What Is the Hijri Calendar? How Is the Diyanet Calendar Determined?
The Hijri calendar is the lunar (moon-based) calendar that Muslims use to determine their religious days. Because Ramadan, the Eids and the Kandil nights (blessed nights) are set by this calendar, they move earlier in the Gregorian calendar by about 10-11 days every year. This article explains the basic features of the Hijri calendar and how Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) determines the start of each month.
For information only. For religious rulings, consult the Diyanet (Alo 190 Fatwa Line).
How the Hijri calendar is structured
The Hijri calendar has twelve months, and each month is 29 or 30 days; the month is determined by the visibility of the new moon (crescent, hilal). A Hijri year is about 354 days, roughly 11 days shorter than a Gregorian year. The religious day begins at sunset (TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, entry "Vakit"), which is why the Kandil nights begin on the evening before. For example, Laylat al-Qadr, shown as Friday 5 March 2027, begins on the evening of 5 March.
| Hijri month | No. | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Muharram | 1 | Hijri new year; 1 Muharram 1448 = 16 June 2026 |
| Safar | 2 | — |
| Rabi' al-awwal | 3 | Mawlid Kandil (the night linking the 11th to the 12th) |
| Rabi' al-akhir | 4 | — |
| Jumada al-awwal | 5 | — |
| Jumada al-akhir | 6 | — |
| Rajab | 7 | Raghaib (first Friday night) and Mi'raj (the night linking the 26th to the 27th) |
| Sha'ban | 8 | Bara'at Kandil (the night linking the 14th to the 15th) |
| Ramadan | 9 | Month of fasting; Laylat al-Qadr (the night linking the 26th to the 27th) |
| Shawwal | 10 | Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal) |
| Dhu al-Qi'dah | 11 | — |
| Dhu al-Hijjah | 12 | Eid al-Adha (10 Dhu al-Hijjah) |
How does Diyanet determine the start of months?
According to Diyanet's explanation, Hijri months are determined in advance by calculation, based on the crescent being visible anywhere in the world. Because of the relationship between the crescent and the new moon, the start of a new month may fall a day after the day of conjunction (ijtima). Diyanet's calculation method is legitimate; seeing the crescent with the naked eye is not required (fatwa of the Religious Affairs High Council).
Some countries rely only on visibility within their own country (ikhtilaf al-matali') or on conjunction. For this reason, a one-day difference between countries can occur. According to Diyanet, these differences do not harm the validity of worship; a Muslim who is in another country observes the Eid according to the country they are in.
Upcoming dates
| Hijri date | Gregorian date (Diyanet calendar) |
|---|---|
| 1 Muharram 1448 (Hijri new year) | 16 June 2026 |
| 1 Rajab 1448 (the Three Holy Months) | 10 December 2026 |
| 1 Ramadan 1448 | 8 February 2027 |
| 1 Shawwal 1448 (Eid al-Fitr) | 9 March 2027 |
| 10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 (Eid al-Adha) | 16 May 2027 |
| 1 Muharram 1449 (Hijri new year) | 6 June 2027 |
The dates are taken from Diyanet's religious days calendar. The tools on this site rely on the dates Diyanet publishes; we do not do our own crescent calculation. Dates after 2027 should be treated as approximate until Diyanet announces them.
Origin and use of the Hijri calendar
The Hijri calendar takes the Prophet's migration (hijra) from Mecca to Medina as its starting point; years are counted from that event. Because it is a lunar calendar, it has no fixed relationship with the seasons: over the years Ramadan moves into winter, then summer, then winter again. In Turkey, days related to worship follow the Hijri calendar, while official and civil life follows the Gregorian calendar.
Diyanet calculates and announces the dates of religious days such as Ramadan, the Eids and the Kandil nights years in advance. This lets prayer-time apps, calendars and institutions plan ahead. Dates far in the future that Diyanet has not yet announced should be regarded as approximate.
How are religious days written on the calendar?
The date written in Diyanet's list of religious days shows the day on whose evening the night falls. For example, Laylat al-Qadr is written as Friday 5 March 2027; the night begins at the Maghrib adhan on the evening of 5 March and extends into the morning of 6 March. Seeing two different days on a calendar page comes from the Hijri day changing at sunset. Eid al-Fitr begins on 9 March 2027; the eve (arefe) is the previous day, 8 March.
For those living in another country, Diyanet's explanation is this: a Muslim who spends Ramadan and the Eid in another country follows the announcement of the country they are in. The reason is that countries' crescent criteria may differ, and this difference does not harm the validity of worship.
Common mistakes with the Hijri calendar
- Assuming the same date every year: Religious days move earlier in the Gregorian calendar by about 10-11 days each year, so you cannot plan by looking at last year's Ramadan date.
- Confusing the day with the night: The Hijri day changes at the Maghrib adhan. A Kandil night begins on the evening of the day written on the calendar.
- Following another country's announcement: Countries' crescent criteria may differ. According to Diyanet, a Muslim who is in another country observes the Eid according to the country they are in.
- Treating approximate dates as certain: Dates far in the future that Diyanet has not yet published are approximate. If you are making an important plan, check Diyanet's current religious days calendar.
Using Hijri and Gregorian dates together
In daily life we use the Gregorian calendar, but religious days relate to the Hijri calendar. That is why prayer-time apps and calendars usually show dates in both forms: for example, the Hijri equivalent of 9 October 2026 is 28 Rabi' al-akhir 1448. Because the Hijri day changes at the time of Maghrib, the Hijri date is counted as one day ahead after the Maghrib adhan. Today's Hijri date is also written on our daily prayer times pages.
Frequently asked questions
How many months are there in the Hijri calendar?
There are twelve months: Muharram, Safar, Rabi' al-awwal, Rabi' al-akhir, Jumada al-awwal, Jumada al-akhir, Rajab, Sha'ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qi'dah and Dhu al-Hijjah.
When is the Hijri new year in 2027?
According to the Diyanet calendar, 1 Muharram 1449 falls on Sunday, 6 June 2027.
Why does Ramadan move earlier every year?
A Hijri year is about 354 days, so it is about 11 days shorter than a Gregorian year; religious days shift back by about 10-11 days each year in the Gregorian calendar.
Sources
- Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Vakit Hesaplama: Hicrî takvim farkları
- Diyanet Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu, Oruca başlamak için hilalin gözle görülmesi şart mıdır?
- Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Dinî Günler 2026
- Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Dinî Günler 2027
- TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, Vakit maddesi
For information only. For religious rulings, consult the Diyanet (Alo 190 Fatwa Line).
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