What Is the Hijri Calendar?
The Hijri calendar (Islamic calendar) is a lunar system: each month begins with the new moon. A Hijri year is about 354 days, so Islamic months move through the seasons over a 33-year cycle.
Muslims use Hijri dates for:
- Ramadan and fasting
- Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha
- Hajj season (Dhul Hijjah)
- Sacred months and recommended fasting
Salat Guide shows Hijri and Gregorian dates together on prayer and calendar pages so you never lose track.
The Twelve Islamic Months
| # | Month | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muharram | Islamic New Year; Ashura (10th) |
| 2 | Safar | - |
| 3 | Rabi' al-Awwal | Often associated with the Prophet's ﷺ birth |
| 4 | Rabi' al-Thani | - |
| 5 | Jumada al-Awwal | - |
| 6 | Jumada al-Thani | - |
| 7 | Rajab | Sacred month |
| 8 | Sha'ban | Preparation for Ramadan |
| 9 | Ramadan | Month of fasting |
| 10 | Shawwal | Eid al-Fitr (1st) |
| 11 | Dhul Qa'dah | Sacred month |
| 12 | Dhul Hijjah | Hajj; Eid al-Adha (10th) |
Why Ramadan Changes Every Gregorian Year
Because the Hijri year is shorter than the solar year, Ramadan appears about 10–12 days earlier each Gregorian year. A child who fasted in long summer days may, years later, fast in shorter winter days.
Use Salat Guide's Hijri calendar and Ramadan times for the year you are in - not last year's printed chart.
Moon Sighting vs Fixed Calendar
Some countries announce months after physical moon sighting. Others use astronomical calculation (e.g. Umm al-Qura in Saudi Arabia). This can cause one-day differences between regions for Eid and Ramadan start.
Respect your local authority and community while understanding why apps may show different Hijri dates.
Hijri Calendar and Prayer Times
Prayer times follow the sun (Gregorian day cycle). Hijri dates follow the moon. You need both:
- Fajr–Isha from prayer times
- Islamic date from the Hijri calendar
On city pages, Salat Guide shows today's Hijri date next to salah times.
Important Hijri Events (Planning)
| Event | Hijri timing |
|---|---|
| Ramadan begins | 1 Ramadan |
| Laylat al-Qadr | Last ten nights of Ramadan (odd nights emphasized) |
| Eid al-Fitr | 1 Shawwal |
| Day of Arafah | 9 Dhul Hijjah |
| Eid al-Adha | 10 Dhul Hijjah |
Confirm with your masjid - sighting or official announcement may shift the day.
Using Salat Guide's Islamic Calendar
- Open /islamic-hijri-calendar.
- Select year and month.
- See Gregorian grid with Hijri day on each cell.
- Link to prayer times and plan Ramadan before the month arrives.
Conclusion
The Hijri calendar is how Muslims mark worship seasons. Pair it with accurate prayer times on Salat Guide so your salah, fasting, and Eid plans stay correct year after year.
→ View the Hijri calendar - free, with prayer times for your city.
This guide is for general Islamic education. Verify fiqh details with a qualified scholar for your madhab. Qur'an translations are interpretive; consult tafsir for deeper study.