Which Islamic calendar month immediately follows Dhu al-Hijjah?

Which Islamic calendar month immediately follows Dhu al-Hijjah? Muharram follows Dhu al-Hijjah.

Dhu al-Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, so Muharram begins the next year as its first month. The month names remain in a fixed sequence even though their dates move through the seasons relative to the Gregorian calendar.

Muharram is one of Islam’s four sacred months, traditionally associated with a prohibition on warfare. Its tenth day is Ashura, which has different meanings and observances across Muslim communities. Sunni Muslims commonly associate Ashura with Moses’ deliverance from Pharaoh, while Shia Muslims commemorate the death of Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE.

A common mix-up is placing Safar immediately after Dhu al-Hijjah. Safar is actually the second month; it follows Muharram. The Islamic year contains twelve lunar months and is about 10–12 days shorter than the Gregorian year.