The word · History
التَّقْوِيمُ الهِجْرِيّ
Hijri Calendar
The Muslim lunar calendar, counting years from the Hijrah and running about eleven days shorter than the solar year.
Also written · Hijri · Hijri year · AH · Islamic calendar · Lunar calendar · Taqwim Hijri · Hijra calendar · Hijri date · Muslim calendar · Sanah Hijriyyah · Hicri takvim · Islamic months
The meaning
What Hijri Calendar means in Islam
Umar established it, choosing the Hijrah as year one rather than the Prophet's birth or the first revelation. Its twelve months are Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwal, Rabi ath-Thani, Jumada al-Ula, Jumada al-Akhirah, Rajab, Sha'ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhul Qa'dah and Dhul Hijjah, and four of them are sacred. Because it is purely lunar, Ramadan and hajj move through all the seasons over roughly thirty three years, so every generation fasts both the long days and the short ones.
Evidence · Editorial · Our own summary, drawn from the sources named
Read beside it
Words that sit beside it
- HijrahThe Prophet's migration from Makkah to Madinah in 622, the start of the Muslim calendar.الهِجْرَة
- Umar ibn al-KhattabThe second caliph, called al-Faruq, under whom the Muslim state expanded enormously.عُمَرُ بْنُ الخَطَّاب
- AshuraThe tenth of Muharram, a day the Prophet fasted for the deliverance of Musa from Pharaoh.عَاشُورَاء
- SawmFasting: abstaining from food, drink and intimacy from true dawn until sunset, with intention.صَوْم
- HajjThe pilgrimage to Makkah in Dhul Hijjah, obligatory once in a lifetime on those who are able.حَجّ
More from History
- Abu BakrThe Prophet's closest friend, his companion in the cave, and the first caliph.أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيق
- Battle of Mu'tahThe first clash with Byzantine forces, in year eight, where three appointed commanders fell in turn.مُؤْتَة
- Hijr Isma'ilThe low semicircular wall beside the Ka'bah, enclosing ground that is part of the original house.حِجْرُ إِسْمَاعِيل
- Imam MuslimThe compiler of the second Sahih, a student and close friend of al-Bukhari.مُسْلِمُ بْنُ الحَجَّاج
- Khulafa RashidunThe four caliphs after the Prophet: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali.الخُلَفَاءُ الرَّاشِدُون
- Safa and MarwahTwo small hills in Makkah, now enclosed in a corridor, walked between during hajj and umrah.الصَّفَا وَالمَرْوَة