How to Read an Egyptian Calendar

The country of Egypt also accepts the Gregorian calendar along with its own.

The modern Egyptian calendar is different from the Gregorian calendar the United States and many other countries follow. The Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar, meaning it follows the movement of the sun. It also begins with the birth of Jesus Christ. The Egyptian calendar is a lunar calendar, meaning it follows the movements of the moon.

Instructions

1. Recognize that the 12 months in the modern Egyptian calendar move to different times throughout the year. This is because in the lunar calendar, the dates move back 10 days every year. For example, the first day of Ramadan (a month) was August 11, 2010 in the Gregorian calendar. In 2011, the first day of Ramadan will be on August 1 in the Gregorian calendar. The months (in order) are: Muharram, Safar, Rabiul-Awwal, Rabi-uthani, Jumadi-ul-Awwal, Jumadi-uthani, Rajab, Sha'ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhil-Q'ada and Dhil-Hijja.

2. Read the year given as the years since year the Muslim Prophet Muhammad traveled from Mecca to Medinah (two cities in Saudi Arabia). There is an estimated 600 hundred year difference between the two calendars. In the Gregorian year 2011, the Islamic/Egyptian year is 1431 to 1432 because the new year happens in the Gregorian year 2011.

3. Write out the date with the day first, followed by the month number and year. For example, 28th, Ramadan, 1431 or 28/9/1431.

References

• Islam 101; The Islamic Months
• Al-Habib: The Islamic Calendar for 2011 CE