Islamic holidays

There are two main holidays in Islam, Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha. The way that holidays are recognized can vary across cultures, as well as across sects of Islam, Sunni and Shia. Muslim holidays generally follow the lunar calendar, and thus move each year relative to the solar calendar. The Islamic calendar has 12 months and 354–355 days. Sunni and Shia lunar calendars do not always coincide: sometimes a Shia holiday and the same Sunni holiday occur on two different days, typically two successive ones. Islamic dates are based on a lunar calendar, and may vary by 1–2 days from what is predicted below.

Religious festive day

Ashura

Main article: Day of Ashura

Ashura is commemorated by Shi'a Muslims on the ninth and tenth days of Muharram on the Islamic Calendar. Ashura is an Arabic word meaning "ten", and according to Sunni schools of thought it is a day of optional fasting. Jews in the city of Madina fasted only one day, on Yom Kippur, the 10th of Tishrei because they believe that Prophet Moses fasted on this day; so the Prophet Muhammad would fast too, to express the continuity of Islam and brotherhood with the earlier Prophet. According to Islamic tradition, Prophet Muhammad fasted along with the neighboring Jewish communities on this occasion, and according to narrations, Prophet Muhammad fasted on the 10th of Muharram and said that if he (SAW) lived to the next year he(SAW) would also fast the 9th Muharram (Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates that when the Holy Nabi (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) said: "If I survive till next year, I will definitely observe fast on the 9th of Muharram (as well)." [Sahih Muslim] .

By Islamic tradition, this day commemorates God saving Moses and the Israelites from Pharaoh in Egypt as they crossed the Red Sea (the Exodus day). According to Judaism, the Israelites left Egypt on the first day of Passover, and they crossed the Sea of Reeds seven days later on the 21st of Nisan, both of which are celebrated as holidays with meals.

According to Shi'a tradition, 10 Muharram is also the day on which Muhammad's grandson, Husayn ibn Ali, was martyred in the Battle of Karbala.

Laylat ul Isra and Miraj

Main article: Lailat al Miraj

Laylat ul Isra and Mi'raj is Arabic for the “Night of the Journey and Ascension”. It is on 27th of Rajab. It is the night when Muhammad was, according to Hadiths, taken to “the furthest mosque” (generally understood to be Jerusalem) on a Buraq (a beast resembling horse with wings; some people consider it a cherub) and ascended to the highest level of the heavens. It is said that he negotiated with God about the number of prayers, which started at fifty a day, but on his way down he met Moses, who asked him to ask for a reduction in the number because the requirement was difficult for Muhammad's people. Muhammad returned to God and several times asked for, and was granted a reduction of five prayers, until the number was reduced to five in total, with the blessing that if they were properly performed, the performers would be credited with fifty prayers instead of five. The event of this Night has also been described in Quran in Part 15 the beginning of Surah Isra.

Laylat al-Qadr

Main article: Laylat al-Qadr

Laylat al-Qadr is Arabic for “The Night of Power”. It falls on one of the last ten days of Ramadan on an odd numbered day. It is considered the holiest night of the year, since it is the night in which the Qur'an was first revealed. It is also considered better than a thousand months [Qur'an 97:1–3]. It is said that if a person performs voluntary worship on this night, that worship is equal to a thousand months or approximately 80 years.

Religious practice

Fasting

Main article: Ramadan

Ramadan is the month in which Muslims must fast from dawn to sunset. This is meant to feel how the poor people are without food or water. In addition, Muslims close their bodies off from earthly demands by denying themselves food and drink. This in turn allows for the nourishment of the soul.

Fasting is more than just the mere denial of food and drink. Muslims must also abstain from smoking and sexual contact. In addition, there are culture-specific beliefs regarding the watching of television, listening to music, and the perusal of any secular vice that does not in some way enhance spirituality.

Pilgrimage

Hajj

Main article: Hajj

Umrah

Main article: Umrah

Calendar

Festive day	1431 AH	1432 AH	1433 AH	1434 AH	1435 AH
Islamic New Year	18 December 2009	7 December 2010	26 November 2011	15 November 2012	4 November 2013
Ashura	27 December 2009	16 December 2010	5 December 2011	24 November 2012	13 November 2013
Mawlid an-Nabi	26 February 2010	15 February 2011	4 February 2012	24 January 2013	13 January 2014
Laylat al-Miraj	9 July 2010	29 June 2011	17 June 2012	6 June 2013	26 May 2014
Laylat al-Baraat	27 July 2010	16 July 2011	5 July 2012	24 June 2013	13 June 2014
Ramadan	11 August 2010	1 August 2011	20 July 2012	9 July 2013	28 June 2014
Laylat al-Qadr	6 September 2010	27 August 2011	15 August 2012	4 August 2013	24 July 2014
Eid al-Fitr	10 September 2010	30 August 2011	19 August 2012	8 August 2013	28 July 2014
Eid al-Adha	16 November 2010	6 November 2011	26 October 2012	15 October 2013	4 October 2014

External links

• The Umm al-Qura Calendar of Saudi Arabia (with date converter valid from 1937 to 2077)