Dhul-Qi’dah is the eleventh month in the hijri calendar. It’s 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.

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

“The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on June 10, 2021 (Thursday) at 10:53 UT. There is solar Eclipse on that day visible in Northern latitudes as shown below.”

“On June 10, the moon can be seen by high powered telescope in Western USA. On June 11, it can be seen in almost the whole world, except Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Therefore, Friday is the first day of Dhul-Qi’dah.”

When Is Hajj?

According to astronomical calculations, Dhul-Qi’dah 1442 is expected to end on July 10, meaning that Dhul Hijjah will start on Sunday, July 11.

As a result, the rituals of Hajj will occur this year between Friday, July 17 and Tuesday, July 22. Furthermore, `Eid al-Adha will start on July 20.

Dhul-Qi’dah is one of the four Sacred Hijri months of the Islamic Calendar, namely Rajab, Dhul-Qi’dah and Dhul-Hijjah, in addition to the 1st month, Muharram.

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.