Gregorian Date
Hijri Date
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Hijri Months Reference
| # | Arabic Name | English Name | Days | Significance |
|---|
Year Quick Reference
📖 How to Use
- Select conversion direction: Hijri to Gregorian or Gregorian to Hijri.
- Enter the date using the date picker or manual fields.
- Click Convert.
- See the equivalent date in the other calendar system.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Hijri (Islamic) Calendar Converter — Converting Between Gregorian and Hijri Dates
The Hijri calendar (also called the Islamic calendar or AH — Anno Hegirae) is a purely lunar calendar of 12 months based on the cycles of the moon. It is the official calendar of Saudi Arabia, used across the Muslim world for determining the dates of Islamic religious observances — Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, Muharram, and all other Islamic holidays and months of significance.
Because the Hijri year is approximately 354 days long (11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar year), Hijri dates move backwards through the Gregorian calendar by about 11 days each year. A date that falls in June in one year may fall in May the following year. This drift means the same Islamic event falls on different Gregorian dates every year — which is why converting between the two calendars is a practical necessity for Muslims worldwide.
Structure of the Hijri Calendar
| # | Month Name | Days | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muharram | 30 | Islamic New Year; Day of Ashura (10 Muharram) |
| 2 | Safar | 29 | — |
| 3 | Rabi al-Awwal | 30 | Birthday of the Prophet ﷺ (12 Rabi al-Awwal) |
| 4 | Rabi al-Thani | 29 | — |
| 5 | Jumada al-Awwal | 30 | — |
| 6 | Jumada al-Thani | 29 | — |
| 7 | Rajab | 30 | Sacred month; Isra and Mi'raj (27 Rajab) |
| 8 | Sha'ban | 29 | Preparation for Ramadan; Shab-e-Barat (15 Sha'ban) |
| 9 | Ramadan | 29/30 | Month of fasting; Laylat ul-Qadr; Eid ul-Fitr follows |
| 10 | Shawwal | 29 | Eid ul-Fitr (1 Shawwal); 6 days of Shawwal fasting |
| 11 | Dhu al-Qa'dah | 30 | Sacred month; Hajj preparation |
| 12 | Dhu al-Hijjah | 29/30 | Hajj; Eid ul-Adha (10 Dhu al-Hijjah); first 10 days sacred |
How the Conversion Algorithm Works
The most widely used algorithmic conversion is the Kuwaiti Algorithm, which uses the following steps:
- Convert the Gregorian date to a Julian Day Number (JDN) — a continuous day count from January 1, 4713 BCE
- Subtract the Julian Day Number of the Hijri epoch (1 Muharram 1 AH = 16 July 622 CE = JDN 1948439.5)
- Compute the Hijri year, month, and day from the elapsed days using the average lunar month length of 29.53059 days
This algorithm produces the tabular Hijri calendar — a calculated approximation. In practice, Islamic months officially begin with the sighting of the new crescent moon, which can differ by 1–2 days from the calculated date depending on geographic location and moon visibility conditions. Dates for Ramadan, Eid, and other observances are confirmed by moon-sighting committees in each country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the converted Hijri date sometimes differ by 1 day from what my mosque announced?
This is the calculated (astronomical) vs. observed (moon sighting) distinction. The algorithm calculates the date based on average lunar cycles. The actual Islamic month begins when the new crescent is sighted, which depends on cloud cover, horizon clarity, and geographic location. Saudi Arabia's Umm al-Qura calendar and Pakistan's Ruet-e-Hilal Committee both use moon sighting, so their dates may differ by 1 day from the algorithm's calculation.
How far back does the Hijri calendar go?
The Hijri calendar begins from the Hijra — the migration of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. This event (1 Muharram 1 AH) corresponds to 16 July 622 CE in the Julian calendar. The calendar continues forward indefinitely; we are currently in the 1440s AH.
When will Ramadan fall in the next few years?
Because the Hijri year is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, Ramadan moves earlier each year. Approximate Gregorian starts: 2025 — late February/early March; 2026 — mid-February; 2027 — late January; 2028 — early January. Exact dates depend on moon sighting. Use the converter to check the Hijri date for any Gregorian date you're planning around.
Can I use this converter to find my Islamic birthday?
Yes. Enter your Gregorian date of birth to find the corresponding Hijri date. Note that the Islamic birthday convention is often celebrated on the same Hijri date each year rather than tracking the equivalent Gregorian date, since the Hijri date is considered the "real" birth date in Islamic reckoning.
Is the Hijri calendar used for legal and official documents in Pakistan?
Pakistan primarily uses the Gregorian calendar for legal and administrative purposes. The Hijri calendar is used for religious observances, Islamic financial instruments (some Islamic bank contracts reference Hijri dates), and personal religious record-keeping. Saudi Arabia uses Hijri as its official calendar for government documents, though Gregorian dates appear alongside in most contexts.