Important dates in Islam

Dates are subject to local sighting of the new moon. For more information about these holidays, go to our Muslim holiday page.

The months
of Islam
  1. Muharram
  2. Safar
  3. Rabi' al-awwal
  4. Rabi' al-thani
  5. Jumada al-awwal
  6. Jumada al-thani
  7. Rajab
  8. Sha'aban
  9. Ramadan
  10. Shawwal
  11. Dhu al-Qi'dah
  12. Dhu al-Hijjah

2009

  • Islamic New Year: January 10, 2008 (1429 A.H.1)
  • Ramadan: 2009 (or the Islamic year of 1430) is approximately August 22 - September 20
  • Lailatul-Qadr (Night of Power) September 16, 2009
  • Eid ul-Fitr: September 20 or 21, 2009
  • Hajj: December 6 - December 9, 2008
  • Eid ul-Adha: 27 or 28 November
  • Islamic New Year: 18 December (1431 A.H.1)
  • Ashura: Sunday 27 December

1A.H. stands for After Hijrah. Hijrah means "migration" in Arabic. This refers to the migration the Prophet Muhammad made from Mecca to Medina in the year 622 A.D. (C.E.), which marks the beginning of the Islamic Calendar.

Send us your comments:

Wed, 27 Sep 2006

Salaam Alaykum! Ramadan Karim. Pax Vobiscum, et Deus Benedicte. I am honored that you, as a Christian and believer in God, have extended such a positive and inclusive section on Islam. As a Muslim living in the "Bible Belt" of Medwestern America, it saddens me that there is not more mutual understanding here of the similarities of our faiths. I am writing mainly to offer a correction to a date on your site- My studies of Islam place the Hijra during 622 C.E. (Anno Domini) which would start the A.H. Calendar at 1 Anno Hegirae that year. 610 C.E., when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was 40 years of age, was the year the Archangel Yibril (Gabriel) began to relate the holy Qur'an. If you care to, please write me a return letter regarding supporting your efforts.
Thank you. Brian U.


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