# Islamic Months: The 12 Hijri Months in Order, Meanings & 2027 Dates | Aswati

Updated 28 Oct 2026

Guide · Islamic calendar

# The Islamic months.

All twelve months of the Hijri calendar in order: the Arabic names, what each one means, what happens in it, and when it starts in 1448 and 1449 AH.

**The 12 Islamic months in order are** Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwal, Rabi al-Thani, Jumada al-Ula, Jumada al-Akhirah, Rajab, Sha'ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa'dah and Dhu al-Hijjah. Each follows the moon and lasts 29 or 30 days. Four are sacred: **Muharram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qa'dah and Dhu al-Hijjah**.

## The 12 Islamic months, with 1448 and 1449 start dates

| # | Month | Starts in 1448 AH | Starts in 1449 AH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | **Muharram** محرّم | Tue 16 Jun 2026 | Sun 6 Jun 2027 |
| 2 | **Safar** صفر | Wed 15 Jul 2026 | Mon 5 Jul 2027 |
| 3 | **Rabi al-Awwal** ربيع الأول | Fri 14 Aug 2026 | Tue 3 Aug 2027 |
| 4 | **Rabi al-Thani** ربيع الآخر | Sat 12 Sep 2026 | Thu 2 Sep 2027 |
| 5 | **Jumada al-Ula** جمادى الأولى | Mon 12 Oct 2026 | Fri 1 Oct 2027 |
| 6 | **Jumada al-Akhirah** جمادى الآخرة | Wed 11 Nov 2026 | Sun 31 Oct 2027 |
| 7 | **Rajab** رجب | Thu 10 Dec 2026 | Mon 29 Nov 2027 |
| 8 | **Sha'ban** شعبان | Sat 9 Jan 2027 | Wed 29 Dec 2027 |
| 9 | **Ramadan** رمضان | Mon 8 Feb 2027 | Fri 28 Jan 2028 |
| 10 | **Shawwal** شوّال | Tue 9 Mar 2027 | Sat 26 Feb 2028 |
| 11 | **Dhu al-Qa'dah** ذو القعدة | Thu 8 Apr 2027 | Mon 27 Mar 2028 |
| 12 | **Dhu al-Hijjah** ذو الحجة | Fri 7 May 2027 | Wed 26 Apr 2028 |

Umm al-Qura calendar. Months that begin by local moon sighting can start a day earlier or later. For today's date, use the [Hijri date converter](https://aswati.co/tools/hijri-date-converter).

## What each Islamic month means

### 1. Muharram محرّم

**Meaning:** Sacred, forbidden: fighting was forbidden in it.

One of the four sacred months. Contains Ashura on the 10th. The Prophet ﷺ called it the month of Allah and said the best fasting after Ramadan is in Muharram (Muslim).

### 2. Safar صفر

**Meaning:** Empty: homes emptied as people travelled.

The belief that Safar brings bad luck was rejected by the Prophet ﷺ: there is no evil omen and no Safar (Bukhari).

### 3. Rabi al-Awwal ربيع الأول

**Meaning:** First spring.

The month of the Prophet's ﷺ birth and of his arrival in Madinah on the Hijrah.

### 4. Rabi al-Thani ربيع الآخر

**Meaning:** Second spring. Also called Rabi al-Akhir.

### 5. Jumada al-Ula جمادى الأولى

**Meaning:** From jamad, dry or frozen: named in a season of dryness or cold.

### 6. Jumada al-Akhirah جمادى الآخرة

**Meaning:** The second Jumada.

### 7. Rajab رجب

**Meaning:** To respect or honour.

One of the four sacred months.

### 8. Sha'ban شعبان

**Meaning:** To branch out: tribes dispersed in search of water.

The Prophet ﷺ fasted more in Sha'ban than in any month outside Ramadan (Bukhari, Muslim).

### 9. Ramadan رمضان

**Meaning:** From ramad, scorching heat.

The month of fasting, in which the Quran was revealed, with Laylat al-Qadr in its last ten nights.

### 10. Shawwal شوّال

**Meaning:** To lift: she-camels raised their tails in this season.

Eid al-Fitr is on the 1st. Fasting six days of Shawwal after Ramadan is like fasting the whole year (Muslim).

### 11. Dhu al-Qa'dah ذو القعدة

**Meaning:** The one of sitting: people sat back from fighting.

One of the four sacred months.

### 12. Dhu al-Hijjah ذو الحجة

**Meaning:** The one of the pilgrimage.

One of the four sacred months: Hajj, the Day of Arafah on the 9th and Eid al-Adha on the 10th. Its first ten days are the best days of the year (Bukhari).

## The four sacred months

Allah says the number of months with Him is twelve, of which four are sacred (Quran 9:36). In his farewell sermon the Prophet ﷺ named them: three in a row, **Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah and Muharram**, and **Rajab** on its own (Bukhari). Wrongdoing in them is weightier, and good deeds are especially encouraged.

## Plan the year ahead

For the exact dates of Ramadan, both Eids, Arafah and Ashura, see the [Islamic calendar 2027](https://aswati.co/islamic-calendar-2027), or count down with the [Ramadan countdown](https://aswati.co/tools/ramadan-countdown). If you make seasonal content, browse [Ramadan nasheeds](https://aswati.co/ramadan-nasheeds) and [Eid nasheeds](https://aswati.co/best-eid-nasheeds).

## Making Islamic content?

Every Islamic month brings its own content: Muharram reminders, Ramadan series, Hajj season, Eid reels. Aswati makes voice-only nasheeds and vocal beds with no instruments, royalty-free and cleared for monetised videos. Start with the [free pack](https://aswati.co/vocals) or browse [background nasheeds](https://aswati.co/background-nasheed).

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## Frequently asked questions

### What are the 12 Islamic months in order?

Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwal, Rabi al-Thani, Jumada al-Ula, Jumada al-Akhirah, Rajab, Sha'ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa'dah and Dhu al-Hijjah.

### What are the four sacred months in Islam?

Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. The Quran says four months are sacred (9:36), and the Prophet ﷺ named them in his farewell sermon (Bukhari).

### What is the current Islamic month?

Check the live Hijri date tool for today's date. In late October 2026 it is Jumada al-Ula 1448 AH.

### Why do Islamic months move every year?

Each month follows the moon and lasts 29 or 30 days, so the Islamic year is about 354 days, around 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. That is why Ramadan comes about 11 days earlier each year.

### Which is the first month of the Islamic calendar?

Muharram. 1 Muharram is the Islamic New Year; 1 Muharram 1449 is expected on or around 6 June 2027.

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## Audio for every month of the year

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