It is one of the four sacred months in Islam during which warfare is prohibited, hence the name "Master of Truces".

The most correct and most traditionally widespread transliteration of the month according to the thirteenth century Syrian jurist al-Nawawi is Dhu'l Qa'dah.

Al-Nawawi also mentions that a smaller group of linguists allow the transliteration Dhu'l-Qi'dah, however.

[3] In modern times, it is most commonly referred to as Dhu'l Qi'dah although this is neither linguistically nor historically the strongest position.

The estimated start and end dates for Dhu'l-Qi'dah, based on the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia, are:[4]