The Four Sacred Months in Islam (Ashhur al-Hurum)
Published: · اردو میں پڑھیں
Quran 9:36 says that of the twelve months “four are sacred” (arba‘atun hurum). The Prophet ﷺ named them in his sermon at the Farewell Hajj.
Which months are they?
Abu Bakrah (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Time has come back to its original form which it had when Allah created the heavens and the earth. The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred: three consecutive — Dhul-Qa‘dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram — and Rajab of Mudar, which comes between Jumada [al-Akhirah] and Sha‘ban.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3197, 4662; Sahih Muslim 1679)
| Month | Number |
|---|---|
| Muharram | 1st |
| Rajab | 7th |
| Dhul-Qa‘dah | 11th |
| Dhul-Hijjah | 12th |
What does “sacred” mean?
Allah says about them: “so do not wrong yourselves during them” (9:36). Fighting in them was declared a grave matter (Quran 2:217), and Allah forbade violating their sanctity (Quran 5:2). Scholars explain that wrongdoing in these months is more serious, while sin is forbidden at all times.
Fasting in Muharram
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best fasting after Ramadan is in Allah’s month, Muharram.” (Sahih Muslim 1163)
A note on Rajab
Rajab is a sacred month by the hadith above. Specific prayers or fasts for particular nights of Rajab are not established by authentic hadith, so we do not mention any.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the four sacred months in Islam?
Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab (Sahih al-Bukhari 3197; Sahih Muslim 1679).
Where are the sacred months mentioned in the Quran?
Surah at-Tawbah 9:36: of the twelve months, four are sacred.
Which three sacred months are consecutive?
Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram. Rajab comes separately, between Jumada al-Akhirah and Sha'ban.
References
- Quran 9:36
- Quran 2:217
- Quran 5:2
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3197, 4662
- Sahih Muslim 1679, 1163