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Indeed,
there are many causes behind naming months of the Islamic calendar
as such. In what follows we will try to shed some light on some of
those causes:
1.
Muharram: is named so
because the Arabs used to prohibit fighting during it.
2.
Safar: is named so
because the Arabs used to leave their homes during that month as
they used to set out to fight their enemies. It is also said that
they used to leave their homes to escape summer heat.
3.
Rabi` al-Awwal: is named
so because it usually coincides with the spring time.
4.
Rabi` al-Akhar: is named
so because it usually coincides with the winter time.
5.
Jumada al-‘Ula: The
Arabs named it so because water gets frozen at winter time, and
that coincides with the time of Jumada al-‘Ula.
6.
Jumada al-‘Ukhra: is
named so because it coincides with winter time.
7.
Rajab: is derived
from the Arabic word ‘rajaba’ which means to
‘sanctify’ something. The Arabs used to sanctify the month of
Rajab by putting a halt to fighting during that month.
8.
Sha`ban: The Arabic word Sha`ban is derived
from the word ‘tash`aba’, which means to go in
different directions. It is said that Sha`ban takes such a name
because the Arabs used to go in different directions fighting
their enemies.
9.
Ramadan: The word
Ramadan is derived from ‘Ar-ramda’ which refers to
extreme heat. Ramadan time used to coincide with that extreme
climate of heat in the Arab Peninsula, and that is why it is
called Ramadan.
10.
Shawwal: The name
Shawwal is derived from the Arabic word ‘tashawwala’,
which refers to the scarcity in she-camels’ milk.
11.
Dhu-al-Qi`dah: refers to
Arabs decline to go out fighting their enemies as the early Arabs
used to call it a sacred month.
12.
Dhu-al-Hijjah: is named
so because the Arabs used to perform Hajj during that month.
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