About Dhu al-Qadah
Dhu al-Qadah (ذُو ٱلْقَعْدَة) is the eleventh month of the Hijri calendar. Its name means “The one of truce.” The eleventh month and a sacred month, traditionally a time of truce ahead of the pilgrimage season. It is one of the four sacred months (Dhu al-Qadah, Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab), in which fighting was traditionally prohibited.
Like every Hijri month it has 29 or 30 days, determined in the Umm al-Qura calendar by the official tables and in the tabular calendar by a fixed arithmetic rule. Because the lunar month depends on the sighting of the new crescent, the exact first day can differ by a day from the calculated date. Our guide on Umm al-Qura, tabular and moon-sighting calendars sets out how far apart the three methods actually land.
Frequently asked questions
What is Dhu al-Qadah?
Dhu al-Qadah (ذُو ٱلْقَعْدَة) is the eleventh month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar. Its name means "The one of truce". The eleventh month and a sacred month, traditionally a time of truce ahead of the pilgrimage season.
How many days does Dhu al-Qadah have?
Like every Hijri month, Dhu al-Qadah has 29 or 30 days. In the Umm al-Qura calendar the length comes from the official published tables; in the tabular calendar it follows a fixed arithmetic rule.
When does Dhu al-Qadah begin?
Dhu al-Qadah begins on a different Gregorian date each year because the Hijri year is about eleven days shorter. In 1446 AH, 1 Dhu al-Qadah began on 29 April 2025 in the Umm al-Qura calendar. The exact first day can differ by a day from the local moon sighting.
Is Dhu al-Qadah a sacred month?
Yes. Dhu al-Qadah is one of the four sacred months of the Islamic calendar, together with Dhu al-Qadah, Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab, in which fighting was traditionally prohibited.