What is the Islamic date today?

The Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar. There are 12 months. Each month runs 29 or 30 days depending on the moon. That adds up to 354 or 355 days a year, roughly 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. This is why Ramadan doesn’t land on the same Gregorian date each year. It moves backward about 11 days annually, cycling through all four seasons over roughly 33 years.

Today’s Islamic date shown above is calculated using real-time moon sighting data cross-checked against the Umm al-Qura algorithm. The Urdu date today and Sindhi date today shown for South Asia subtract one day from the standard calculation, reflecting how Ruet-e-Hilal committees in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh confirm the crescent locally. You can also view the Islamic date tomorrow.

Today Islamic date in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh

The question “what is the Islamic date today in India?” comes up daily, because the answer genuinely differs from the global date. This isn’t a data error. It’s how the Hijri calendar works.

The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Hilal Committee of Pakistan, and similar bodies in Bangladesh convene on the 29th of every Islamic month. They look for the crescent. If it’s visible, the new month begins the next day. If not, the current month completes its 30th day first.

Saudi Arabia and most Gulf countries use the Umm al-Qura calendar, a pre-calculated schedule published by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. Countries that follow actual moon sighting, like India, often land one day behind. So when the Islamic date today worldwide is 15 Dhul-Qadah, the Urdu date today in India is typically 14 Dhul-Qadah. To convert any Gregorian date to Hijri or vice versa, you can use our Islamic date converter.

The 12 months of the Hijri calendar

Muharram opens the Islamic year. One of the four sacred months. The 10th, Ashura, is observed across Muslim communities worldwide. You can see the countdown on our Islamic New Year countdown.

Safar follows. Some older communities considered it unlucky, a view with no Islamic basis.

Rabi Al-Awwal is the month of the Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) birth. Mawlid celebrations happen in many parts of the world during this month.

Rabi Al-Akhar is quieter, with no major observances.

Jumada Al-Awwal and Jumada Al-Akhirah are the fifth and sixth months, named after the word for “dry,” referencing the Arabian Peninsula’s climate when the calendar was established.

Rajab is another sacred month. The 27th marks Laylat al-Miraj in many communities.

Sha’ban precedes Ramadan. Many Muslims fast voluntary days here and observe Laylat al-Bara’ah on the 15th.

Ramadan is the ninth month and the most significant. Fasting for the entire month is one of the five pillars of Islam. Laylat al-Qadr falls within the last 10 nights.

Shawwal begins with Eid al-Fitr on the 1st. The following 6 days of voluntary fasting are practiced by many.

Dhul-Qadah is the 11th month and another sacred one. Hajj preparation begins.

Dhul-Hijjah closes the year. Hajj takes place in the first 10 days. Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th. The 9th, the Day of Arafah, is one of the most significant days in the Islamic year.

Urdu date today and Sindhi date today

Both the Urdu date today and the Sindhi date today follow the same lunar sighting methodology used across South Asia. Communities in Sindh, Punjab, Kashmir, UP, and Bihar all rely on local moon sighting decisions made by their respective Ruet committees. For a complete list of holiday dates, see our Islamic events page.

For practical purposes, if you’re in Sindh or anywhere in Pakistan, the Sindhi date today matches the Pakistan Islamic date, confirmed by Pakistan’s Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee based in Islamabad.

How the Hijri calendar is calculated

Calculated calendars like Umm al-Qura use astronomical data to predict moon visibility months in advance, giving you a fixed schedule you can print at the start of the year. Saudi Arabia uses this for civil purposes.

Sighting-based calendars rely on actual observation. A qualified witness must sight the crescent moon with the naked eye after sunset on the 29th. If sighted, the new month begins at Maghrib. If not, the month runs a 30th day.

This page combines both: the Umm al-Qura algorithm provides the base date, cross-checked against the Aladhan API, and the local date subtracts one day to reflect South Asian sighting convention.

Frequently asked questions

What is today’s Islamic date?
The Islamic date today is shown at the top of this page in real time. The worldwide date follows the Umm al-Qura calendar. The India/Pakistan/Bangladesh date shows the local sighting-based date.

What is the Urdu date today?
The Urdu date today for Pakistan and India matches the South Asian Islamic date in the left card above, typically one day behind the global Umm al-Qura date.

What is the Sindhi date today?
The Sindhi date today matches the Pakistani Hijri date, confirmed by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee’s moon sighting decision.

Why does the Islamic date differ between Saudi Arabia and India?
Saudi Arabia uses a pre-calculated calendar. India and Pakistan wait for physical moon sighting. The crescent often becomes visible in the Arabian Peninsula before it’s sighted on the Indian subcontinent, resulting in a one-day difference in most months.

How many days are in the Islamic calendar year?
A standard Hijri year has 354 days. A leap year (Kabishah) has 355. The Hijri calendar uses a 30-year cycle with 11 leap years built in.

What Hijri year is it?
The current Islamic year is shown at the top of this page alongside today’s date. The Hijri year count began from the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE.

When does Ramadan start this year?
Ramadan begins on the 1st of the 9th Hijri month. The exact Gregorian date shifts each year. The full calendar grid on this page shows the anticipated start date. Final confirmation depends on moon sighting in your country. You can check the expected schedule in our Ramadan Calendar.

How do I calculate my age in Hijri years?
You can enter your date of birth in our Hijri age calculator to see your exact age in Islamic years, months, and days, along with your next Hijri birthday.

Where can I find Hijri date API and open data?
Developers can check our Islamic Date API & Open Data page. For any questions or feedback, please visit our About Us or Contact Us pages.