The Islamic year

The twelve Hijri months

The Islamic calendar is lunar: twelve months of 29 or 30 days, about eleven days shorter than the Gregorian year. Four of the months are sacred - which four, and why. Each guide below covers a month's name, meaning, and what it marks. For the reason those eleven days go missing - and why the same Hijri date lands earlier in the Gregorian year every year - read how the Islamic calendar works.