The 12 Islamic Months: Names in English, Arabic and Urdu

The Islamic (Hijri) calendar has 12 months: Muharram, Safar, Rabi ul Awwal, Rabi ul Sani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada al-Sani, Rajab, Sha’ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhul Qadah and Dhul Hijjah. Each one begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon and lasts 29 or 30 days. Today in Pakistan it is Rabiʻ II 23, 1448 AH, which means we are in Rabi ul Sani, month 4 of 12.

All 12 months in English, Arabic and Urdu

Spellings in English vary a lot. Rabi ul Sani is also written Rabi al-Thani or Rabi al-Akhir, Jumada al-Sani as Jumada al-Thani or Jumada al-Akhirah, and Dhul Qadah as Zulqadah or Dhu al-Qi’dah. In Arabic, the 4th and 6th months are often written with “al-Akhir” or “al-Akhirah” (the last) instead of “al-Thani” (the second).

What happens in each month

Muharram

The first month and one of the four sacred months. The Islamic New Year falls on the 1st, and Ashura on the 10th. In Pakistan the 9th and 10th are public holidays. This year’s dates are on the Ashura countdown.

Safar

The second month. There is no major holiday. Some old beliefs treat Safar as unlucky, but scholars say there is no basis for this in Islam.

Rabi ul Awwal

The month in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born. In Pakistan, 12 Rabi ul Awwal is marked as Eid Milad-un-Nabi and is a public holiday, expected next on Sunday, August 15, 2027.

Rabi ul Sani, Jumada al-Awwal and Jumada al-Sani

Months four to six have no national holidays in Pakistan. In Rabi ul Sani, many people in Pakistan mark the 11th, known as Giyarhvin Sharif, in remembrance of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani.

Rajab

A sacred month. The night of the 27th is observed as Shab-e-Miraj, expected next on the evening of Tuesday, January 5, 2027.

Sha’ban

The month before Ramadan. The night of the 15th is Shab-e-Barat, expected next on the evening of Saturday, January 23, 2027. See our Shab-e-Barat guide.

Ramadan

The month of fasting, in which the revelation of the Quran began. Laylatul Qadr is sought in its last ten odd nights. The next Ramadan is expected to begin in Pakistan on Tuesday, February 9, 2027.

Shawwal

Starts with Eid ul Fitr. Many people also keep six voluntary fasts during Shawwal.

Dhul Qadah

A sacred month with no holiday, when pilgrims begin travelling for Hajj.

Dhul Hijjah

The last month and the month of Hajj. The Day of Arafah is the 9th and Eid ul Adha the 10th, with qurbani on the 10th to 12th. Eid ul Adha is expected next on Monday, May 17, 2027.

The four sacred months

Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qadah and Dhul Hijjah are the four sacred months, during which fighting was traditionally forbidden. Three of them come one after the other at the turn of the Islamic year, and Rajab stands alone in the middle.

How long is each month?

Every month has 29 or 30 days, decided by the moon sighting. There is no fixed pattern like the Gregorian 31-30-31. Over a year the 12 months add up to 354 or 355 days, about 11 days shorter than the solar year. That’s why Ramadan and the Eids move earlier each year, as our guide on why Islamic dates move explains.

Do the months have seasons?

Some month names hint at seasons. Ramadan is often linked to a root meaning scorching heat, and the two Rabi months to spring. These names were fixed long ago, and because the calendar has no leap month, the months now pass through every season over a cycle of about 33 years. Ramadan can fall in summer heat one decade and in mild winter weather the next.

To convert any date between the two calendars, use our Hijri date converter.

Frequently asked questions