Eid celebration in Sholakia. The largest Eid congregation

There are two official holidays in Islam that are celebrated by Muslims worldwide: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The timing of both holidays are set by the lunar Islamic calendar, which is based upon the cycle of the moon, and so is different from the more common, European, solar-based Gregorian calendar. Every year, the Gregorian dates of the Islamic holidays change.

Both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha follow a period of 10 holy days or nights: the last 10 nights of Ramadan for Eid al-Fitr, and the first 10 days of Dhu al-Hijjah for Eid al-Adha. The Night of Power (Arabic: لیلة القدر, romanized: Laylat al-Qadr), one of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, is the holiest night of the year. Conversely, the Day of Arafah, the day before Eid al-Adha, is the holiest day of the Islamic year.

There are a number of other days of note as well as festivals, some common to all Muslims, others specific to Shia Islam or branches thereof.

Additionally, Friday is considered the holiest day of the week, and in Islamic tradition, is considered a celebration in itself. Friday Prayers (Juma) are congregational prayers held in mosques, and Muslims are encouraged to wear clean and refined clothes, perfume, and bathe. It is customary to eat special meals with family on this day.

Holidays

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated at the end of Ramadan (a month of fasting during daylight hours), and Muslims may perform acts of zakat (charity) on the occasion, which begins after the new moon is sighted for the beginning of the month of Shawwal. Celebration begins with prayers on the morning of 1 Shawwal, followed by breakfast, and often celebratory meals throughout the day.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, when the Hajj pilgrimage takes place and lasts for four days. Muslims may perform an act of zakat and friendship by slaughtering a sheep and distributing the meat to family, friends, and to the poor. Muslims are also encouraged to be especially friendly and reach out to one another during this period.[1]

Religious practices

Fasting

The Fanoos, a lantern used in homes, mosques and streets during Ramadan

Muslims celebrate when they believe the Quran was first revealed to Muhammed by fasting from dawn to sunset during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.[2] Fasting is considered a purifying experience so that Muslims can gain compassion and deepen their faith in God.[3] Those with certain health conditions such as diabetes, and children are exempt from fasting. Travelers, and women who are menstruating or nursing a baby, are exempt from fasting but are required to fast later.

Pilgrimage

Hajj

Umrah

Dates of holidays and other days of note

The Islamic calendar is based on the synodic period of the Moon's revolution around the Earth, approximately 291⁄2 days. The Islamic calendar alternates months of 29 and 30 days (which begin with the new moon). Twelve of these months make up an Islamic year, which is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. Some Gregorian dates may vary slightly from those given, and may also vary by country. See Islamic calendar.[4][5]

Holiday nameHijri date1445 AH 1446 AH
Islamic New Year1 Muḥarram19 July 2023 7 July 2024
Ashura10 Muḥarram28 July 2023 17 July 2024
Arbaʽeen[lower-alpha 1]20 or 21 Ṣafar[lower-alpha 2]6 Sep. 2023 26 Aug. 2024
Eid-e-Shuja' (Eid-e-Zahra)[lower-alpha 3]9 Rabī‘ al-Awwal24 Sep. 2023
Mawlid an-Nabī
(Birthday of Muhammad)[lower-alpha 4]		12 Rabī‘ al-Awwal27 Sep. 2023 15 Sep. 2024
Baptism of Muhammad[lower-alpha 5]19 Rabī‘ al-Awwal4 Oct. 2023 22 Sep. 2024
Beginning the Three Holy Months1 Rajab13 January 2024
Laylat al-Raghaib2 Rajab14 January 2024
Birthday of ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib[lower-alpha 1]13 Rajab25 Jan. 2024
Laylat al-Mi'raj26 Rajab or 27 Rajab[lower-alpha 6]7-8 Feb. 2024
Laylat al-Bara'at15 Sha‘bān25 Feb. 2024
Birthday of Hujjat-Allah al-Mahdī[lower-alpha 3]15 Sha‘bān25 Feb. 2024
First day of Ramaḍān1 Ramaḍān11 Mar. 2024
Laylat al-Qadr21, 23, 25, 27, or 29 Ramaḍān[lower-alpha 7]between
29 Mar. & 8 Apr. 2024
Chaand Raat[lower-alpha 8]29 or 30 Ramaḍān[lower-alpha 9]9 Apr. 2024
Eid al-Fitr1 Shawwāl10 Apr. 2024 30 March 2025
Hajj8–13 Dhū al-Ḥijja14–19 June 2024
Day of Arafah9 Dhū al-Ḥijja15 June 2024 5 June 2025
Eid al-Adha10 Dhū al-Ḥijja16 June 2024 6 June 2025
Eid al-Ghadeer[lower-alpha 1]18 Dhū al-Ḥijja24 June 2024
Eid al-Mubahalah[lower-alpha 1]24 Dhū al-Ḥijja30 June 2024

Notes to table

  1. 1 2 3 4 Primarily observed by Shias.
  2. ↑ Observed 40 days after Ashura.
  3. 1 2 Primarily observed by Twelver Shias.
  4. ↑ Not observed by Wahhabis, Deobandis and Ahl-i-Hadith
  5. ↑ Mostly observed in the Sahel
  6. ↑ There is some disagreement about this date; see Isra and Mi'raj.
  7. ↑ Most often observed on 23 Ramaḍān by Shias and 27 Ramaḍān by Sunnis; see Laylat al-Qadr.
  8. ↑ Primarily observed in South Asia.
  9. ↑ Observed on the last evening of Ramaḍān; see Chaand Raat.

References

  1. ↑ الشحيمي, محمد (2014). العيد فرحة وآداب. دبي، الامارات العربية المتحدة: دائرة الشؤون الإسلامية والعمل الخيري. ISBN 978-9948-499-99-2.
  2. ↑ Reza, Aslan (2011). No god but God : the origins and evolution of Islam (1st ed.). New York: Delacorte Press. pp. 118–119. ISBN 9780385739757. OCLC 614990718.
  3. ↑ Molly., Aloian (2009). Ramadan. New York: Crabtree. ISBN 978-0778742852. OCLC 227911610.
  4. ↑ "Islamic Calendar". IslamicFinder. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Special Islamic Days". IslamicFinder. Retrieved 12 September 2020.

Further reading

  • Leaman, Oliver, "Festivals of Love", in Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God (2 vols.), Edited by C. Fitzpatrick and A. Walker, Santa Barbara, ABC-CLIO, 2014, Vol I, pp. 197–199.
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