Al Hajj

The Islamic calendar follows the changes and positions of the moon in the sky. There are twelve months in a lunar year. There are either twenty-nine or thirty days in a lunar month. That means that there is not a lunar month with twenty-eight or thirty-one days, like the solar Gregorian months. The twelve lunar months are: Al-Muharram, Safar, Rabee al-Awal, Rabee al-Akhar, Jumaada al-Aula, Jumaada al-Akhira, Rajab, Sha’ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhul-Qa’dah and Dhul–Hijjah. Each lunar month starts with a newborn crescent or baby moon. That is why months such as August and September are not considered lunar months. The lunar Hijri months are important for the different forms of worship in islam.