dhu ʾl-qaʿda: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (specialized religious/historical context)Formal, religious, historical, academic
Quick answer
What does “dhu ʾl-qaʿda” mean?
The eleventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The eleventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
One of the four sacred months in Islam during which warfare is traditionally forbidden; a time of pilgrimage preparation preceding Dhu ʾl-Hijja.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. Both use the same transliterated term.
Connotations
Carries strong religious and cultural connotations within Muslim communities worldwide; neutral historical connotation in academic contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse, appearing almost exclusively in Islamic religious texts, historical works, and calendars.
Grammar
How to Use “dhu ʾl-qaʿda” in a Sentence
[Event] occurs in Dhu ʾl-QaʿdaThe month of Dhu ʾl-Qaʿda is sacredVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dhu ʾl-qaʿda” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Dhu ʾl-Qaʿda moon was clearly visible.
American English
- Dhu ʾl-Qaʿda dates vary each Gregorian year.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in Islamic finance for scheduling contracts according to the Hijri calendar.
Academic
Used in Islamic studies, history, and religious texts discussing the calendar, pilgrimage, or pre-Islamic Arabia.
Everyday
Used by Muslims when referring to dates for religious events, fasting, or family occasions.
Technical
Used in astronomy for lunar calendar calculations and in theology for jurisprudence related to sacred months.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dhu ʾl-qaʿda”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dhu ʾl-qaʿda”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dhu ʾl-qaʿda”
- Misspelling as 'Dhu al-Qada', 'Zulqa'dah', or 'Dhu al-Qa'ada'.
- Mispronouncing the 'ʿ' (ayn) as a glottal stop or skipping it.
- Using it with English month prepositions incorrectly (e.g., 'on Dhu ʾl-Qaʿda' instead of 'in Dhu ʾl-Qaʿda').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. As it is part of the lunar Islamic calendar (Hijri), it moves approximately 10-11 days earlier each Gregorian year.
It is one of the four sacred months (al-Ashur al-Hurum) in Islam, a time when warfare was traditionally forbidden even in pre-Islamic Arabia.
ذُو الْقَعْدَة
It is not a typical greeting like for Eid. Muslims may acknowledge the start of the sacred month with respectful phrases, but there is no standardized festive greeting.
The eleventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
Dhu ʾl-qaʿda is usually formal, religious, historical, academic in register.
Dhu ʾl-qaʿda: in British English it is pronounced /ðuː l ˈkɑːdə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ðu l ˈkɑdə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Dhu' sounds like 'the', and 'Qaʿda' contains 'qa' which can remind you of 'quarter'—it's the quarter (11th) of the 12-month year.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A SACRED JOURNEY (as it precedes the pilgrimage month).
Practice
Quiz
What is Dhu ʾl-Qaʿda?