The Islamic months form a calendar system based on the moon and not on the sun. A Hijri year therefore counts 12 lunar months, which amounts to roughly 354–355 days, so that the Islamic months shift backward each year by about 10–11 days relative to the Gregorian year.
This shifting through the seasons makes date conversion between the two systems more complex, for an event that fell in a winter month in the Islamic year may, a few years later, fall in the middle of summer. It is therefore essential to set out the structure, order and historical background of the Islamic months clearly.
The table below gives an overview of the 12 months, with their Arabic name, transliteration, meaning and historical background.
| No. | Arabic | Transl. | Meaning | Historical background |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | مُحَرَّم | Muharram | From harrama: forbidden, sacred | One of the four sacred months in which fighting was forbidden. In sahih narrations: “Shahr Allah al-Muharram”. |
| 2 | صَفَر | Safar | From safr: emptiness | The Arabs travelled a great deal in this month, so that villages were left “empty”. |
| 3 | رَبِيعُ الأَوَّل | Rabi al-Awwal | From rabi: spring | Fell in springtime in the old calendar. In this month the Hijrah took place (in part); there are also many mentions of the birth of the Prophet. |
| 4 | رَبِيعُ الآخِر / رَبِيعُ الثَّانِي | Rabi al-Akhir / Rabi ath-Thani | Second month of spring | A continuation of Rabi al-Awwal in the seasonal structure of the Arabs. |
| 5 | جُمَادَى الأُولَى | Jumada al-Ula | From jumud: drought, congealing | Refers to periods of drought in which water stands “fixed” or dries up. |
| 6 | جُمَادَى الآخِرَة / جُمَادَى الثَّانِيَة | Jumada al-Akhira / Jumada ath-Thaniya | Second month of drought | A continuation of Jumada al-Ula; likewise connected to drought. |
| 7 | رَجَب | Rajab | From tarjib: to show honour | A sacred month; the Arabs “spared their spears” (rajaba ar-rimah). |
| 8 | شَعْبَان | Shaban | From shaaba: to disperse | The tribes went out in search of food and water. Much voluntary fasting in this month. |
| 9 | رَمَضَان | Ramadan | From ramda: heat | Associated with scorching heat. Fasting was made obligatory in 2 AH. |
| 10 | شَوَّال | Shawwal | From shawala: to lift, to dry up | The camels carried less milk. The month of the six recommended days of fasting. |
| 11 | ذُو القَعْدَة | Dhu al-Qa’dah | From qa’ada: to sit | A sacred month; the Arabs ceased their expeditions and prepared for the period of the Hajj. |
| 12 | ذُو الحِجَّة | Dhu al-Hijjah | From hijjah: pilgrimage | The month of the Hajj and Eid al-Adha; one of the four sacred months. The Hajj was already performed in ancient times and was purified by Islam of shirk. |