Islamic calendar: today’s Hijri date and key dates
The Islamic (Hijri) calendar is lunar: twelve months that begin with the new crescent, counted from the Prophet’s ﷺ migration to Madinah. Here is today’s Hijri date, a converter for any date, the twelve months and the four sacred months, and the key dates for 2027 in the UK.
Today’s Hijri date
—
The twelve Islamic months
| # | Month | Notable for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muharram | Sacred | Islamic New Year; the Day of ‘Ashura (10th) |
| 2 | Safar | ||
| 3 | Rabi‘ al-Awwal | The month of the Prophet’s ﷺ birth and his Hijrah to Madinah | |
| 4 | Rabi‘ ath-Thani | ||
| 5 | Jumada al-Ula | ||
| 6 | Jumada al-Akhirah | ||
| 7 | Rajab | Sacred | |
| 8 | Sha‘ban | The Prophet ﷺ fasted much of it (Sahih al-Bukhari 1969) | |
| 9 | Ramadan | The month of fasting and the Quran; Laylat al-Qadr | |
| 10 | Shawwal | Eid al-Fitr (1st); six days of fasting | |
| 11 | Dhul-Qa‘dah | Sacred | |
| 12 | Dhul-Hijjah | Sacred | Hajj; the Day of ‘Arafah (9th); Eid al-Adha (10th) |
Key dates for 2026–2027 (UK)
| Occasion | Expected date |
|---|---|
| 1 Rajab 1448 | Thursday, 10 December 2026 |
| 1 Ramadan 1448 | Monday, 8 February 2027 |
| Eid al-Fitr, 1 Shawwal 1448 | Tuesday, 9 March 2027 |
| 1 Dhul-Hijjah 1448 | Friday, 7 May 2027 |
| Day of ‘Arafah, 9 Dhul-Hijjah | Saturday, 15 May 2027 |
| Eid al-Adha, 10 Dhul-Hijjah | Sunday, 16 May 2027 |
| Islamic New Year, 1 Muharram 1449 | Sunday, 6 June 2027 |
| Day of ‘Ashura, 10 Muharram 1449 | Tuesday, 15 June 2027 |
Dates follow the Umm al-Qura calendar and may differ by a day in the UK depending on moon sighting.
How the calendar began
The calendar counts from the Hijrah, the Prophet’s ﷺ migration from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE. It was adopted in the time of the Caliph ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab. The year 1448 AH runs from June 2026 to June 2027. For the life of the Prophet ﷺ, see the seerah of Prophet Muhammad.
For the occasions themselves: Ramadan 2027 UK, Laylat al-Qadr, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha and Hajj.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Ramadan move every year?
The Islamic calendar is lunar: 12 months of 29 or 30 days make about 354 days, roughly 11 days shorter than the solar year. So each Islamic date moves about 11 days earlier every year, and Ramadan passes through every season over about 33 years.
What are the four sacred months?
Muharram, Rajab, Dhul-Qa‘dah and Dhul-Hijjah. The Quran says four of the twelve months are sacred (At-Tawbah 9:36), and the Prophet ﷺ named them (Sahih al-Bukhari 4662).
Why do UK mosques sometimes start Ramadan on different days?
Months begin with the sighting of the new crescent. Some UK mosques follow Saudi Arabia’s announcement, some Morocco or local sighting, and some astronomical calculation, so dates can differ by a day.
When does the Islamic day begin?
At sunset. So the night before a date belongs to that date: the first night of Ramadan, with its taraweeh prayer, is the evening before the first fast.
Learn Islamic studies with a teacher
Three free one-to-one lessons in UK time, for children and adults.