Worship · remembrance · community
Islamic Events & Sacred Seasons
Explore the principal days, nights, and seasons of the Hijri year—along with their significance, evidence, and date status.
Dates require context
An Islamic date begins at sunset and may differ by location or calendar method. Each IslamCal event will show how its date was determined so an estimate is never mistaken for a confirmed local announcement.
Date status key
● Confirmed
● Calculated
● Estimated
● Locally observed
Through the Hijri year
Major occasions
The descriptions below reflect mainstream Sunni sources. Where scholars differ about a practice or historical date, that difference is stated rather than hidden.
10 MUHARRAM
ʿAshura
A day of voluntary fasting. The Prophet ﷺ fasted it and encouraged Muslims to do so; fasting the ninth with the tenth is recommended.
Established Sunnah · not an Eid or annual mourning rite in Sunni practice.
12 RABIʿ AL-AWWAL · COMMONLY OBSERVED
Prophetic biography & Mawlid
The Prophet’s ﷺ birth is widely associated with Rabiʿ al-Awwal, but its exact date is historically disputed. Sunni scholars differ about organized Mawlid observances.
Scholarly disagreement · avoid presenting a disputed date or practice as unanimously established.
27 RAJAB · COMMONLY OBSERVED
Al-Israʾ wal-Miʿraj
The Night Journey and Ascension are established in revelation. Assigning the event specifically to 27 Rajab is not established by definitive authentic evidence.
Event established · exact anniversary date uncertain.
1–30 RAMADAN
Ramadan
The month of obligatory fasting, Qur’an, prayer, charity, repentance, and spiritual renewal. Its beginning and end depend on the adopted calendar method.
Established obligation · date requires announcement or stated method.
LAST TEN NIGHTS
Laylat al-Qadr
Better than a thousand months. Muslims seek it throughout the final ten nights of Ramadan, especially the odd-numbered nights—not with certainty on only one date.
Established virtue · exact night concealed.
1 SHAWWAL
Eid al-Fitr
The festival marking the completion of Ramadan. It includes the Eid prayer, zakat al-fitr before prayer, gratitude, family, and lawful celebration.
Established festival · local date may vary.
FIRST TEN OF DHUL-HIJJAH
The best days
Days for abundant remembrance and righteous deeds. Pilgrims perform Hajj rites; non-pilgrims are encouraged to increase worship.
Established virtue.
9 DHUL-HIJJAH
Day of ʿArafah
The central day of Hajj. For those not performing Hajj, fasting it is highly recommended and carries immense virtue.
Established Sunnah · linked to the Hajj calendar.
10 DHUL-HIJJAH
Eid al-Adha
The festival of sacrifice, prayer, remembrance, generosity, and the completion of major Hajj rites. The days of Tashriq follow on 11–13 Dhul-Hijjah.
Established festival · local date may vary.
Recurring worship days
The Islamic calendar also gives rhythm to weekly and monthly worship.
- Friday: congregational Jumuʿah prayer and its special virtues.
- Mondays and Thursdays: recommended voluntary fasting.
- 13th, 14th, and 15th: the White Days, recommended for voluntary fasting.
- Six days of Shawwal: recommended after completing Ramadan.
When customs differ
Some communities commemorate additional anniversaries. IslamCal will identify whether an occasion is based on established worship, a disputed historical date, scholarly disagreement, or regional custom.
This approach respects legitimate Sunni differences without turning cultural practice into a universal religious ruling.
Plan · learn · remember
Upcoming Islamic Events
Select an event to read its significance, recommended actions, and supporting references. Gregorian dates should be checked against the stated calendar method and local announcements.