The Islamic calendar (or Hijri calendar) is a lunar calendar based on the positions of the moon.
- In every year there are 12 months.
- In each month there are either 29 or 30 days.
- Therefore each year has either 354 or 355 days.
- Each new year falls 10 or 11 days earlier (annual drift) according to the 365 day solar calendar.
- A month begins by the sighting of the new moon (i.e. first visible crescent).
- The western convention in designating Islamic dates is by the abbreviation AH, which stands for the Latin anno hegirae, or “Year of the Hijrah“.
- The 12 months of the Islamic calendar are as follows:
| # | Name of Month | Arabic | Pronunciation |
| 1 | Muharram |  |
|
| 2 | Safar |  |
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| 3 | Rabi’ al-Awwal (Rabi’ I) |  |
|
| 4 | Rabi’ al-Thani (Rabi’ II, Rabi’ al-Akhir) |  |
|
| 5 | Jumada al-Ula (Jumada I, Jumada al-Awwal) |  |
|
| 6 | Jumada al-Thani (Jumada II, Jumada al-Akhira) |  |
|
| 7 | Rajab |  |
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| 8 | Sha’ban |  |
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| 9 | Ramadan |  |
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| 10 | Shawwal |  |
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| 11 | Dhul-Qa’dah |  |
|
| 12 | Dhul-Hijjah |  |
 |
 |
Ref:
- “Islam in Focus”. By Hammudah Abdalati. Da’wah Academy International Islamic University. Pg 202
- “Understanding the Islamic Calendar”. By Mountain of Light [Link]
- “Islamic calendar”. (2012, June 29). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:24, July 1, 2012, from [Link]
- “Tafsir ibn Kathir (Abridged) Volume 4” – Second Edition. By Imam Abu Al-Fida Ismail Ibn Kathir. Maktaba Dar-us-Salam, July 2003, pg 421.
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