
Have you ever wondered who named the days of the week and the months of the year? Why do we have “Sunday,” “Monday,” and “January,” “February”? These names weren’t randomly chosen—they have deep historical roots dating back to ancient civilizations. However, apart from Western influences, Islam also has its own perspective on the calendar and timekeeping. Let’s explore both the historical and Islamic viewpoints on how our modern calendar came to be.
Who Named the Days of the Week?
The names of the seven days of the week are largely influenced by Roman and Norse mythology. The concept of a seven-day week originated from the Babylonians, who based it on the lunar cycle. Later, the Romans adapted it, and many European languages still reflect their influence.
Sunday – Named after the Sun
In ancient times, the Sun was considered a powerful deity. The Romans called this day dies Solis (Day of the Sun), which later evolved into “Sunday” in English. Many other languages, like Spanish (domingo) and French (dimanche), derived their names from Latin and Christian traditions.
Monday – The Day of the Moon
Following the Sun, the Moon was also an essential celestial body. The Romans named it dies Lunae (Day of the Moon), which turned into “Monday.”
Tuesday – The Day of Mars (or Tyr)
In Roman mythology, this day was associated with Mars, the god of war (dies Martis). However, in Germanic and Norse cultures, it was named after Tyr, the god of war. That’s why in English, we have “Tuesday,” while in French, it remains mardi (from Mars).
Wednesday – Odin’s Day
This day was originally dedicated to Mercury (dies Mercurii in Latin), but in Norse mythology, Odin (or Woden) replaced Mercury. Hence, we have “Wednesday” (Woden’s Day).
Thursday – Thor’s Day
The Roman name for this day was dies Iovis (Jupiter’s Day), but in Norse culture, it became associated with Thor, the god of thunder. That’s why we have “Thursday” (Thor’s Day).
Friday – Venus or Frigg’s Day
The Romans dedicated this day to Venus (dies Veneris), the goddess of love and beauty. In Norse mythology, it was named after Frigg (or Freyja), the goddess of love and fertility, leading to “Friday.”
Saturday – Saturn’s Day
This is the only day that retains its original Roman name, dies Saturni, after Saturn, the god of time and agriculture.
The Islamic Perspective on Days of the Week
In Islam, the days of the week are not named after celestial bodies or deities. Instead, they follow a simple numerical naming system in Arabic:
- Sunday – Yawm al-Aḥad (يوم الأحد) – First Day
- Monday – Yawm al-Ithnayn (يوم الإثنين) – Second Day
- Tuesday – Yawm ath-Thulāthāʾ (يوم الثلاثاء) – Third Day
- Wednesday – Yawm al-Arbi‘āʾ (يوم الأربعاء) – Fourth Day
- Thursday – Yawm al-Khamīs (يوم الخميس) – Fifth Day
- Friday – Yawm al-Jumu‘ah (يوم الجمعة) – The Day of Gathering
- Saturday – Yawm as-Sabt (يوم السبت) – The Day of Rest
The Significance of Friday in Islam
Friday (Jumu’ah) is the most important day in the Islamic week. It is the day of the Jumu’ah prayer, a special congregational prayer held at noon. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“The best day the sun rises upon is Friday. On it, Adam was created, on it he entered Paradise, and on it, he was expelled from it.” (Sahih Muslim)
This highlights the spiritual importance of Friday in Islam, distinguishing it from other days.
Who Created the Calendar We Use Today?
The modern Gregorian calendar was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to correct the inaccuracies of the earlier Julian calendar (established by Julius Caesar in 45 BCE). The main change was adjusting leap years to keep the calendar aligned with Earth’s orbit.
Over time, most countries adopted the Gregorian calendar, which remains the standard worldwide.
Who Named the Months of the Year?
The names of the months in our calendar come from ancient Rome. The earliest Roman calendar had only ten months, with winter left unnamed. Later, two more months—January and February—were added to complete the 12-month system we use today.
January – Named after Janus
Janus was the Roman god of doors, beginnings, and transitions. Since January marks the start of a new year, it was fittingly named after him.
February – The Month of Purification
February comes from the Latin word Februa, a festival of purification in ancient Rome.
March – Named after Mars
March was the first month of the early Roman calendar and was dedicated to Mars, the god of war. It was also the time when military campaigns resumed after winter.
April – The Month of Blossoms
The origin of April’s name is unclear, but it is believed to come from the Latin word aperire (to open), referring to the blooming of flowers in spring.
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May – Named after Maia
Maia was an earth goddess in Roman mythology, and this month was named in her honor.
June – The Month of Juno
Juno, the queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage, gave her name to June.
July – Named after Julius Caesar
Originally called Quintilis (fifth month), this month was renamed in honor of Julius Caesar after his assassination.
August – Named after Augustus Caesar
Similarly, Sextilis (sixth month) was renamed August in honor of Emperor Augustus.
September, October, November, December – The Numbered Months
These months kept their original numerical names from the old Roman calendar:
- September (Seventh Month)
- October (Eighth Month)
- November (Ninth Month)
- December (Tenth Month)
However, since January and February were added later, the numbering no longer matches the months’ actual positions.
The Islamic Perspective on the Months
In Islam, months follow the lunar calendar, which consists of 12 months, as mentioned in the Quran:
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth.” (Surah At-Tawbah 9:36)
The Islamic months are:
- Muharram – Sacred month
- Safar – Known for trials
- Rabi’ al-Awwal – Birth month of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
- Rabi’ al-Thani
- Jumada al-Awwal
- Jumada al-Thani
- Rajab – Sacred month
- Sha’ban – Preparation for Ramadan
- Ramadan – Month of fasting
- Shawwal – Eid-ul-Fitr month
- Dhul-Qi’dah – Sacred month
- Dhul-Hijjah – Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha
Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the Sun, the Islamic calendar follows the Moon, making Islamic months shorter (29-30 days).
Final Thoughts
The names of our days and months carry centuries of history from various civilizations. While the modern calendar is based on Roman traditions, Islam has its own structured way of measuring time, aligning with religious observances and natural cycles.
Understanding these historical and religious influences allows us to appreciate the significance of time in different cultures. Would you like to learn more about the Islamic calendar and its significance? Let me know in the comments!
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