What is the Hijri calendar?
The Hijri (Islamic) calendar is a lunar calendar of 12 months, each lasting 29 or 30 days depending on when the new crescent moon appears. A Hijri year is 354 or 355 days, about 11 days shorter than a solar year, so the months move through the seasons and Ramadan falls about 11 days earlier on the Gregorian calendar each year. Year 1 AH (Anno Hegirae) begins with the Hijrah, the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Makkah to Madinah, in 622 CE.
The twelve Hijri months
| # | Month | Arabic | Notable days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muharram | محرم | Islamic New Year (1st), Ashura (10th) |
| 2 | Safar | صفر | |
| 3 | Rabiʿ al-awwal | ربيع الأول | Mawlid al-Nabi (12th, observed by many) |
| 4 | Rabiʿ al-thani | ربيع الآخر | |
| 5 | Jumada al-ula | جمادى الأولى | |
| 6 | Jumada al-thani | جمادى الآخرة | |
| 7 | Rajab | رجب | Isra and Miʿraj (27th, observed by many) |
| 8 | Shaʿban | شعبان | Night of mid-Shaʿban (15th) |
| 9 | Ramadan | رمضان | Month of fasting; Laylat al-Qadr is sought in the last ten nights |
| 10 | Shawwal | شوال | Eid al-Fitr (1st) |
| 11 | Dhu al-Qiʿdah | ذو القعدة | |
| 12 | Dhu al-Hijjah | ذو الحجة | Hajj; Day of Arafah (9th), Eid al-Adha (10th) |
How the conversion works
This converter offers two calendars. Umm al-Qura is the calendar published by Saudi Arabia, based on astronomical calculation of the new moon, and is widely used for civil purposes in the Gulf. The tabular (civil) calendar follows a fixed 30-year cycle of long and short months, so it is purely arithmetical and can differ from either of the others by a day. Neither replaces moon sighting: many countries, and many scholars, start the months from the local sighting of the crescent.
If your country or mosque announces a different date, use the moon-sighting adjustment to shift the result by one or two days and every date on the page, including the key occasions below, follows.
Expected dates of Ramadan and the two Eids
These dates follow the Umm al-Qura calendar. Local announcements may be a day earlier or later.
| Hijri year | Ramadan begins | Eid al-Fitr | Eid al-Adha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1448 AH | 8 February 2027 | 9 March 2027 | 16 May 2027 |
| 1449 AH | 28 January 2028 | 26 February 2028 | 5 May 2028 |
| 1450 AH | 16 January 2029 | 14 February 2029 | 24 April 2029 |
| 1451 AH | 5 January 2030 | 4 February 2030 | 13 April 2030 |
| 1452 AH | 26 December 2030 | 24 January 2031 | 2 April 2031 |
Common uses
- Finding today’s Islamic date for documents, cards and messages
- Working out when Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha fall in a given year
- Converting a birthday or anniversary between the two calendars
- Checking the Hijri date on a certificate, contract or invoice from a Gulf country
- Planning Umrah, Hajj or travel around the Islamic months
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a Gregorian date to a Hijri date?
Choose "Gregorian to Hijri", pick the date and read the result. For example, 8 February 2027 is 1 Ramadan 1448 AH under the Umm al-Qura calendar, which is the first day of Ramadan 1448.
What is the difference between Umm al-Qura and the tabular calendar?
Umm al-Qura is Saudi Arabia's official calendar, calculated astronomically. The tabular calendar uses a fixed 30-year cycle of month lengths, so it is simpler but can differ from sighted dates by a day or two. Neither replaces local moon sighting.
Why is the Hijri date different in my country?
Islamic months begin when the new crescent is sighted or calculated, and countries follow different methods and announcements, so the same day can be dated a day earlier or later. Use the moon-sighting adjustment to match your local date.
How many days are in a Hijri year?
A Hijri year has 12 months of 29 or 30 days, so it lasts 354 or 355 days. That is about 11 days shorter than a Gregorian year, which is why Ramadan moves earlier each year.