Dhul-Qi’dah is one of the four sacred months in Islam during which warfare is prohibited.

The hijri calendar is a lunar one with its months beginning when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted.

Dhul-Qi’dah, the eleventh month in the hijri calendar and preceding Dul-Hijjah, the month of Hajj, is expected to start on Sunday, May 21, according to astronomical calculations.

“The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on May 19, 2023 (Friday) at 15:53 UT. On May 19, the moon cannot be seen anywhere in the world,” Moonsighting.com reported.  

“On May 20, it can be seen with difficulty in Far East and parts of Europe and Southern Africa.

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The website added, “on May 20, it can be easily seen in parts of Northern Africa and Southern Europe as well as in Americas. On May 21, it can be seen in the whole world.”

Therefore, Sunday will be the first day of the new hijri month.

Since the hijri lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the tropical year, Dhul-Qi’dah migrates throughout the seasons.

When Is Hajj?

According to astronomical calculations, Dhul-Qi’dah 1443 is expected to end on June 18, meaning that Dhul Hijjah will start on Monday, June 19.

As a result, the rituals of Hajj will occur this year between Monday, June 26 and Saturday, July 1. Furthermore, `Eid al-Adha will start on June 29.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said in his farewell pilgrimage:

“O People! Time has gone back to how it was at the time Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. A year has twelve months, four of which are sacred, three consecutive, Dhul-Qi’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, as well as Rajab, which comes between Jumadaa and Sha’ban.” [Al-Bukhari].

In Islam, a sacred month is a Hijri month when battle and fighting are forbidden.