Simple Guide
A simple explanation of the Hijri calendar, its origin, how it is calculated, and why it remains important in the daily and religious life of Muslims.
The Hijri date is the Islamic calendar that depends on the lunar cycle to determine the beginning and end of months. That is why it is also called the Islamic or lunar calendar.
It is widely used across the Muslim world to determine religious seasons such as Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Hajj, and other events connected to Islamic worship.
Muslims officially adopted this calendar during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, when the migration of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, from Makkah to Madinah was chosen as the starting point of Islamic dating.
Because the Hijrah was a major turning point in Islamic history, the year of that event, corresponding to 622 CE, became the first year of the Hijri calendar.
The Hijri calendar consists of 12 lunar months, and each month usually has 29 or 30 days depending on the lunar cycle and the sighting of the crescent moon.
For that reason, the Hijri year is shorter than the Gregorian year by about 10 to 12 days, which causes Hijri months to move through the seasons over time.
The Hijri months are: Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwal, Rabi al-Thani, Jumada al-Ula, Jumada al-Akhirah, Rajab, Shaaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qadah, and Dhu al-Hijjah.
Muslims depend on the Hijri calendar to determine many acts of worship and religious seasons. The start and end of Ramadan are based on it, as is the timing of Hajj in Dhu al-Hijjah and Islamic holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
So the Hijri calendar is not only a dating system. It is part of religious practice and timekeeping in Islamic culture.
The Hijri calendar is based on the moon, while the Gregorian calendar is based on the sun. This is why the Hijri year is shorter than the Gregorian year.
The Hijri calendar also begins from the migration of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, while the Gregorian calendar is historically linked to the birth of Jesus, peace be upon him.
Although the Gregorian calendar is the most widely used system worldwide, the Hijri calendar still has a strong place in many Muslim countries, especially in religious occasions and related decisions.
In some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, the Hijri calendar is also used in a number of official and legal contexts.
The Hijri calendar is a central part of Islamic heritage and Muslim daily life because it organizes worship times and major religious events.
Even though it differs from the Gregorian calendar in basis and calculation, it remains a living and essential calendar for millions of Muslims around the world.
Short answers about what the Hijri calendar means, how it is used, and why it differs from the Gregorian calendar.
It is the Islamic calendar based on the lunar cycle, used to determine months, years, and major Islamic religious occasions.
Because it begins from the migration of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, from Makkah to Madinah.
The Hijri year has 12 lunar months, just like the Gregorian year has 12 months, but the method of calculation is different.
Because the Hijri calendar is lunar while the Gregorian calendar is solar, so the Hijri year is shorter by several days.
It is used to determine Ramadan, Hajj, Islamic holidays, and other religious observances connected to lunar months.
No. Because the Hijri year is shorter than the Gregorian year, Hijri months gradually move through the seasons over time.