Islamic Calendar: Origin of the Month Names

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The names of the Islamic months were used before Islam. But, Arabs used tomanipulate the months specially the four sacred months, mentioned below.

While Islam considered the lunar calendar as the legal calendar, Islam prohibited any manipulation of the months.

Allah SWT says in Surah At-Tauba 9, Ayah 37:

The postponing (of a Sacred Month) is indeed an addition to disbelief: thereby the disbelievers are led astray, for they make it lawful one year and forbid it another year in order to adjust the number of months forbidden by Allah, and make such forbidden ones lawful. The evil of their deeds seems pleasing to them. And Allah guides not the people, who disbelieve. This Ayah prohibits such practice.

There are many rules linked to this calendar. Zakat, Hajj and Ramdan are allbased this calendar. Also, there are other significant things determined in Islam based on the lunar calendar, such as the mourning period for the widow.

Regarding the origin of names, Arabs came up with the names long before Islam. Most of the names are based on the climate at the time or big event which was taking place.

MUHARRAM - This month's name is taken from the word "Haram" which means forbidden. There was a custom in Arabia which forbade fighting during this month. After Islam, this custom was taken away by Allah (swt). This month was one of the four sacred months.

SAFAR - This word means "whistling of the wind". When this name was assigned to this month, it was probably a windy time of the year. As mentioned earlier, most of the months were named according to weather conditions at the time. However, since they are based on the moon, the months shift about 11 days every year. So, the seasons do not necessarily correspond to the name of the month anymore.

RABI' AL-AWAL - The first month of spring. It seems it was spring time when the name was given.

RABI' ATHANI - The second month of spring.

JUMADA AL-UWLA - The first month of summer. "Jumada" means dry.

JUMADA ATHANIA - The second month of summer.

RAJAB - Another one of the sacred months in which fighting was forbidden prior to Islam. This was one of the most respected months for the Arabs. It is also called Rajab al Fard. Fard means alone; because the other three sacred months come one after another, except this month. It comes alone not like the other 3 consecutive sacred months.

SHA'BAN - This month's name was derived from the word "shu'ba", which means branch. The Arabs used to branch out during this month to look for water.

RAMADAN - Taken from the word "ramda' " which means hot stones. This tells us that when this name was given, it was a very hot time of the year.

SHAWWAL - Taken from the word "shala" which means "when the female camel gets pregnant". When this name was given, the female camels used to get pregnant during this time of the year.

Dhul QI'DAH - Taken from the word "qa'ada" which means to sit. This is the third sacred month in which fighting was forbidden. The people also used to stop their business activities during this month and sit and prepare for the Hajj (Pilgrimage). This is also a sacred month.

Dhul-Hijjah - This is the last sacred month in which fighting was forbidden. This is the month in which the Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) was performed.

Salat	Time
Fajr	5:30 am
Dhur	1:30 pm
Asr	4:00 pm
Maghrib	Sunset time
Isha	7:30 pm

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