Islamic Calendar 2026التقويم الهجري

About the Islamic (Hijri) Calendar

The Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, is a lunar calendar used by Muslims worldwide to determine religious observances. It consists of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days, making it about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar calendar.

History of the Hijri Calendar

The Islamic calendar began in 622 CE, marking the year of the Hijra—Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) migration from Makkah to Madinah. This event is so significant that it marks the beginning of the Islamic era (AH - Anno Hegirae, "in the year of the Hijra").

Importance of the Lunar Calendar

The lunar nature of the Islamic calendar means that Islamic holidays like Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and the Day of Ashura rotate through all seasons over a 33-year cycle, allowing Muslims in different parts of the world to experience these blessed times in various seasons.