How it works
The calendar
The Hijri (Islamic) calendar counts lunar months from the Prophet's migration to Medina in 622 CE. A year has twelve months of 29 or 30 days, about 354 days in total, so Hijri dates fall roughly eleven days earlier in the Gregorian calendar every year.
Saudi Arabia's official civil calendar is Umm al-Qura, computed from astronomical new-moon data for Mecca. Government documents, Saudi contracts and many GCC payroll dates use it. Hasiby converts with the Umm al-Qura tables built into browsers and operating systems.
Today's date
The date at the top of this page is today in Umm al-Qura, switching at midnight Riyadh time. Because the page is generated ahead of time, it refreshes itself in your browser on load, so the date you see is current.
Converting dates
- Gregorian to Hijri: enter any date between 1882 and 2077 and read the Hijri date and month name.
- Hijri to Gregorian: enter the Hijri year, month and day. A 30th day is only accepted in months that have one in that year.
The months
Muharram, Safar, Rabiʿ al-Awwal, Rabiʿ al-Thani, Jumada al-Ula, Jumada al-Akhirah, Rajab, Shaʿban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qaʿdah and Dhu al-Hijjah. Ramadan, the two Eids (1 Shawwal and 10 Dhu al-Hijjah) and the day of Arafah (9 Dhu al-Hijjah) are the dates most people look up.
Calculated versus sighted
Umm al-Qura is a calculation. The start of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in each country is announced by its moon-sighting committee and may differ by a day. For religious observance follow your country's announcement; for contracts, salaries and official paperwork the civil calendar applies.
Frequently asked questions
Which Hijri calendar does this use?
The Umm al-Qura calendar, the official calendar of Saudi Arabia, as implemented in modern browsers and operating systems. It is calculated from astronomical new moons, not from sightings.
Why does today's Hijri date sometimes differ from the announced date of Ramadan or Eid?
Religious dates in each country follow the moon sighting announced by its authority, which can be a day earlier or later than the calculated calendar. Umm al-Qura is used for civil and administrative purposes.
When does the Hijri day begin?
Traditionally at sunset, but civil calendars and this converter switch dates at midnight. Hasiby uses midnight in Riyadh for today's date.
How many days does a Hijri year have?
354 or 355. Months alternate between 29 and 30 days according to the moon, so the Hijri year is about eleven days shorter than the Gregorian year and dates drift earlier each year.
Which years can I convert?
1300 to 1500 AH, roughly 1882 to 2077 CE, the span the Umm al-Qura data covers.