Hijri Date Converter

About the Hijri Calendar

The Hijri calendar is the lunar calendar used across the Islamic world to date religious events and observances. It began in 622 CE — the year of the Prophet Muhammad’s migration (Hijra) from Mecca to Medina — which is why years are marked “AH” (Anno Hegirae, “in the year of the Hijra”). Because it follows the moon, the Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar year.

Why the Two Calendars Drift Apart

A lunar year is roughly 354 days, while the Gregorian solar year is about 365. That 11-day gap is why Islamic months like Ramadan move earlier through the Gregorian seasons each year, completing a full cycle through all four seasons over roughly 33 years.

How to Use This Converter

Pick your direction — Gregorian to Hijri or the reverse — then enter the day, month, and year. Click “Convert” for the result, or tap “Today” to instantly see today’s date in both calendars. The result shows the converted date, the day of the week, and the Islamic month name in both English and Arabic.

The 12 Islamic Months

Tabular vs. Moon-Sighting Calendars

There are two ways to determine Hijri dates. The tabular method (used by this calculator) follows a fixed arithmetic rule, making it perfect for converting historical dates and planning ahead. The observational method relies on the actual sighting of the new crescent moon (ru’yah) each month, which is what officially determines the start of Ramadan and the timing of Eid in most countries.

Common Uses

• Finding Islamic event dates: when Ramadan, Eid, or Hajj fall in a given Gregorian year
• Recording birthdays and anniversaries: converting personal dates between calendars
• Historical research: dating events from Islamic history in Gregorian terms
• Official documents: many countries use Hijri dates alongside or instead of Gregorian

Accuracy and Limitations

This converter uses the widely accepted tabular Islamic calendar, accurate for general conversion and historical dating. However, for religiously binding dates — the start of Ramadan, the day of Eid, or the timing of Hajj rituals — always defer to your local moon-sighting authority, since those are determined by observation rather than calculation.

Where This Fits

Pair this with our Zakat calculator (Zakat is often calculated on a Hijri-year cycle) and our other Islamic & cultural tools. For general date math, see our date difference calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions