The Islamic Months
A comprehensive guide to the Hijri Calendar: Meanings, Blessings, and History
The Islamic calendar (Hijri calendar) is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days. Below is the chronological order of the Islamic months:
1. Muharram
2. Safar
3. Rabi-Al-Awwal
4. Rabi-Al-Thani
5. Jumada-Al-Awwal
6. Jumada-Al-Thani
7. Rajab
8. Shaban
9. Ramadan
10. Shawwal
11. Zul-Qa'dah
12. Zul-Hijjah
1. Muharram
Meaning: "Forbidden." Even before Islam, this month was known as a sacred month in which all unlawful acts (prominently the shedding of blood) were forbidden.
Blessings & Virtues
- 10th of Muharram: He who spends lavishly for his family on this day will have blessings bestowed upon his sustenance for the following year.
- Fasting on the 10th of Muharram pardons the sins of the past year (Tirmizi).
Historical Events
- Prior to Islam: Prophet Adam (pbuh) was born and entered Paradise on the 10th; Prophet Ayyub (pbuh) was cured; a way was made in the sea for Bani Israel; Prophet Suleman (pbuh) was ordained King; the oceans and heavens were created.
- During Islam: Hadhrat Hussain (R.A.) was martyred.
- Verse 48:2 of the Qur'an (Al-Fath) was revealed on the 10th.
- The Prophet (pbuh) went to defeat Bani Muhaarin and Bani Tha'laba in 4 A.H.
- Qiyaamah (The Day of Judgment) will take place on the 10th of Muharram.
2. Safar
Meaning: "Whistling of the wind." When assigned, it was likely a windy time of year. Because months shift 11 days annually, seasons no longer correspond to the names.
Misconception: This time of the year was once considered cursed. This belief is entirely false and absurd. The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The descending of illness and evil superstition befalling in the month of Safar is untrue." (Muslim)
Historical Events
- The Battle of Abwaa took place on 12th of Safar, 2 A.H.
- The Battle of Khaibar took place in 7 A.H.
- Hadhrat Ali (R.A.) married the Prophet's daughter Hadhrat Fatima (R.A.) in Safar, 2 A.H.
- Khubaib Ibn Adey (R.A.) and Zaid Ibn Dathina (R.A.) were martyred in Makkah in 4 A.H.
3. Rabi-Al-Awwal
Meaning: "First month of spring."
Historical Events
- The Holy Prophet (pbuh) was born in this month and departed from this world 63 years later.
- The Holy Prophet migrated from Makkah to Madinah Munawwarah.
- Battles of Buwaat and Saf'vaan took place in 2 A.H.
- Abu Bakr's (R.A.) daughter, Asma (R.A.), and the Prophet's daughter Ruqayyah (R.A.) were born before Prophecy.
- Abu Bakr (R.A.) was appointed Caliph.
- Hadhrat Umme Kulthum was married to Uthman (R.A.) in 3 A.H.
- Deaths: Wife of the Prophet, Zainab (R.A.) in 4 A.H.; Ibrahim (R.A.), son of the Prophet, in 10 A.H.
4. Rabi-Al-Thani
Meaning: "Second month of spring."
Historical Events
- Battle of Furu' from Buhraan took place in 3 A.H. (The Prophet consigned Ali Ibn Abi Talib as colonel in 9 A.H. for Sariyyah).
- Deaths: Hadhrat Khwaja Nizamuddin (725 Hijri) and Hadhrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilanee (561 Hijri).
5. Jumada-Al-Awwal
Meaning: "The first month of summer" (Jumada means dry).
Historical Events
- The Battle of Moota took place in 8 A.H. Hadhrat Zaid Ibn Haritha (R.A.) was appointed General.
- Hadhrat Khalid ibn Walid was proclaimed "One of the swords of Allah" during Moota.
- The Holy Prophet married Hadhrat Khadijah (R.A.) 15 years prior to Prophecy.
- Deaths: Hadhrat Zaid Ibn Haritha, Ja'far Ibn Abi Talib, and Abdullah Ibn Rawaahah met martyrdom in 8 A.H. Abdul Muttalib passed away 32 years prior to prophecy.
6. Jumada-Al-Thani
Meaning: "Second month of summer."
Historical Events
- Battle of Salaasil took place in 8 A.H.
- Abu Salama (R.A.) died in the year 4 A.H.
7. Rajab
Meaning: "To respect." A sacred month in which fighting was forbidden. Also called "Rajab al Fard" (alone) because it is separated from the other three consecutive sacred months.
Historical Events
- The Holy Prophet ascended to Heaven on the 27th (Mi'raaj).
- Hadhrat Bilal Ibn Haritha (R.A.) brought 400 men (Banu Muzeena) who embraced Islam in 5 A.H.
- Battle of Tabook (the last battle the Prophet participated in) took place in 9 A.H.
- The second Oath of Aqabah took place in 12 A.H.
- Deaths: Imam Abu Hanifa (150 A.H.), Imam Shafi'ee (204 A.H.), Imam Muslim (261 A.H.), and Imam Nawawee (677 A.H.).
8. Shaban
Meaning: "Consecutively escalating" or branching. Arabs used to branch out to look for water.
Blessings: Shaban gears our souls and prepares us for the fruitful harvest of Ramadan. The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Shaban is my month and Ramadan the month of Allah."
Historical Events
- Laila-tul Baraa'at (Night of forgiveness) occurs on the 15th night.
- The "Qibla" reverted to the Ka'aba in 2 A.H. on the 15th of Shaban.
- Fasting in Ramadan was made compulsory in 2 A.H.
- Hadhrat Hafsa (R.A.) married the Prophet in 3 A.H., and passed away in this month years later.
- Hadhrat Hussain (R.A.) was born in 4 A.H.
- Battle of Banu Mustaliq occurred; the Aayah of Tayammum was revealed in 5 A.H.
9. Ramadan
Meaning: "Intense heat." It may refer to the summer heat when the calendar was enforced, the internal heat of fasting, or how Allah "burns away" accumulated sins.
Blessings: A blessed month containing Laylatul-Qadr (a night greater than 1,000 months). Fasting every day is obligatory.
Historical Events
- The Qur'an was revealed on the 27th night from the Lauhe Mahfooz.
- The Battle of Badr (first Islamic battle) took place on the 12th in 2 A.H.
- Victory of Makkah took place on the 18th in 8 A.H.
- Births/Marriages: Hasan (R.A.) was born in 3 A.H. Sawdah (R.A.) and Zainab Bint Khuzaima (R.A.) were married to the Prophet.
- Deaths: Ruqayyah (2 A.H.), Khadijah (10 A.H.), Fatimah (11 A.H.), Abbas (32 A.H.), Ali (40 A.H.), Saffiyah (50 A.H.), and Aa'ishah (58 A.H.).
10. Shawwal
Meaning: "Uplift/breakage" or "when the female camel gets pregnant."
Blessings: The 1st of Shawwal is Eid-Ul-Fitr. It is Sunnah to fast six days in Shawwal. Doing so after Ramadan is equivalent to fasting all year round (Muslim).
Historical Events
- Hadhrat Aa'ishah Siddiqah (R.A.) was born and later married to the Prophet in this month.
- The fight between Banu Qaynaqaa (2 A.H.) and the Battle of Uhud (3 A.H.) took place.
- The Prophet married Hadhrat Umme Salamah (R.A.) in 4 A.H.
- Deaths: Aa'ishah's mother and the Prophet's uncle Abu Talib (5 A.H.).
- Imam Bukhari (R.A.) was born in 194 A.H.
11. Zul-Qa'dah
Meaning: "To sit." A sacred month where fighting was forbidden, and Arabs stopped business to sit and prepare for Hajj.
Historical Events
- The Battle of Khandaq (Trench / Ahzab) in 5 A.H.
- Truce of Hudaubiyah and Bay'at-e-Rizwaan in 6 A.H.
- The return to Makkah for Umrah by the Prophet and Companions in 7 A.H.
12. Zul-Hijjah
Meaning: "The month of Hajj (Pilgrimage)." The final sacred month.
Blessings: The first ten days are the most virtuous days of the year. Fasting on the Day of Arafaat forgives the sins of the previous and proceeding year (Muslim).
Historical Events
- The Prophet (pbuh) performed the Farewell Hajj and delivered the Farewell Sermon.
- Egypt was conquered by the army sent by Hadhrat Umar (R.A.).
- Uthmaan (R.A.) was appointed the third Caliph.
- Bay'ate-Aqabah occurred.
- Hadhrat Fatimah (R.A.) was married to Hadhrat Ali (R.A.).
- Deaths (Martyrdoms): Hadhrat Umar (26 A.H.) and Hadhrat Uthmaan (35 A.H.).