The Islamic (Hijri) year has 12 lunar months of 29 or 30 days each, about 354 or 355 days in total. Allah says: “Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve… of these, four are sacred” (Quran 9:36). The current month in Pakistan is Jumada al-Awwal 1448 (Jamadi ul Awal), and today is 15 Jumada al-Awwal 1448 AH.
The 12 Islamic months
| # | English | Arabic | Urdu / Roman Urdu | Meaning | Notable | 1st in Pakistan, 1448 AH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muharram | محرم | محرم الحرام / Muharram | forbidden / sacred | Sacred month · 1st = Islamic New Year · 10th = Ashura | Wed, 17 Jun 2026 |
| 2 | Safar | صفر | صفر المظفر / Safar | empty (commonly explained as homes left empty) | Thu, 16 Jul 2026 | |
| 3 | Rabi' al-Awwal | ربيع الأول | ربیع الاول / Rabi ul Awal | first spring | 12th observed as Eid Milad-un-Nabi in Pakistan | Sat, 15 Aug 2026 |
| 4 | Rabi' al-Thani | ربيع الثاني | ربیع الثانی / Rabi ul Akhir | second spring | Mon, 14 Sept 2026 | |
| 5 | Jumada al-Awwal | جمادى الأولى | جمادی الاول / Jamadi ul Awal | first of the dry (frozen) months | Tue, 13 Oct 2026 | |
| 6 | Jumada al-Thani | جمادى الآخرة | جمادی الثانی / Jamadi ul Akhir | second of the dry months | expected Wed, 11 Nov 2026 or Thu, 12 Nov 2026 | |
| 7 | Rajab | رجب | رجب المرجب / Rajab | respect, honour | Sacred month · 27th observed as Shab-e-Miraj in Pakistan | expected Thu, 10 Dec 2026 or Fri, 11 Dec 2026 |
| 8 | Sha'ban | شعبان | شعبان المعظم / Shaban | scattering / branching out | 15th night observed as Shab-e-Barat in Pakistan | expected Sat, 9 Jan 2027 or Sun, 10 Jan 2027 |
| 9 | Ramadan | رمضان | رمضان المبارک / Ramzan | intense heat | Month of fasting (Quran 2:185) | expected Mon, 8 Feb 2027 or Tue, 9 Feb 2027 |
| 10 | Shawwal | شوال | شوال المکرم / Shawwal | lifting, raising | 1st = Eid ul Fitr | expected Tue, 9 Mar 2027 or Wed, 10 Mar 2027 |
| 11 | Dhu al-Qa'dah | ذو القعدة | ذوالقعدہ / Zul Qadah | the month of sitting (truce) | Sacred month | expected Thu, 8 Apr 2027 or Fri, 9 Apr 2027 |
| 12 | Dhu al-Hijjah | ذو الحجة | ذوالحجہ / Zul Hijjah | the month of Hajj | Sacred month · 9th = Arafah · 10th = Eid ul Adha | expected Fri, 7 May 2027 or Sat, 8 May 2027 |
Dates in the last column are Pakistan's: months already announced by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee are fixed; later ones are expected (the Umm al-Qura date or one day after) until the moon is sighted.
The four sacred months
The sacred months are Muharram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qa'dah and Dhu al-Hijjah. The Prophet ﷺ named them in his Farewell Hajj sermon: three in a row (Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram) and Rajab between Jumada al-Thani and Sha'ban (Sahih al-Bukhari 3197, Sahih Muslim 1679). Read more: the four sacred months.
Which month is it now?
Today is day 15 of Jumada al-Awwal, month number 5 of 1448 AH. The next month is Jumada al-Thani (Jamadi ul Akhir). See every day of this month on the Hijri calendar, or the whole year on the Islamic calendar 2026.
Why do the months move every year?
Twelve lunar months are about 11 days shorter than the solar year, so Ramadan, Eid and every other Hijri date arrive roughly 11 days earlier in the Gregorian calendar each year. Each month begins when the new crescent is seen; Pakistan's months are announced by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (how moon sighting works).
Updated: · اردو میں پڑھیں
Frequently asked questions
What are the 12 Islamic months in order?
Muharram, Safar, Rabi' al-Awwal, Rabi' al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada al-Thani, Rajab, Sha'ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah.
Which Islamic month is it now?
Jumada al-Awwal 1448 AH; today is 15 Jumada al-Awwal 1448.
What are Islamic month names in Urdu?
محرم الحرام، صفر المظفر، ربیع الاول، ربیع الثانی، جمادی الاول، جمادی الثانی، رجب المرجب، شعبان المعظم، رمضان المبارک، شوال المکرم، ذوالقعدہ، ذوالحجہ۔
Which are the four sacred months?
Muharram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qa'dah and Dhu al-Hijjah (Quran 9:36; Sahih al-Bukhari 3197).
How many days are in an Islamic month?
29 or 30, depending on whether the new crescent is sighted on the evening of the 29th.