How to convert Gregorian dates to Hijri
The Islamic Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar based on the cycles of the moon. Each month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon. The Islamic year has 12 months of 29 or 30 days each, totaling 354 or 355 days — approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian (solar) year. This means Islamic dates shift approximately 10 to 11 days earlier each year relative to the Gregorian calendar.
The Islamic months
The 12 months of the Hijri calendar are: Muharram (sacred month), Safar, Rabi al-Awwal (birth month of the Prophet), Rabi al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada al-Thani, Rajab (sacred month), Sha'ban, Ramadan (fasting month), Shawwal (contains Eid-ul-Fitr), Dhul Qadah (sacred month), and Dhul Hijjah (contains Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha). The four sacred months (Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qadah, Dhul Hijjah) are especially significant in Islamic tradition.
The Hijri calendar in Pakistan and Muslim world
Pakistan officially uses the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes but the Hijri calendar for religious purposes. Important Islamic dates like Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, and the Islamic New Year (1 Muharram) are calculated by Hijri calendar and confirmed by moon sighting. Government departments issue circulars based on Gregorian dates, but mosques and religious institutions often use Hijri dates for scheduling. Saudi Arabia uses the Umm Al-Qura Hijri calendar for official purposes.
Year 1 of the Hijri calendar
The Hijri calendar begins with the year of Prophet Muhammad's migration (Hijra) from Makkah to Madinah. The equivalent Gregorian year is 622 CE. The current Hijri year is approximately 1447 AH (Anno Hegirae). To convert approximately: subtract 622 from the Gregorian year, then multiply by 1.031 (to account for the slightly shorter Islamic year) to get the approximate Hijri year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Hijri date differ by a day between countries? Some countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE) follow the Umm Al-Qura calculated calendar. Others (Pakistan, India, many Southeast Asian countries) follow actual moon sighting. Moon sighting depends on weather and geographic location, causing legitimate one-day differences in month start dates.
What is 12 Rabi al-Awwal? 12 Rabi al-Awwal is celebrated in Pakistan as Eid Milad-un-Nabi, the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is a public holiday in Pakistan.
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