No.MonthArabic nameTransliteration
1 January كانون الثاني Kānūn ath-Thānī
2 February شباط Shubāṭ
3 March آذار Ādhār
4 April نيسان Nīsān
5 May أيار Ayyār
6 June حزيران Ḥazīrān / Ḥuzayrān
7 July تموز Tammūz
8 August آب Āb
9 September أيلول Aylūl
10 October تشرين الأول Tishrīn al-Awwal
11 November تشرين الثاني Tishrīn ath-Thānī
12 December كانون الأول Kānūn al-Awwal


1 Muḥarram مُحَرَّم forbidden A sacred month, so called because battle and all kinds of fighting are forbidden (ḥarām) during this month. Muḥarram includes ʿĀshūrāʾ, the tenth day.
2 Ṣafar صَفَر void Supposedly named thus because pre-Islamic Arab houses were empty this time of year while their occupants gathered food. Another account relates that they used to loot the houses of their enemies after defeating them in battle, leaving nothing behind.
3 Rabīʿ al-awwal رَبيع الأوّل the first spring Also means to graze, because they used to graze their cattle during this month.
4 Rabīʿ al-thānī رَبيع الثاني the second spring  
5 Jumādá al-ūlá جُمادى الأولى the first of parched land Often considered the pre-Islamic summer. Jumādá may also be related to a verb meaning "to freeze" and another account relates that water would freeze during this time of year.
6 Jumādá al-ākhirah جُمادى الآخرة the last of parched land  
7 Rajab رَجَب respect, honor This is the second sacred month in which fighting is forbidden. Rajab may also be related to a verb meaning "to remove", so called because pre-Islamic Arabs would remove the heads of their spears and refrain from fighting.
8 Shaʿbān شَعْبان scattered Marked the time of year when Arab tribes dispersed to find water. Shaʿbān may also be related to a verb meaning "to be in between two things". Another account relates that it was called thus because the month lies between Rajab and Ramaḍān.
9 Ramaḍān رَمَضان burning heat Supposedly so called because of high temperatures caused by the excessive heat of the sun. Ramaḍān is the most venerated month of the Hijri calendar. During this time, Muslims must fast from pre-dawn till sunset and should give charity to the poor and needy.
10 Shawwāl شَوّال raised She-camels would normally be in calf at this time of year and raise their tails.
11 Dhū al-Qaʿdah ذوالقعدة the one of truce/sitting This is a holy month during which war is banned. People are allowed to defend themselves if attacked.
12 Dhū al-Ḥijjah ذوالحجة the one of pilgrimage The holy month in which the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca (the Ḥajj) occurs and during which war is banned.




Arabic  al-Aḥad
"First day"
"Second day"
"Third day"
"Fourth day"
"Fifth day"
"Gathering day"
"Day of Rest"
English Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday