The names of the months in the Islamic calendar are significantly different from the usual names that are borrowed and generally accepted as such.

These names of the months, in addition to a different name, also have very important meanings that the Arabs once used to determine a certain time of the year.

So, here are the names and explanations:

1. Muharram — ar. محرّم “forbidden”; During this month it was forbidden (haram) to wage war.
2. Safar — ar. صفر -“Zero, empty”; According to pagan tradition, Arabs looted during this month and left houses empty.
3. Rabi’ al-awwal — ar. ربيع العول – “first spring”.
4. Rabi’ al-thani—ar. ربيع, الثاني -“second (last) spring”.
5. Jumada al-awwal —ar. جمادي الاوول -“the first month of dry land”; It is often considered the Islamic “summer”.
6. Jumada al-tani — ar. جمادى الثاني – “the second (last) month of the dry land”.
7. Rajab – ar. رجب -“respect” or “honor”; Rajab is another holy month in which warfare was traditionally forbidden.
8. Saban – ar.شعبان – “scatter”; This month marks the time of year when the Arab tribes were migrating and scattering around to find water.
9. Ramadan — ar.رمضان -“burnt”; This is the month of fasting, the most revered in the calendar.
10. Shawwal — arr. شوال – “raised”; In this month, the camels start to raise their tails after camelling.
11. Dhu al-Ki’dah—ar. ذو القعدة – “truce”; Also, war was forbidden in this month.
12. Dhu al-Hijjah — ar. ذو الحجة -“pilgrimage”; Pilgrims flock to Mecca during this month.