Gregorian/Hijri Calendar for 2011

Special Islamic Days

Event	Hijri Date	Gregorian Date
Aashoraa day	10 Muharram 1432	16 December 2010
First day of fasting month	1 Ramadhan 1432	1 August 2011 (tentative)
Lailat ul-Qadr (The night of power)	20 - 29 Ramadhan 1432	20 - 29 August 2011
Eidu al-fitr	1 Shawwal 1432	30 August 2011 (tentative)
Hajj days	8 - 13 Thw al-Hijjah 1432	4 - 9 November 2011
Arafa day	9 Thw al-Hijjah 1432	5 November 2011
Eidu al-adha	10 Thw al-Hijjah 1432	6 November 2011
Aashoraa day	10 Muharram 1433	5 December 2011

The Months of the Hijri Calendar:

1. Muharram is the first month of the Hijri year. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited. Muharram is so called because Arabs prohibited fighting during this month.
2. Safar literally means ‘the empty month’, because when Arabs went on their looting expeditions they would leave their houses empty (or ‘sifr’ meaning void) as well as anyone whom they would encounter on their looting trips.
3. Rabi' al Awwal: The name means the first month/beginning of spring.
4. Rabi’ al Thani: It was known to be the month of grazing & pasturage for pagan Arabs. It was named so because it occurred during the springtime when it was first named.
5. Jumada al Ula: Before the birth of Islam, it was known as Jumada Khamsa (Five as it is the fifth month), which happened to be in winter when the month was named, when water freezes.
6. Jumaada ul Akhir: Was known in pagan times as Jumada Sitta (six as it is the sixth month). The name also refers to the freeze of winter, at which time the month was first named.
7. Rajab: it was a sacred month during which fighting was also forbidden. “Rajab” refers to breaking up the spear heads thus ending fighting. “Rajab” is also said to mean “stopped fighting”.
8. Sha'aban is the month of ‘separation’, so called because the Arabs used to disperse in search of water
9. Ramadan is the month of fasting for Muslims. The word is derived “ramd "to burn, in reference to the excessive heat at the time that the month was named.
10. Shawwal is the month of Eid ul Fitr. Shawwal was named so because the camels’ milk dries up at the time.
11. Thul Qi’dah is one of the sacred months. It was named so as Arabs did not conduct war during this month, nor did they seek pastures or provisions.
12. Thul Hijja is one of the sacred months. It is the month of the annual Hajj pilgrimage & the month of Eid ul Adha. It was named so because Arabs went to perform Hajj during this month.