What is the month of Dhul Qadah?

The name and meaning

Dhul Qadah (also spelled Dhu al-Qi'dah) roughly means "the one of sitting". Before Islam, Arab tribes would sit back from fighting and travel during this month, getting ready for the pilgrimage. Like all Islamic months, it follows the moon, so it moves about 11 days earlier every year in the Western calendar. See How does the Islamic calendar work?

One of the four sacred months

The Quran says Allah made four of the twelve months sacred:

The Prophet ﷺ named them: three in a row, Dhul Qadah, Dhul Hijjah and Muharram, plus Rajab (Sahih al-Bukhari 3197). The same verse goes on to say "do not wrong yourselves during them", so scholars explain that good deeds weigh more in these months, and sins are more serious too.

A month of Hajj and umrah

• Months of Hajj. Shawwal, Dhul Qadah and the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the "well-known months" of Hajj (Quran 2:197). Many pilgrims fly out to Mecca during Dhul Qadah.
• The Prophet's ﷺ umrahs. Anas said the Prophet ﷺ performed four umrahs, all in Dhul Qadah except the one he combined with his Hajj (Sahih al-Bukhari 1778, Sahih Muslim 1253).
• The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. In Dhul Qadah of 6 AH, the Muslims set out for umrah and signed a peace treaty with Quraysh instead, an event the Quran calls a clear victory.

See What is the difference between Hajj and Umrah?

How to make the most of it

There are no special prayers or fasts that belong only to Dhul Qadah. Still, it's a good time to increase what you already do: regular voluntary fasts, Quran reading, charity, and staying away from arguments and sins. It is also the countdown to the best ten days of the year, the start of Dhul Hijjah, so plan your fasting, dhikr and qurbani now. See What are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah?