Hijri calendar years
Pick a Hijri year to see its twelve months with their Gregorian start dates, lengths, status and the main observances.
Hijri calendar years available
The twelve months of the Hijri calendar
- Muharram: Opens the year and is one of the four sacred months; 10 Muharram is Ashura.
- Safar: The second month.
- Rabi' al-Awwal: Many countries mark the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid) on 12 Rabi' al-Awwal.
- Rabi' al-Thani: The fourth month.
- Jumada al-Ula: The fifth month.
- Jumada al-Akhirah: The sixth month.
- Rajab: One of the sacred months.
- Sha'ban: The month before Ramadan.
- Ramadan: The month of fasting.
- Shawwal: Its first day is Eid al-Fitr.
- Dhu al-Qi'dah: One of the sacred months.
- Dhu al-Hijjah: A sacred month and the month of Hajj: the Day of Arafah is on the 9th and Eid al-Adha on the 10th.
How a Hijri calendar year is built
A Hijri year has twelve lunar months. Each one starts with the new crescent and runs 29 or 30 days, so the year usually has 354 or 355 days. That is why every Hijri year begins about 11 days earlier in the Gregorian calendar than the one before, and why Ramadan and the two Eids move through all the seasons over roughly 33 years.
Each year page lists the Gregorian start date of every month, its length and its status: Official when the responsible authority has confirmed the month start, or Provisional (calculated) when the start comes from calculation and no announcement has been recorded yet. The tables here follow Saudi Arabia (Umm al-Qura); use the converter to compare another country.
If you are planning around a Hijri date, such as the start of fasting, an Eid holiday or Hajj travel, open the year page and check the status of the month you need. An Official date is settled; for a Provisional date, allow one day either side until the announcement is made. When you have a specific Gregorian date and need its Hijri match, or the other way round, use the converter rather than counting by hand, because it reads the month start from the same table.
Hijri calendar years: frequently asked questions
How many days are in a Hijri year?
A Hijri year has twelve lunar months of 29 or 30 days, so it usually totals 354 or 355 days. Each year page shows the actual length from the table and how many months have 30 days and how many have 29.
Why does Ramadan come earlier every Gregorian year?
The Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, so Ramadan and every other Hijri observance move about 11 days earlier each year and pass through all the seasons in roughly 33 years.
What do Official and Provisional (calculated) mean?
An Official month start has been confirmed by the responsible authority. A Provisional (calculated) month start comes from calculation with no recorded announcement yet, and it can move by one day if the announcement differs.
Which country do these calendar tables follow?
The year tables here follow Saudi Arabia (Umm al-Qura). Other countries can start some months a day earlier or later; choose your country in the converter to compare.
When does a Hijri year begin?
Every Hijri year begins on 1 Muharram, the Islamic New Year. Years are counted from the Hijra, the Prophet Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, which is why they are marked AH.