The Arabic/Islamic calendar is different from the Gregorian calendar due to the fact it is following the cycle of the moon rather than the cycle of the sun, however the two calendars have one common element: they both have 12 months. The 12 Arabic/Islamic months each have carry different meanings, with four of them being months known to be sacred where fighting and conflict is forbidden.
Each month carry within it rich history which is both symbolic and deeply interesting, therefore let us look into each month and harvest the the amazing history behind each one of them.
1. Muharram
This is known to be the first month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims begin their lunar Hijri calendar with this month. It is derived from the word forbidden as fighting is forbidden in this month. In this month the following verse was revealed as narrated by Anas (): "That Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow and complete His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path.” Quran [48:2]
2. Safar
This is the second month in the Islamic calendar. It is called Safar because their houses would be devoid of them when they went out to fight or travel, and it would be said "safira al-makaan (the place has become empty)” when people left. The plural form of Safar is Asfaar. In terms of events, the battle of Abwaa and Khaibar took place in this month, although in different years.
3. Rabi al-Awwal
It is the third month in the Islamic calendar. Meaning the first spring, it is in this month humanity was blessed by the birth of the Prophet (SAW). It is also in this month that he departed from this world.
4. Rabi al-Aakhir
This is the fourth month of the calendar. It means the last Spring. No specific function or worship has been prescribed in this month.
5. Jumaad al Oola
This is the fifth month in the Arabic/Islamic calendar. One meaning for this name is given as being the first month of parched land. There are no Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad which prescribes special action to be practiced in this month. In terms of events, the Battle of Muta took place in 8AH in Jumaad al Oola. In this battle the Prophet () proclaimed Khalid ibn Walid () as being ‘one of the swords of Allah.’
6. Jumaad al Thani
This is the sixth month of the Islamic calendar. It is know to the second month of ‘parched land’ as explained in the discussion of Jumaad al Oola.
7. Rajab
This is the seventh month of the calendar. It means ‘to respect’, this is because is one of the four sacred months referred in the Quran and when Muslims should start preparing for the coming of Ramadan. It was in this month that Me’raj (Ascension of the Prophet to the heavens) took place and he was given the gift of Salaah. It is also in this month that the Battle of Tabuk took place in the year of 9AH. This was the last battle which the Prophet (PBUH) participated in.
8. Sha’baan
This is the eighth month in the Islamic calendar. The meaning of its word is ‘consecutively escalating or undisturbed increase.’ Upon the arrival of this month, begins the showering of numerous blessings which progressively escalate so that by mid-Sha’baan the blessings reach a considerable amount and go on increasing until the end of the next month.
9. Ramadan
This is the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar. It is known to be the most meritorious of the whole year and is widely known for the full month of fasting. The month of Ramadan is in which the Quran was revealed. Allah has chosen this month to send down the Quran, just as He did for all the divine Books which He revealed to His Prophets. Ramadan is meant for annual renovation of the inner spiritual qualities. It is considered to be a golden opportunity for every Muslim to strengthen his/her faith, to purify his heart and to remove the evil effects of the sins committed by him. It invites a Muslim to minimize his other mundane involvements and maximize the acts of worship, whether by increasing voluntary prayers, reciting of the Quran, increase in charity giving etc.
10. Shawwal
Shawwal is the tenth month in the calendar, possible it is named after the time of the year when female camels would be pregnant with calves. It is considered to be the first of the ‘Hajj’ months even though the actual days of the hajj rites are more than two months later. The first day of Shawwal is the celebration day of Eid-ul-Fitr and also the day when sins are forgiven. In terms of the events, it is in this month the battle of Uhud took place in 3AH. One year earlier, the fight against the Banu Qaynuqaa took place in the same month.
11. Dhul Qa’dah
This is known to be first of the four sanctified months from the Islamic months, in which battles were prohibited in the days of the Prophet (). A possible meaning is ‘one of sitting or truce’ rather than going out to fight. In this month the battle of Khandaq (trench) or Ahzab took place in 5 AH. Also the truce of Hudaybiah occured in this month of 6AH. The return to Makkah for the performance of Umrah by the Prophet () and his Companions was in 7AH.
12. Dhul Hijjah
This is the 12th month and the last month of the Arabic/Islamic calendar, which means the month of Hajj (Pilgrimage). The Hajj is the fifth ‘Pillar’ of Islam and is performed in this month. The first ten days are the most virtuous in this whole month and the Hajj rites are performed within these ten days. In terms of events the Prophet (SAW) performed the farewell Hajj and gave the historic sermon known as the ‘Farewell Sermon’, Uthman (RA) was appointed the third Caliph in this month, and both Umar (RA) and Uthman (RA) were martyred in this month in different years.
Above are the 12 months which you will find them in the Islamic calendar. With Saya Arab you will be able to learn and master Arabic language so that you will in the future be able to harvest the treasures from the Arabic books as well as Arabic world in the easier and more comfortable way.
