Jahiliyya names of days and months
أسماء الأيام والشهور في الجاهلية
The Arabs' Jahiliyya week — Awwal, Ahwan, Jubar, Dubar, Mu'nis, 'Aruba, Shiyar — and their months: Natiq for Muharram, Thaqil for Safar, then Taliq, Najir, Aslakh, Amih, Ahlak, Kasa', Zahir, Bark, Harf and Ta'ss for Dhu al-Hijja; the Sabbath named for the severing of creation's week 1.
At a glance
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Overview
In the Jahiliyya the Arabs called the days: Sunday Awwal, Monday Ahwan, Tuesday Jubar, Wednesday Dubar, Thursday Mu'nis, Friday Arubba, and Saturday Shiyar. Their poet said: "I hope to live, and that my day will be one of Awwal, Ahwan, Jubar, or Ardi, Dubar; and if I am spared, then Mu'nis, Arubba, or Shiyar." They called the months al-Muharram Natiq, Safar Thaqil, then Talig and Najir, Asalakh, Amih, Ahlak, Kas', Zahir, Barak, Harf, and Ta'as, which is Dhu al-Hijja. Sunday was named because it was the first day of time that God created, and Saturday because creation ceased on it, and Adam was created at its end, named after a sandal (Sabtiyya) whose hair had been cut off. 2
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People and things also explored
The abjad letters named for Madyan's kings· al-Anwāʾ (Star Rains)· The ill-omened days· Divining Arrows· The temples of the seven planets· The fire-temples· The ghul· al-Hāma (Vengeful Owl)
Sources
- Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi, p. 510-511
- Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi, p.510-511
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Jahiliyya names of days and months”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/asma-al-ayyam-wal-shuhur-jahiliyya/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-17.