Islamic Calendar: Significance & Its Own Rules in Saudi Arabia

The Islamic calendar has 12 months and is based on the moon's location and phases. The majority of Islamic months begin with the sighting of the new moon and last 29 to 30 days. The lunar calendar evolves with time, and each year, the position of each month differs from the preceding year. An Islamic year has no seasons and is roughly ten days shorter than a solar year.

Notably, each month in the Islamic calendar in Saudi Arabia is noteworthy in its own right and represents a specific significance. Almost every month has an obligatory event or holiday that allows Muslims to gain extra blessings.

Here is a full explanation of each Islamic month and its significance to Muslims.

What does an Islamic year look like?

What is an Islamic Calendar?

The Islamic calendar is used by Muslims all around the world to calculate the dates of religious events and observances. It is often referred to as the Muslim calendar or the Hijri calendar.

The Saudi Arabian Hijri calendar is not to be confused with the Solar Hijri calendar which is used in Iran and Afghanistan.

Saudi Arabian Hijri calendar

How many days are there in the Islamic calendar?

An Islamic year consists of 354 or 355 days.

When will the Islamic and Gregorian years coincide?

Both calendars will have the same year count in 20,874 AD.

Doesn't the Islamic calendar in Saudi Arabia have its own set of rules?

Saudi Arabia does not rely on a visual sighting of the crescent moon to determine the start of a new month for civil (but not religious) purposes. Instead, they base their calendar on an astronomical moon calculation.

Since 2002 (AH 1423), the rule has been as follows:

• If the 29th day of an Islamic month falls on Friday, the geocentric conjunction (the new moon as seen from the center of the Earth) happens before sunset, and the moon sets after the sun. The following day will be the first of a new month if it is not the last (30th) of the current month.
• The times for the sun and moon setting are calculated using Mecca's coordinates.

Islamic Months: Names and Significance

The names of the 12 months that make up the Islamic year are as follows:

(Other spellings of the months are conceivable due to differing transliterations of the Arabic letter.)

1. Muharram – The month of martyrdom

The month of Muharram marks the start of the Islamic new year. The precise meaning of this month's name is disallowed. Although fasting is not required during this month, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reportedly said that Muharram is the second finest time to fast after Ramadan.

Notable Days: On the first day of Muharram, the 10th of this month, is extremely notable.

Saudi Arabian Hijri calendar

2. Safar – The second month of the Islamic calendar

Safar, which translates to 'void,' is the second month of the Islamic calendar. The month is said to be called after the pre-Islamic Arabs who used to leave their dwellings empty during this period to look for food.

Notable Days: Shia Muslims mark Hazrat Ibn Ali's Chehlum on the 20th of Safar, while the 27th of this month is said to be significant.

3. Rabi ul-Awwal – The sacred month of Hijrah

The third month of the Islamic calendar has particular meaning for Muslims worldwide. Sunni Muslims regard the 12th of Rabi ul-Awwal as special because they think the Prophet was born on this day. Shia Muslims believe his birthday is on the 17th of Rabi ul-Awwal.

4. Rabi ul-Akhir – Rabi al-Thani, the 4th of Arabic months

Rabi ul-Akhir means "the last spring" in Arabic. Popular activities at this time are reciting the holy Quran, doing Nawafil prayers, making gifts, and making charitable contributions during this month.

Notable Days: On the 11th of this month, the Sufi Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani, widely regarded as a great saint, died.

5. Jumada al-Awwal – The month of the Moota battle

Jumada al-Awwal, the fifth Islamic month, translates to "first month of the parched country," alluding to the pre-Islamic summer.

Notable Days: On the 15th of this month.

6. Jumada al-Thani – The sixth of the Islamic months

Jumada al-Thani, also known as Jumada al-Akhirah, lasts 29.5 days. This is the sixth month of the year according to the lunar calendar.

Notable Days: the 20th of this month.

7. Rajab – The month of absolution

Rajab, considered a sacred month, is a period when fighting and wars are banned. Shia Muslims believe that this month is blessed by Allah and belongs to Ali. The month, derived from the word 'Rajaba,' is revered and celebrated. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) described Rajab as the month of absolution and added that anybody who fasts throughout the month would be rewarded by the angel Ridwan.

Notable Days: In Islam, the 27th of Rajab is regarded a holy day.

8. Shaaban – The month of Shab-e-Barat

Because Arabs used to go in quest of water during this time of year, the month was named Shaaban, meaning scatter.

Notable Days: On the 11th and 15th days. Shaaban is such a significant month because it is believed that the 12th Imam of the Shia war was born in this month.

9. Ramadan – The most virtuous of the Islamic months

The month provides Muslims an excellent chance to deepen their religion, atone for their sins, and purify their mind, body, and soul. People are advised to take a break from daily activities, recite prayers, and conduct virtuous deeds during this period.

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and do charitable activities.

Notable Days: The last ten days of Ramadan are especially notable.

Ramadan – The most virtuous of the Islamic months

10. Shawwal – Calls for celebrations of Eid

Muslims celebrate Eid-ul Fitr this month, which marks the conclusion of Ramadan. Some people fast around this period of the month because they believe it is Sunnah behavior. All faults are forgiven in Shawwal as a reward for fasting during Ramadan. The epic battle of Uhud was the most important event that occurred in the month of Shawwal.

Notable Days: Eid-ul Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal.

11. Dhul Qadah – The birth month of Prophet Ibrahim

The eleventh month of the Arabic calendar is one of four holy months during which no wars are permitted. During Dhul Qadah, good acts reap numerous rewards, whereas misdeeds are more painful and difficult to endure.

Notable Days: Prophet Ibrahim was born on the 25th of Dhul Qadah. It was also the day when the foundation for the Kaaba was laid.

Which month is also known as the Master of Truces in Islam?

The sacred month of Dhul Qadah that prohibits war is also called the Master of Truces.

12. Dhul Hijjah – The sacred month of Hajj

The last month of the Islamic calendar is dedicated to the Hajj trip. The pilgrimage to the holy Kaaba is considered one of Islam's five pillars and is conducted by millions of Muslims yearly. The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the most pious. Fasting at Dhul Hijjah is thought to be similar to fasting all year. Spending time in a masjid and making dua throughout these days are two beneficial activities that one must conduct to honor Allah during this month.

Dhul Hijjah – The sacred month of Hajj

Notable Days: The 9th of Dhul Hijjah is Arafah Day, and fasting on this day cleanses the sins of this life. In addition, Muslims mark the 10th of the month as the feast of sacrifice or the night of Eid.

So, each month in the Islamic calendar is significant in some way and related to the history of Islam and the faiths of the Muslim people in some way or another. Also, there are four sacred months in the Islamic calendar, namely Rajab, Muharram, Dhul Hijjah, and Dhul Qadah. Scholars suggest that performing good deeds and acts of worship during these months is essential.

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