Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar: Dhu al-Hijjah is the month during which the annual Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca takes place. It is one of the four sacred months in Islam.

Usage

• As a proper noun (always capitalized):
  • The major Islamic festivals of Eid al-Adha and the Hajj pilgrimage occur in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah.
  • Muslims who are not performing the Hajj often fast during the first nine days of Dhu al-Hijjah.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Day of Arafah, the most important day of the Hajj, falls on the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah.
  • The Islamic calendar is lunar, so Dhu al-Hijjah rotates through the seasons over the years.

Advanced Usage

• "In Dhu al-Hijjah": Used to specify when an event occurs within this sacred month.
  • The pilgrimage rites are performed in Dhu al-Hijjah.

Variants and Related Words

• Dhu'l-Hijjah: An alternate transliteration of the same Arabic term.
• Hajj (noun): The major Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, which is a pillar of Islam and occurs in this month.
• Eid al-Adha (noun): The "Festival of Sacrifice," which begins on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah.

Synonyms

• The Month of the Hajj: A descriptive synonym referencing its primary significance.
• The Sacred Month: A reference to its status as one of Islam's holy months.

Notes on Meaning

• This term refers specifically to a named month in a specific calendar system. It does not have other general meanings. Its defining characteristic is its association with the Hajj pilgrimage.

Noun

1. the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar and the season of the hajj; has one extra day in leap years