The Islamic calendar, also called the Hijri calendar, is a purely lunar calendar made up of twelve months and about 354 days, roughly eleven days shorter than the solar (Gregorian) year. This is why Ramadan, Eid, Ashura and every other Islamic date move backwards through the Gregorian calendar year after year, and why the exact start of each Islamic month is confirmed by moon sighting rather than fixed in advance. Every Gregorian date in this article is therefore an estimate based on lunar calculations, and each will be confirmed, or possibly adjusted by a day, once the moon is actually sighted closer to the time.
This guide walks through the year in the traditional order of the Islamic months, starting with Muharram, and explains why each date matters and how it is commonly observed.
What Is the Islamic Calendar and Why Do Its Dates Shift Every Year?
The Islamic calendar shifts because it follows the moon, not the sun: twelve lunar months add up to about eleven fewer days than a solar year, so every Islamic date drifts earlier by roughly ten to eleven days each Gregorian year. Over about 33 Gregorian years, the Islamic calendar completes a full cycle back to where it started.
The calendar's year count (AH, or After Hijrah) begins from the migration of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE, an event known as the Hijrah. Because the start of each new month depends on the physical or calculated sighting of the crescent moon, and because different countries and Islamic authorities sometimes follow different sighting methods, the same Islamic date can occasionally fall a day apart in different parts of the world. For that reason, every date given in this article should be read as an informed estimate, not a fixed appointment.
- Islamic New Year, 1 Muharram 1448 AH: expected around 16 June 2026 (approximate, subject to moon sighting)
- Ashura, 10 Muharram: expected around 25 June 2026 (approximate, subject to moon sighting)
- Mawlid al-Nabi, 12 Rabi al-Awwal: expected around 25 August 2026 (approximate, subject to moon sighting)
- Isra and Mi'raj, 27 Rajab 1448 AH: expected around early January 2027, once Rajab begins around 10 December 2026 (approximate, subject to moon sighting)
- Laylatul Bara'ah (Nisf Sha'ban), 15 Sha'ban: expected around 3 February 2026 (approximate, subject to moon sighting)
- Start of Ramadan, 1 Ramadan: expected around 18 February 2026 (approximate, subject to moon sighting)
- Laylatul Qadr: expected within the last ten nights of Ramadan, most likely around 16-17 March 2026 (approximate, subject to moon sighting)
- Eid al-Fitr, 1 Shawwal: expected around 20 March 2026 (approximate, subject to moon sighting)
- Start of Dhul Hijjah, 1 Dhul Hijjah: expected around 18 May 2026 (approximate, subject to moon sighting)
- Day of Arafah, 9 Dhul Hijjah: expected around 26 May 2026 (approximate, subject to moon sighting)
- Eid al-Adha, 10 Dhul Hijjah: expected around 27 May 2026 (approximate, subject to moon sighting)
What Happens on the Islamic New Year (1 Muharram)?
The Islamic New Year marks the start of the Hijri calendar and commemorates the Hijrah, the migration of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE. In 1448 AH, 1 Muharram is expected to fall around 16 June 2026, though as with every date in this calendar, this depends on moon sighting and will be confirmed closer to the time.
Unlike Eid or Ramadan, there is no specific ritual attached to the Islamic New Year itself. Many Muslims use it quietly, as a moment to reflect on the past year, make dua, and set intentions for the year ahead, drawing on the example of the Hijrah as a story of sacrifice, trust in Allah (SWT), and starting afresh.
Why Is Ashura (10 Muharram) Significant?
Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, commemorates the day Allah (SWT) saved Prophet Musa (AS) and the Israelites from Pharaoh by parting the sea. It is expected around 25 June 2026, though this is an estimate and will depend on moon sighting nearer the time.
When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he found the Jewish community fasting on this day in gratitude for that rescue. He said Muslims had a greater claim to Musa (AS) than they did, and he fasted the day himself and encouraged others to do so, often pairing it with the 9th or 11th of Muharram to mark a distinction from other communities. Many Muslims still fast on Ashura, and it is also a day associated with charity and reflection on the patience and trust shown by the Prophets. For Shia Muslims, the day carries an additional, deep significance as the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain at Karbala, observed with mourning gatherings and remembrance.
How Do Muslims Mark Mawlid al-Nabi (12 Rabi al-Awwal)?
Mawlid al-Nabi marks the birth of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and is expected around 25 August 2026, an estimate that will only be confirmed once the moon is sighted closer to the date.
How this day is observed varies across the Muslim world. Many communities hold gatherings, lectures on the seerah (the Prophet's life), poetry, communal meals and charitable giving. Others do not mark it as a distinct religious occasion, viewing it as a practice that was not observed by the earliest generations of Muslims. Both positions exist within mainstream Islamic scholarship, and this is a matter of long-standing, respectful difference of opinion rather than a settled question.
What Is the Story Behind Isra and Mi'raj (27 Rajab)?
Isra and Mi'raj refers to the night journey of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from the Sacred Mosque in Makkah to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, followed by his ascension through the heavens. Popularly dated to 27 Rajab, this is expected around early January 2027 once Rajab 1448 begins around 10 December 2026, though the exact date depends on moon sighting and will be confirmed closer to the time.
The central significance of this night is that the five daily prayers were established during it, making it a foundational moment for how Muslims worship every single day. Many Muslims mark the occasion with talks and reflection on this event, though there is no specific fast or ritual uniquely prescribed for the night itself in the strongest hadith sources, so practices around it tend to be general acts of remembrance rather than fixed rites.
What Is Laylatul Bara'ah (15 Sha'ban) and How Is It Observed?
Laylatul Bara'ah, also called Nisf Sha'ban (the middle night of Sha'ban), is traditionally regarded by many Muslims as a night of forgiveness and a turning point in the year. It is expected around 3 February 2026, though this is an estimate pending moon sighting closer to the time.
The hadith reports describing this night's specific virtues carry differing strength according to hadith scholars, so scholarly opinion on how it should be marked is not uniform. In practice, many Muslims use the night for extra voluntary prayer, dua, and sometimes fasting the following day, treating it as an opportunity for reflection ahead of Ramadan rather than one with fixed, universally agreed rituals.
When Does Ramadan Start and Why Is It the Most Significant Month?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the month in which the Qur'an began to be revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It is expected to begin around 18 February 2026, though this remains an estimate until the moon is sighted nearer the time.
Fasting from dawn to sunset throughout Ramadan is obligatory for adult Muslims who are able to do so, and the month is also marked by increased prayer, especially the nightly taraweeh prayers, more frequent Qur'an recitation, and a noticeable rise in charitable giving. For many, the intensity of worship builds steadily through the month and peaks in its final third.
Why Is Laylatul Qadr Considered the Best Night of the Year?
Laylatul Qadr, the Night of Decree, is described in the Qur'an as better than a thousand months, and it is the night on which the Qur'an's revelation began. It falls on one of the odd-numbered nights within the last ten nights of Ramadan, most likely around 16-17 March 2026, though the precise night is not known with certainty and this date is an estimate that depends on moon sighting.
“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.”
Because the exact night is not fixed, Muslims are encouraged to seek it by increasing worship across all of the last ten odd nights of Ramadan rather than a single date. This period is also when many Muslims increase their charitable giving most sharply, since a good deed done on this one night is held to carry the reward of consistent good deeds done across more than 83 years. MyTenNights (MTN) exists to support giving specifically through these last ten nights, when the reward for charity is believed to be multiplied beyond any other time of year.
How Is Eid al-Fitr Celebrated?
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Ramadan fast and falls on 1 Shawwal, expected around 20 March 2026, though this remains an estimate pending confirmation by moon sighting closer to the time.
The day begins with a congregational Eid prayer, and before that prayer, Muslims are required to pay Zakat al-Fitr, a specific charitable payment intended to ensure that people in need can also share in the celebration. Beyond the prayer, Eid al-Fitr is generally marked with new clothes, festive meals, gift-giving and visiting family and friends, closing out a month of fasting with a day of gratitude and celebration.
Why Are the First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah So Important?
The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic year, are described in hadith as among the most beloved days to Allah (SWT) for good deeds, even surpassing days of jihad in that respect according to the well-known narration in Sahih al-Bukhari. Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH is expected to begin around 18 May 2026, an estimate that depends on moon sighting and will be confirmed nearer the time.
These are the ten days during which the Hajj pilgrimage takes place. For Muslims not performing Hajj, the days are typically marked with extra prayer, Qur'an recitation, fasting (particularly on the 9th day), takbir (declaring Allah's greatness aloud), and increased charity. MyTenDays (MTD) is built around supporting giving through exactly this window, when good deeds are considered especially valuable.
What Makes the Day of Arafah Special?
The Day of Arafah, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, is the day pilgrims performing Hajj stand at the plain of Arafah, considered the spiritual core of the entire pilgrimage. It is expected around 26 May 2026, though this is an estimate that depends on moon sighting and will be confirmed closer to the time.
“There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah.”
For Muslims not on Hajj, fasting on the Day of Arafah is strongly encouraged, with hadith describing it as expiating the sins of the previous year and the year to come. It is widely regarded as the single most virtuous day of the Islamic calendar.
How Is Eid al-Adha Observed?
Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, falls on 10 Dhul Hijjah and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's (AS) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS) in obedience to Allah (SWT), before Allah (SWT) provided a ram in his place. It is expected around 27 May 2026, though this is an estimate pending moon sighting closer to the time.
The day opens with a congregational Eid prayer, followed by the sacrifice of an animal (Qurbani or udhiya) for those able to afford it, with the meat traditionally divided between family, friends, and those in need. The celebration continues through the days of Tashreeq, the 11th to 13th of Dhul Hijjah, marked by continued takbir, family gatherings, and shared meals.
Why Is Jumu'ah (Friday) Called a "Mini Eid" Every Week?
Jumu'ah, the Friday congregational prayer, is often described as a mini Eid because it gives Muslims a weekly rhythm of gathering, reflection and renewal rather than waiting for the two annual Eids. Unlike every other date in this article, Jumu'ah needs no moon sighting: it recurs every week without exception.
The day carries its own recommended practices: attending the congregational prayer (obligatory for adult men who are able to), reciting Surah Al-Kahf, increasing sending blessings (salawat) upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and making dua, since there is a period on Friday when supplications are considered especially likely to be answered. Because Jumu'ah returns every single week, many Muslims also use it to build a steady, recurring habit of charitable giving rather than saving generosity for occasional moments. MyFridays (MF) is built around exactly that weekly rhythm, turning Friday into a consistent, small act of giving rather than a one-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the start of each Islamic month actually confirmed?
The start of each Islamic month is confirmed either by physically sighting the new crescent moon or by astronomical calculation, depending on the method a country or Islamic authority follows. This is why the same date can occasionally differ by a day between regions, and why every Gregorian date for an Islamic occasion should be treated as an estimate until confirmed close to the time.
Why do Islamic holidays fall on different Gregorian dates every year?
The Islamic calendar is lunar and runs about eleven days shorter than the solar year used by the Gregorian calendar. Because of this gap, every Islamic date shifts roughly ten to eleven days earlier each Gregorian year, cycling through all four seasons over about 33 years.
Which exact night is Laylatul Qadr?
The precise night is not stated with certainty; it is most commonly associated with the 27th night of Ramadan but could fall on any odd-numbered night in the last ten nights. Because of this uncertainty, Muslims are encouraged to increase worship across all of the last ten nights rather than focusing on a single date.
Do all Muslims observe Ashura and Mawlid al-Nabi in the same way?
No. Ashura carries additional, distinct significance for Shia Muslims as the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain at Karbala, observed with mourning, alongside the fasting observed more broadly across the Muslim world. Mawlid al-Nabi is marked with gatherings and celebration by many Muslims, while others do not observe it at all, reflecting a long-standing and respected difference of scholarly opinion.
What is considered the best day of the Islamic year?
Different hadith point to different candidates: the Day of Arafah is described as a day on which Allah (SWT) frees many people from the Fire, while the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah as a whole are described as the most beloved days for good deeds. Scholars generally read these as complementary rather than contradictory, both pointing to the same period in Dhul Hijjah as exceptionally significant.
Why does Friday matter more than other days of the week in Islam?
Friday carries the congregational Jumu'ah prayer, an hour in which dua is considered especially likely to be accepted, and recommended practices such as reciting Surah Al-Kahf. Its weekly return also makes it a natural anchor for consistent habits, including regular charitable giving, in contrast to the two Eids and Ramadan, which arrive only once a year.
