«The number of months with Allah is twelve — of which four are sacred.» — 9:36
The Four Sacred Months
Muḥarram
A sacred month. Fasting the 9th and 10th (ʿĀshūrāʾ) expiates the sins of the preceding year. The Prophet ﷺ said: «The best fasting after Ramadan is the month of Allah, Muḥarram.»
Muslim
Rajab
A sacred month — one of the four months in which fighting is forbidden. Recommended to fast and increase good deeds. «Rajab is the month of Allah, Muḥarram is the month of Allah.»
9:36, Tirmidhī
Shaʿbān
The Prophet ﷺ fasted more in Shaʿbān than any month besides Ramadan. The 15th night is a night of forgiveness — Allah looks upon His servants and forgives all except the polytheist and the one who harbors hatred.
Bukhārī, Tirmidhī
Dhū al-Ḥijjah
The best days of the year. The first ten days are the most beloved deeds to Allah; fasting the 9th (Day of ʿArafāt) expiates two years of sin for the non-pilgrim — the preceding and the following.
Bukhārī, Muslim
Other Notable Months
Ramaḍān (honored)
The month of fasting; the Quran was revealed in it; contains Laylat al-Qadr, better than a thousand months. The most blessed month of the year.
2:185, 97:3
Ṣafar
No special prohibition — any belief of bad luck in Ṣafar is a pre-Islamic superstition. Time brings no disease or blessing by itself.
Bukhārī & Muslim
Rabīʿ al-Awwal
The month of the Prophet's ﷺ birth and the month of his passing — an occasion for learning seerah and sending ṣalawāt.
Ibn Hishām
Rabīʿ al-Ākhir / Jumādā
Ordinary months — no special prohibition or obligation. Time belongs to Allah and should be filled with worship.
General
Duʿā
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي رَجَبٍ وَشَعْبَانَ وَبَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَانَ
Between the sacred months
O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Shaʿbān, and let us reach Ramadan.
Aḥmad
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
On the Day of ʿArafāt (for non-pilgrim)
There is no deity but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things — the best duʿā of ʿArafāt.
Tirmidhī
اللَّهُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا صِيَامَنَا هَذَا وَاجْعَلْهُ لَنَا كَفَّارَةً لِذُنُوبِنَا
On ʿĀshūrāʾ (fasting)
O Allah, accept our fasting and make it an expiation for our sins.
General duʿā