Reading Islamic Calendar

Reading the combined Islamic/ Western Calendar The orange writing shows you the name of the Islamic month. The light blue writing shows its number. The darker blue shows Arabic writing of its name. For example, Muharram is the first month of the Islamic year.

This green writing shows you the days of the week on a western calendar. The days of the Islamic week are in the chart below. Sundayyaum al-ahadMondayyaum alithnaynTuesdayyaum aththulaathaaWednesdayyaum al-arbia`aa' Thursdayyaum al-khamisFridayyaum al-jumu`aSaturdayyaum as-sabt

This shows you the months on a western calendar. For example, Muharram, starts on January 20 and ends on February 18.

The larger numbers are the dates in the months on the Islamic calendar.

The smaller numbers are the dates in the months on a western calendar.

Use the calendar to answer the following questions: What western (A.D.) year is this calendar for? What Islamic (A.H.) year is this calendar for? According to your notes from your reading, why are these two years so different? On what Islamic day and date is your birthday? (For example, if your birthday is Friday, August 3, then your birthday would be yaum al-jumu`a, Rajab 19.)

When is Valentine’s Day?

When is Christmas?

What is today?

What do you think the Arabic work “yaum” means?