Hijri Calendar 1447 and 1448 — Your Complete Guide to the Islamic Lunar Calendar

Updated for Islamic dates in 2026 · Covers Zakat, Qurbani, Ramadan, and moon sighting

If you are a Muslim, the Hijri calendar is not just a way to count days. It is part of your faith. Every time you fast in Ramadan, every time you pay Zakat, every time you observe Eid — all of these are tied to the Islamic lunar calendar. Understanding this calendar helps you live your religious duties with confidence and peace of mind.

This guide will walk you through the Hijri calendar in simple, clear language. You will learn the names of the Islamic months, why important dates like the Islamic date today in 2026 matter, and how to convert Gregorian to Hijri dates easily using the tool above. Whether you are in Saudi Arabia, the UK, Pakistan, or anywhere else in the world, this page is for you.

What Is the Hijri Calendar?

The Hijri calendar is the official Islamic calendar. It is a lunar calendar, which means it follows the cycles of the moon. One Hijri month begins when the crescent moon appears in the sky. This is different from the Gregorian calendar, which follows the sun.

The word "Hijri" comes from the Arabic word Hijra, meaning migration. It refers to the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) migration from Mecca to Medina in the year 622 CE. That year became Year 1 AH (Anno Hegirae — "in the year of the Hijra"). So the year 2026 in the Gregorian calendar corresponds roughly to the years 1447 and 1448 AH in the Hijri calendar.

A Hijri year has 12 months and about 354 days — roughly 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. This is why Islamic events like Ramadan move forward by about 11 days every year on the Gregorian calendar.

The 12 Months of the Islamic Calendar

The Hijri calendar has 12 months, each with a name and meaning. Here they are in order:

#	Month Name	Meaning / Notes
1	Muharram	Sacred month. First month of the Islamic year. The 10th day (Ashura) is a day of great importance.
2	Safar	Means "empty." People used to leave their homes for war or travel during this month.
3	Rabi' al-Awwal	The month the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born. Many Muslims observe Mawlid in this month.
4	Rabi' al-Thani	The second "spring." A quieter month with no special events.
5	Jumada al-Awwal	First of two "dry" months. An ordinary month in the Islamic calendar.
6	Jumada al-Thani	Second of the dry months. Preparations for Rajab often begin.
7	Rajab	One of the four sacred months in Islam. The Night of the Isra and Mi'raj falls here (27th Rajab).
8	Sha'ban	The month before Ramadan. Many Muslims fast voluntarily and prepare spiritually.
9	Ramadan	The holiest month. Fasting is obligatory for all adult Muslims. The Quran was first revealed here.
10	Shawwal	Eid al-Fitr falls on the 1st of Shawwal, marking the end of Ramadan.
11	Dhu al-Qi'dah	A sacred month. Pilgrims begin traveling toward Makkah for Hajj.
12	Dhu al-Hijjah	The month of Hajj. Eid al-Adha (Qurbani) falls on the 10th. The Day of Arafah is on the 9th.

Important Islamic Dates in 2026

Here are some of the most important Islamic dates in 2026, showing how the Hijri calendar maps to the Gregorian year. Note: dates can vary by 1–2 days based on moon sighting in your country.

Why the Hijri Calendar Matters for Zakat, Qurbani & Prayer

Many of the most important financial and spiritual duties in Islam are linked directly to the Hijri calendar. Here's why knowing the lunar calendar for Zakat and other duties matters:

Zakat — The Islamic Charity Obligation

Zakat is due when your wealth reaches the Nisab (minimum threshold) and you have held it for one complete Hijri year (called the Hawl). Since a Hijri year is 354 days — not 365 — your Zakat anniversary comes around slightly earlier each Gregorian year. Use our full Zakat Calculator to figure out exactly what you owe. Knowing the Hijri date helps you track the Hawl precisely.

Qurbani / Udhiyah — Eid al-Adha Sacrifice

Qurbani is performed on the 10th, 11th, or 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah. In 2026, this falls around early June on the Gregorian calendar. The exact Hijri date matters because the sacrifice is only valid in those three days. Missing the window means the act is not accepted as Qurbani.

Fasting — Ramadan and Voluntary Fasts

The entire month of Ramadan — the 9th month of the Hijri calendar — is a month of obligatory fasting. Additionally, optional fasts like the 9th and 10th of Muharram (Ashura), the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah (Day of Arafah), and the "White Days" (13th, 14th, 15th of every month) are all calculated by the Hijri calendar.

Prayer Times

While daily prayer times are based on the sun's position (not the moon), certain special prayers are Hijri-date specific — like Tarawih prayers in Ramadan and Eid prayers on the 1st of Shawwal and 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah.

Moon Sighting: Why Dates Differ Around the World

You may notice that Eid or the start of Ramadan is celebrated on different days in different countries. This is because the Hijri calendar depends on the actual sighting of the crescent moon. There are two main schools of thought in the Muslim world:

Local Moon Sighting: Countries like Pakistan, India, and parts of West Africa wait for the crescent to be seen with the naked eye in their own country. Because the moon rises at different times around the world, one country might see the new crescent a day before another.

Global/Calculated Moon Sighting: Countries like Saudi Arabia, and some Islamic authorities globally, use astronomical calculations to predict the exact moment the new crescent becomes visible. This often means dates are announced 1–2 days in advance.

This is why the adjustment setting in our calendar tool above is so useful. If your country typically observes the start of an Islamic month 1 day after Saudi Arabia, simply set the adjustment to +1. This gives you a personalised Hijri date that matches your local moon sighting practice.

How to Convert Gregorian to Hijri (and Back)

The conversion formula between the two calendar systems is well-established but mathematically complex. Our tool above handles it automatically using the browser's built-in Intl.DateTimeFormat API with the islamic-umalqura calendar system — the same calendar used officially in Saudi Arabia.

To use it: simply select a Gregorian date and click "Convert to Hijri." Or if you know the Hijri date (day, month, year AH), switch to the second tab and convert it back to the Gregorian calendar. This is especially helpful for recording Zakat payment dates, birth anniversaries, or finding the Gregorian equivalent of any Islamic event.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Islamic date today in 2026? ▼

The Islamic date today in 2026 changes every day, of course! You can see today's exact Hijri date at the top of this page — it is updated automatically. In 2026, the Gregorian year corresponds to parts of both Hijri years 1447 AH and 1448 AH, since the Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year.

How many days are in a Hijri year? ▼

A Hijri year has either 354 or 355 days. This is about 10–11 days fewer than the Gregorian year (365 or 366 days). Because of this difference, Islamic events like Ramadan shift roughly 11 days earlier each Gregorian year over time.

Why does Ramadan fall on a different date every year? ▼

Ramadan always falls in the 9th month of the Hijri calendar. Because the Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than the solar/Gregorian year, Ramadan shifts earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar. Over about 33 years, Ramadan cycles through all the seasons — so sometimes it falls in summer, sometimes in winter.

What does "1447 AH" mean? ▼

"AH" stands for Anno Hegirae, which is Latin for "in the year of the Hijra." The Hijra refers to the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. That event marked Year 1 of the Islamic calendar. So 1447 AH means 1,447 years have passed since that migration.

Is the Islamic calendar the same in all Muslim countries? ▼

No, not exactly. While all Muslim countries follow the same 12-month Hijri structure, the start of each month can vary by 1–2 days depending on whether a country uses local moon sighting or astronomical calculation. Saudi Arabia often announces dates first, while Pakistan, India, and some others may wait for a local moon sighting committee to confirm.

What is the Hawl for Zakat? ▼

The Hawl is the one-year cycle that your wealth must complete before Zakat becomes due on it. This one year is measured by the Hijri calendar — meaning 354 or 355 days, not 365. If your wealth has been above the Nisab threshold for a full Hijri year, you must pay Zakat on it. Use our Zakat Calculator to work this out easily.

Which Hijri months are considered sacred? ▼

Four months in the Islamic calendar are called the "sacred months" (Al-Ashhur Al-Hurum): Muharram (1st), Rajab (7th), Dhu al-Qi'dah (11th), and Dhu al-Hijjah (12th). Fighting was traditionally prohibited in these months, and good deeds are said to carry more weight. Sins committed in these months are also considered more serious.

What is the Day of Arafah and when is it in 2026? ▼

The Day of Arafah is the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. It is one of the most important days in the Islamic year. On this day, pilgrims performing Hajj stand on the plain of Arafah in prayer. For non-pilgrims, fasting on this day is highly recommended and is said to expiate sins of two years. In 2026, the Day of Arafah is expected to fall around 5 June 2026.

How do I track my Zakat date using the Hijri calendar? ▼

The easiest way is to note the Hijri date on which your total wealth first exceeded the Nisab threshold. Then, exactly one Hijri year (12 lunar months) later, your Zakat is due. You can use the date converter above to find the Gregorian equivalent of that future Hijri date. Many Muslims pick a fixed date like the 1st of Ramadan each year as a convenient annual reminder to calculate their Zakat.

Does the Hijri calendar account for leap years? ▼

Yes, but differently from the Gregorian calendar. In the Islamic lunisolar system, some years have 355 days instead of 354 — an extra day is added to the 12th month (Dhu al-Hijjah). Over a 30-year cycle, there are 11 such "leap years." This system keeps the calendar aligned with the actual lunar cycles rather than the solar year.