The Islamic year has twelve months that are based on a lunar cycle. Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:

“The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year) - so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth....” (9:36).

“It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory, and the moon to be a light of beauty, and measured out stages for it, that you might know the number of years and the count of time. Allah did not create this except in truth and righteousness.  And He explains His signs in detail, for those who understand” (10:5).

And in his (SAW) final sermon before his (SAW) death, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, among other things, “With Allah the months are twelve; four of them are holy; three of these are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumaada and Sha’ban.”

Islamic months begin at sunset, on the day when the lunar crescent is visually sighted.  The lunar year is approximately 354 days long, so the months rotate backward through the seasons and are not fixed to the Gregorian calendar.  The months of the Islamic year are:

1. Muharram

7.  Rajab

2. Safar

8.  Sha’ban

3. Rabia Awal

9.  Ramadhaan

4. Rabia Thaani

10. Shawwal

5. Jumaada Awal

11. Thul-Qi’dah

6. Jumaada Thaani

12. Thul-Hijjah