When Does the Islamic Date Change? At Maghrib (Sunset)

The Islamic date changes at maghrib (sunset), not at midnight. Today, Wednesday, 28 October 2026, is 16 Jumada al-Awwal 1448 AH in Pakistan. After sunset this evening — about 17:55 PKT in Karachi — the Islamic date is already 17 Jumada al-Awwal 1448 AH, and it stays 17 Jumada al-Awwal 1448 through tomorrow daytime (Thursday, 29 October 2026) until the next maghrib.

Islamic date today: before and after maghrib

Sunset (date change) today by city

Sunset times are calculated for each city centre and are accurate to about a minute or two. For prayer, follow your local masjid's maghrib time. Pakistan has one national Ruet-e-Hilal decision, so the Hijri date itself is the same in every city.

Why does the Islamic day begin at sunset?

The Islamic calendar is lunar: a month begins when the new crescent is seen in the western sky just after sunset on the 29th. The night that follows is therefore the first night of the new month, and the next daytime is its first day. In the same way, every Islamic date is a night followed by a day. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Fast when you see it [the crescent] and break your fast when you see it” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1909) — the sighting happens at maghrib, so the new date starts then.

What this means in practice

• Ramadan: the first taraweeh is prayed on the evening the Ramadan moon is announced, the night before the first fast.
• Laylat al-Qadr: the “27th night” is the evening after the 26th fast, before the 27th day.
• Shab-e-Barat: the night of 15 Sha'ban is the evening of 14 Sha'ban.
• Shab-e-Miraj: the night of 27 Rajab is the evening of 26 Rajab.
• Fasting days (Ashura, Arafah, white days 13–15) are kept in the daytime of that date, from dawn to sunset.
• Jumu'ah: Thursday evening after maghrib is already the night of Friday (shab-e-Jumu'ah).

Why calendars and this website change at midnight

Printed calendars, newspapers and websites — including this one and Saudi Arabia's Umm al-Qura calendar — write one Islamic date against each Gregorian day, so the displayed date changes at midnight. That label is the Hijri date of the daytime. If you are asked the Islamic date after maghrib, the Islamically correct answer is already the next date: tonight it is 17 Jumada al-Awwal 1448. See tomorrow's Islamic date and the city-wise page.

Updated: 28 Oct 2026, 11:41 PKT · اردو میں پڑھیں

Frequently asked questions

At what time does the Islamic date change in Pakistan?

At maghrib (sunset). Today that is about 17:55 PKT in Karachi and 17:18 in Lahore; after that it is 17 Jumada al-Awwal 1448.

Does the Islamic day start at midnight or at maghrib?

At maghrib. The night comes first, then the day; calendars change at midnight only by convention.

What is the Islamic date tonight?

After sunset tonight it is 17 Jumada al-Awwal 1448.

Is the 27th night of Ramadan before or after the 27th fast?

Before: it is the evening after the 26th fast.

Why does this site show the new date only after midnight?

Like printed calendars, it shows the Hijri date of the daytime for each Gregorian day; the note on each page explains the maghrib change.

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