Regional Variations: It is important to note that the Hijri date varies in different countries based on local moon sighting. The Islamic calendar relies on the actual sighting of the crescent moon. Because the moon is sighted at different times across the globe, the moon date in countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh is often one day behind the standard Umm al-Qura calendar. This page Today islamic Date provides both the Worldwide and local Asian dates to ensure complete accuracy.
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.