Question 1

What is the Hijri calendar?

Accepted Answer

The Hijri calendar (also called the Islamic or lunar calendar) is a purely lunar calendar with 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It began in 622 CE when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) migrated from Mecca to Medina (the Hijra). It is used to determine Islamic holidays, rituals, and the timing of Hajj and Ramadan.

Question 2

How many days are in the Hijri calendar year?

Accepted Answer

A Hijri year has either 354 or 355 days, making it about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar year. This is because the Hijri calendar follows the lunar cycle, with each month lasting 29 or 30 days based on the moon's phases.

Question 3

What year is it in the Hijri calendar?

Accepted Answer

The current Hijri year is 1447 AH. 'AH' stands for 'Anno Hegirae' (year of the Hijra). The Hijri calendar started from the migration of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE.

Question 4

What is today's date in the Islamic calendar?

Accepted Answer

Today's date in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar is 25 Shawwal 1447 AH. Note that actual dates may vary by 1-2 days depending on local moon sighting.

Question 5

What is the difference between Hijri and Gregorian calendars?

Accepted Answer

The Gregorian calendar is solar-based (365/366 days per year), while the Hijri calendar is lunar-based (354/355 days per year). The Hijri calendar is about 11 days shorter each year, causing Islamic dates to shift earlier relative to Gregorian dates. The Gregorian calendar starts from the birth of Jesus Christ, while the Hijri calendar starts from the Prophet's migration to Medina in 622 CE.

Question 6

Why does the Hijri calendar shift each year?

Accepted Answer

Because the Hijri calendar is based on the lunar cycle (approximately 29.5 days per month), a Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than a Gregorian (solar) year. This means Islamic dates move backwards through the Gregorian calendar by roughly 11 days each year, completing a full cycle in about 33 years.

Question 7

What are the 12 months of the Islamic calendar?

Accepted Answer

The 12 months are: Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwal, Rabi al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada al-Thani, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qidah, and Dhu al-Hijjah. Each month begins with the sighting of a new crescent moon.

Question 8

What are the 4 sacred months in Islam?

Accepted Answer

The four sacred months (Al-Ashhur al-Hurum) are Muharram (1st month), Rajab (7th month), Dhu al-Qidah (11th month), and Dhu al-Hijjah (12th month). Fighting and conflict are traditionally forbidden during these months, and good deeds are considered to carry greater reward.

Question 9

What is the Hijri New Year?

Accepted Answer

The Hijri New Year (also called Islamic New Year or Ra's as-Sanah al-Hijriyah) falls on 1 Muharram, the first day of the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the Hijra | Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. It is observed with reflection and prayers rather than celebrations.

Question 10

What is the difference between Tabular, Umm al-Qura, and Observational methods?

Accepted Answer

The Tabular method uses a fixed arithmetic cycle for consistent, predictable results. The Umm al-Qura method is the official Saudi Arabian calendar, based on astronomical calculations for the Kaaba's location. The Observational method calculates lunar visibility based on astronomical data. Results may differ by 1-2 days between methods.

Question 11

Is the Hijri calendar used officially anywhere today?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Saudi Arabia uses the Umm al-Qura Hijri calendar as its official civil calendar. Several other Muslim-majority countries use the Hijri calendar for religious purposes alongside the Gregorian calendar, including Iran and Afghanistan (which use the Solar Hijri variant). Many Islamic institutions worldwide use it to determine religious dates.

Question 12

How accurate is this Hijri calendar converter?

Accepted Answer

Our converter uses well-established algorithms for all three methods (Tabular, Umm al-Qura, and Observational). The Tabular method is mathematically precise within its arithmetic model. The Umm al-Qura data covers 1400-1500 AH. However, for religious observances, always confirm with your local Islamic authority, as actual dates depend on local moon sighting.

Question 13

What is the Solar Hijri calendar?

Accepted Answer

The Solar Hijri calendar (also called the Shamsi calendar) is a solar calendar used officially in Iran and Afghanistan. Unlike the lunar Hijri calendar, it follows the Earth's revolution around the sun, making its year approximately 365 days. It also starts from the Hijra (622 CE) but counts solar years instead of lunar years.

Question 14

What is Nowruz?

Accepted Answer

Nowruz (Persian New Year) falls on 1 Farvardin, the first day of the Solar Hijri calendar, which corresponds to the spring equinox (around March 20-21). It is one of the oldest celebrations in the world, observed by over 300 million people across Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the diaspora.

Question 15

What year is it in the Solar Hijri calendar?

Accepted Answer

The Solar Hijri year is approximately 621-622 years less than the Gregorian year. For example, the Gregorian year 2026 corresponds approximately to Solar Hijri year 1404-1405. Use our converter for precise date conversions.

Question 16

What is the difference between Iranian and Afghan calendar month names?

Accepted Answer

Iran uses Persian month names (Farvardin, Ordibehesht, Khordad, etc.) while Afghanistan uses Arabic zodiac-derived names (Hamal, Sawr, Jawza, etc.), also called Dari month names. Both calendars follow the same structure and year numbering.

Question 17

Does Afghanistan use the same calendar as Iran?

Accepted Answer

Afghanistan uses the Solar Hijri calendar with the same structure as Iran's, but with different month names (Dari/Arabic zodiac names vs. Persian names). Both start on Nowruz and have the same year numbering system. The first six months have 31 days, the next five have 30 days, and the last month has 29 days (30 in leap years).

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