The Hijri Calendar Explained
for Children

Muslims around the world live by two calendars at once — the Gregorian calendar that governs school and work, and the Hijri calendar that marks the rhythm of faith. Teaching children to understand both, and why they are different, is one of the most practical gifts of Islamic education.

Every Muslim child knows that Ramadan comes and Eid arrives — but fewer understand why these dates shift each year, or can name the month they are living in. This guide explains the Islamic calendar in clear, child-friendly language, walks through all 12 months and their significance, and links to a free interactive activity that brings it all to life.

What is the Hijri calendar?

The Hijri calendar — also called the Islamic calendar — is a lunar calendar: every month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon, and each month lasts 29 or 30 days depending on the moon's cycle. A Hijri year has 12 months and approximately 354 days — roughly 11 days shorter than the Gregorian (solar) year.

The calendar begins in 622 CE, the year of the Hijra — the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) migration from Makkah to Madinah. This event was so significant to the Muslim community that the second Caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), established it as year one of the Islamic era. The "H" in 1447 AH stands for Anno Hegirae — Latin for "in the year of the Hijra."

How to explain it to a child: "In the Gregorian calendar, months follow the sun — January is always in winter. In our Islamic calendar, months follow the moon — so Ramadan slowly moves through all the seasons over many years. The moon is Allah's way of helping us keep track of our special days."

The 12 months of the Hijri calendar

Each month has a name rooted in classical Arabic and often connected to the time of year or an important characteristic. The four months marked with a gold border below are the sacred months (الأشهر الحرم) — months in which conflict was forbidden in pre-Islamic Arabia and which Islam continued to honour.

Key Islamic dates to teach children

Before memorising all 12 months, children benefit from anchoring their understanding to the Islamic dates they already know and feel. These are the most meaningful entry points:

1 Muharram — Islamic New Year

Ages 5+

The Hijri New Year is a quiet, reflective occasion — unlike the Gregorian New Year, it is not typically celebrated with festivities. For children, it is a wonderful moment to discuss the Hijra: why the Prophet (peace be upon him) left Makkah, what sacrifice looked like, and why that journey matters so much that Muslims count their years from it.

Activity idea: Ask your child, "If you had to leave your home and start somewhere new, what would you take with you?" This opens a meaningful conversation about what the Prophet's companions valued and why faith came first.

12 Rabi' al-Awwal — Birth of the Prophet

Ages 6+

Many Muslim communities mark this date with gatherings, stories and expressions of love for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). For children, this is a prime moment to introduce his life, character and teachings — through age-appropriate stories and the Prophets activity on Aractivities.

27 Rajab — Isra' and Mi'raj

Ages 7+

The Night Journey is one of the most miraculous events in Islamic history — the Prophet's (PBUH) night journey from Makkah to Jerusalem, and then his ascent through the heavens, where the five daily prayers were ordained. Children are naturally captivated by this story. Link it to the five daily prayers they are learning — "This is the night the gift of Salah was given to us."

1 Ramadan — Start of fasting

Ages 5+

Children may not fast yet, but they deeply feel Ramadan — the changed schedule, the iftar meals, the recitation of Quran, the feeling that something sacred is happening. Use the Islamic Events activity to explore Ramadan's significance and help children connect it to its month in the Hijri calendar.

10 Dhu al-Hijjah — Eid al-Adha

Ages 6+

The festival of sacrifice, marking the end of Hajj, commemorates Ibrahim's (AS) willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah. Teaching children about Eid al-Adha is inseparable from teaching them about Dhu al-Hijjah — the final and sacred month of the Islamic year.

How to teach the Hijri calendar to children

Start with what they know

Every child who has experienced Ramadan knows the 9th month. Every child who has celebrated Eid al-Adha knows the 12th. Start there — not at month one. Build outward from the months that already mean something to them, and the names of the others will follow naturally.

Use the moon as a hook

Young children are fascinated by the moon. On any clear night, point out the crescent moon and say: "This is how Muslims know a new Islamic month has started — when we see that thin crescent." This concrete connection to something they can observe makes the lunar calendar feel real rather than abstract.

Ages 5–7: names of key months

Beginner

Focus on Ramadan, Shawwal and Dhu al-Hijjah first — the months children already associate with meaningful events. Then introduce Muharram as the Islamic New Year and Rajab as the month of the Night Journey. Five months is a rich foundation at this age.

Ages 8–10: all 12 months in order

Intermediate

By this age, children can learn all 12 months in sequence. Use repetition, the Hijri Calendar activity, and a printed list on the wall. Games help enormously — quizzing each other on "which month comes after Rajab?" or "how many months until Ramadan?" builds fluency quickly.

Ages 10–12: understanding the lunar system

Advanced

Older children can grasp the mathematics — why the Hijri year is 11 days shorter, how to convert roughly between Hijri and Gregorian dates, and the significance of the four sacred months. This is also a good age to explore Islamic history anchored in Hijri dates — the battle of Badr in Ramadan, for example, or the Hijra in Muharram.

Free activities to use alongside this guide

All activities below are completely free — no account needed. They work on any modern browser, including tablets and smartphones.

Frequently asked questions