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.
Dhul-Qi`dah: refers
to Arabs decline to go out fighting their enemies as the
early Arabs used to call it a sacred month.
12.
Dhul-Hijjah: is
named so because the Arabs used to perform Hajj during that
month.
