadan
- Shawwal
- Dhul-Qa'dah
- Dhul-Hijjah
Four of these – Muharram, Rajab, Dhul-Qa'dah and Dhul-Hijjah – are the sacred months mentioned in the Quran (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:36).
Why Muslim Families Should Follow It
- Worship depends on it. Ramadan, Eid, Hajj, the Day of 'Arafah and 'Ashura are all set by the Hijri calendar.
- Sunnah fasts. The "White Days" (13th, 14th and 15th of each lunar month) are known only through the Hijri date.
- Islamic identity. Children living in the USA, Canada or the UK grow up surrounded by other calendars. Knowing the Islamic months keeps them connected to their faith.
- Planning ahead. Knowing that Ramadan 1448 is expected in February 2027 helps you prepare months in advance.
Simple Ways to Use the Hijri Calendar at Home
- Hang an Islamic calendar in the kitchen next to the regular one.
- Announce the new Islamic month at dinner and teach its name to your children.
- Mark the White Days and Mondays/Thursdays as optional fasting days.
- Use a trusted app or your local masjid's announcements – remember that dates may differ by a day depending on moon sighting.
Coming Up This Month
Rabi' al-Thani 1448 ends in the next few days, and Jumada al-Awwal is expected to begin around 12 October 2026 (subject to moon sighting). Over the coming days, we will share an article each day about the Islamic months, special days and the lessons they carry – stay with us.
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