Lunar Months
This is in the Qur'an:
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said within his final sermon:
| The lunar year is about 354 days, so the months gravitate backwards through the solar based Gregorian calendar. Islamic months begin at sunset of the first day, the day when the lunar crescent is visually sighted. |
| Full Islamic Name | Shorter Islamic Name | Meaning & Comment | |
| 1st | Muharram | Muharram | Forbidden (one of the four months during which it is forbidden to fight) |
| 2nd | Safar | Safar | Catastrophes (untrue); Empty or Yellow |
| 3rd | Rabi-ul-Awwal | Rabi I/ Rabia Awal | First month of spring |
| 4th | Rabi-ul-Akhir | Rabi II/ Rabia Thani | Second month of spring |
| 5th | Jumaada-al-Oola | Jumad I/ Jumada Awal | First freeze |
| 6th | Jumaada-ath-Thaani | Jumad II/ Jumada Thani | Second freeze |
| 7th | Rajab | Rajab | Rajaba – respect another holy month when fighting is prohibited |
| 8th | Sha'baan | Sha'ban | Consecutively escalating innumerous blessings/ to spread and distribute |
| 9th | Ramadhaan | Ramadan | Ramadha - intense heat daytime asting |
| 10th | Shawwaal | Shawwal | Uplift/ breakage - superstition of unsuccessful marriages (abolished)/ Sins forgiven Six voluntary fasts/ Light and vigorous |
| 11th | Zul-Qi'dah | Dhul-Qi'dah | The month of rest - also when no fighting is allowed |
| 12th | Zul-Hijjah | Dhul-Hijja | Hajj–Pilgrimage - 1st 10 days most virtuous, yet again when no warfare or fighting is allowed |
Festivals
| Martyrdom of Imam Hussain | 10 Muharram | The grandson of Muhammad (pbuh) |
| Hijrah | Rabi-al-Awal | Commemorates the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers from Makkah to Madinah (July 16 622 CE) |
| The Prophet’s (pbuh) birthday | 12 Rabi-Awal | Sometimes involves readings on the life of the Prophet (pbuh). Dates are 20 August 570 CE or 22 April 571 CE |
| Shab-e-Miraj | 27 Rajab | The Night of the Journey and Ascension when Prophet (pbuh) underwent a miraculous journey from Makkah to Jerusalem ascending to the heavens |
| Shal-e-Barat | 15 Sha'ban | Night of blessings when the fate of individuals is decided |
| Leilat-al-Qadar | 27 Ramadan | The Night of Power when the Qur'an was first revealed through Muhammad |
| Id-ul-Fitr | 1 Shawwal | The end of the fast of Ramadan leading to zakat charity (often food), communal prayer (sermon is optional), and feasting but definitely not fasting. |
| Id-ul-Adha | 10 Dhul Hijjah | This is the festival of sacrifice that unites those on the Hajj with other Muslims around the world and sacrificed animals are shared and offered to the poor |
Adrian Worsfold