Islamic Calendar

The Islamic calendar, also called the Hijri or Muslim calendar, is a lunar-based system that dates from the Hijra, the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. It consists of 12 lunar months totaling approximately 354 or 355 days, about 10-12 days shorter than the Gregorian solar year. This causes Islamic dates to shift relative to the Gregorian calendar each year. The Islamic calendar is primarily used for religious observances, such as Ramadan and Hajj. Its structure emphasizes lunar cycles and historical events, aligning religious life with the phases of the moon.