Dhu al-Hijja () is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic Calendar. It is also known as Thou al-Hijja.
This is a very sacred month in the Islamic calendar, marking the end of the year. It is in this month in which the Hajj Pilgrimage takes place.
"Dhu al-hijjah" literally means ‘Lord of the Pilgrimage.’ It is during this month that pilgrims from all around the world congregate at Mecca to visit the Kaaba. The Hajj is performed on the eighth, ninth and the tenth of this month. Eid ul-Adha, the ‘Festival of the Sacrifice,’ begins on the tenth day and ends on the 13th.
Timing[]
The Islamic Calendar is a Lunar calendar, and months begin when New moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the Solar year, Dhu al-Hijjah migrates throughout the seasons. Since the month must begin and end when the moon is sighted, the estimated start and end dates for Dhu al-Hijjah are as follows:
- 1426 AH – First day: January 1, 2006; last day: January 30, 2006
- 1427 AH – First day: December 22, 2006; last day: January 1, 2007 (Due to sightings in Saudi Arabia, Dhu al-Hijjah officially started on December 21, 2006 in Saudi Arabia. Several countries follow Saudi Arabia regarding the implementation of the Islamic Calendar.)
- 1428 AH – First day: December 11, 2007; last day: January 9, 2008 (Due to sightings in Saudi Arabia, Dhu al-Hijjah officially started on December 10, 2007 in Saudi Arabia. Several countries follow Saudi Arabia regarding the implementation of the Islamic Calendar.)
- 1429 AH – First day: November 30, 2008; last day: December 28, 2008
Islamic Events[]
- On 01 Dhu al-Hijjah, Muhammed Al Hashimi is born.
- On 01 Dhu al-Hijjah, Nikah of Imam Ali and Fatima Zahra took place.
- On 07 Dhu al-Hijjah, Fifth Imam Muhammad Baqir was killed.
- On 08 Dhu al-Hijjah, Imam Husayn started his journey to Karbala from Makkah.
- On 09 Dhu al-Hijjah, Muslim ibn Aqeel was killed at Kufa. It is also a day of supererogatory fasting.
- From 10 Dhu al-Hijjah to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah, Eid ul-Adha is observed by Muslims on the Hajj Pilgrimage and around the world in commemoration of Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah.
- On 18 Dhu al-Hijjah, Shi'a Muslims celebrated event of Ghadir Khumm.
- On 19 Dhu al-Hijjah, Fatima Zahra went to Imam Ali house after their marriage.
- On 24 Dhu al-Hijjah, Event of Al-Mubahila.
- On 26 Dhu al-Hijjah, Caliph Umar is killed.