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The Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to determine the proper days of Islamic holidays and rituals, such as the annual fasting period of Ramadan and the timing for the Hajj pilgrimage.
Unlike the Gregorian calendar which is solar-based, the Islamic calendar is purely lunar. This means that Islamic months shift by approximately 11 days earlier each year in relation to the Gregorian calendar. A complete cycle occurs every 33 years.
Four months of the Islamic calendar are considered sacred: Muharram, Rajab, Dhul-Qadah, and Dhul-Hijjah. During these months, warfare is forbidden, and acts of worship are especially rewarded.
The beginning of each Islamic month is marked by the sighting of the new crescent moon. Different Muslim communities may start the month on different days depending on local moon sightings or calculations.