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al-taqwīm al-hijrī
Lunar calendar
Al-taqwīm al-hijrī (التقويم الهجري) refers to the Islamic lunar calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, which is based on the lunar cycles and consists of 12 months with approximately 354 or 355 days per year. This calendar is widely used in Muslim-majority countries for religious purposes, particularly for determining Islamic holidays and observances such as Ramadan and Hajj. The term literally breaks down into 'al-taqwīm' (calendar/system) and 'al-hijrī' (relating to the Hijra, the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE).
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نحتفل بعيد الفطر وفقاً للتقويم الهجري.
Naḥtafil bi-ʿīd al-fiṭr wafqan li-l-taqwīm al-hijrī.
We celebrate Eid al-Fitr according to the Islamic lunar calendar.
السنة الهجرية تبدأ من هجرة النبي محمد إلى المدينة.
Al-sana al-hijrīya tabdaʾ min hijrat al-nabī Muḥammad ilá al-madīna.
The Islamic year begins from the migration of Prophet Muhammad to Medina.
التقويم الهجري يحتوي على اثني عشر شهراً قمرياً.
Al-taqwīm al-hijrī yaḥtawī ʿalá ithnay ʿashar shahr qamrīyyan.
The Islamic lunar calendar contains twelve lunar months.
في التقويم الهجري، شهر رمضان هو الشهر التاسع.
Fī al-taqwīm al-hijrī, shahr Ramaḍān huwa al-shahr al-tāsiʿ.
In the Islamic calendar, the month of Ramadan is the ninth month.
يختلف التقويم الهجري عن التقويم الميلادي في عدد الأيام.
Yakhtalif al-taqwīm al-hijrī ʿan al-taqwīm al-mīlādī fī ʿadad al-ayyām.
The Islamic lunar calendar differs from the Gregorian calendar in the number of days.
The Hijri calendar holds profound religious and cultural significance in Islam, as it marks the beginning of the Islamic era from the year 622 CE when Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina. This calendar is the official calendar used in several Muslim-majority countries such as Saudi Arabia and is used by Muslims worldwide to determine the dates of major Islamic holidays including Ramadan (the holy month of fasting), Eid al-Fitr (the festival marking the end of Ramadan), Eid al-Adha (the festival of sacrifice), and the Hajj pilgrimage. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Hijri calendar is purely lunar, causing Islamic holidays to shift approximately 11 days earlier each Gregorian year, which means they cycle through all seasons over a 33-year period.
When learning this term, remember that 'التقويم' (taqwīm) means 'calendar' or 'system,' while 'الهجري' (al-hijrī) is the adjective meaning 'Islamic' or 'relating to the Hijra.' You will often see this term written alongside 'الميلادي' (al-mīlādī, Gregorian) for comparison. In everyday Arabic conversation, Muslims might refer to dates using both calendars for clarity, so familiarize yourself with phrases like 'According to the Hijri calendar' (وفقاً للتقويم الهجري). Understanding this calendar is essential for engaging meaningfully with Islamic cultural and religious contexts.
التقويم الهجري (al-taqwīm al-hijrī), commonly known as the Hijri calendar or Islamic calendar, is the lunar calendar used by Muslims worldwide for religious and administrative purposes. This calendar is based on the lunar month, which is approximately 29.5 days long, resulting in a year of 12 months totaling about 354 or 355 days. The calendar derives its name from the Hijra (الهجرة), the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in the year 622 CE, which marks the beginning of the Islamic era (year 1 AH).
The Hijri calendar consists of twelve lunar months, each beginning when the new moon is sighted. The months are:
Because the lunar year is approximately 11 days shorter than the solar year, Islamic holidays shift earlier by about 11 days each Gregorian year, allowing them to cycle through all seasons over a period of approximately 33 years.
The Islamic lunar calendar is integral to Muslim religious practice and cultural life. It determines the timing of major Islamic observances and celebrations. Ramadan (رمضان), the ninth month, is the holiest month in Islam, during which Muslims observe a daily fast from dawn to sunset. The month following Ramadan is Shawwal (شوال), which begins with Eid al-Fitr (عيد الفطر), a major Islamic festival celebrating the completion of the Ramadan fast.
The month of Dhu al-Hijjah (ذو الحجة), the twelfth and final month, is significant for the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. On the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid al-Adha (عيد الأضحى), the Festival of Sacrifice, which commemorates Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
While the Gregorian calendar (التقويم الميلادي) is based on the solar year and is used internationally for civil purposes, the Islamic calendar is purely lunar. This fundamental difference means that Islamic dates do not correspond to fixed Gregorian dates; instead, they move approximately 11 days earlier each year. In many Muslim-majority countries, both calendars are used: the Islamic calendar for religious purposes and the Gregorian calendar for civil and commercial transactions.
For example, in Saudi Arabia, which is an Islamic state, the Hijri calendar is the official calendar, while in many other Muslim countries, the Gregorian calendar is used alongside the Hijri calendar for practical purposes.
Understanding التقويم الهجري is essential for anyone engaging with Islamic culture, religion, or Middle Eastern societies. Learning to read and interpret Islamic dates helps in understanding religious texts, historical events in Islamic history, and contemporary Islamic practices. The calendar is used not only for religious observances but also in legal documents, historical records, and cultural celebrations throughout the Muslim world.
When studying Arabic, learners frequently encounter references to Islamic dates and months, making familiarity with the Hijri calendar system invaluable for comprehensive language comprehension and cultural awareness.