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Islamic Calendar and Muslim Holy Days
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To understand Muslim holidays, it is helpful to understand their calendar system.
The Islamic calendar started in the Western year 622 A.D. Its starting point was
the date on which Muhammad and his closest companions moved from Mecca to Medina,
known as the Hijra.
The Muslim calendar is lunar-based, comprising of 12 months and a year of 354 days.
Each month can be either 29 or 30 days long. Because the lunar year is shorter than
the solar year, Muslim holy days cycle backwards through the Western calendar. The
Islamic lunar calendar differs from the moon's actual cycle by one day every 2,570
years, which means that it is only a little bit less accurate than the solar calendar.
Originally the months were regulated based upon the sighting of the moon, but today
more sophisticated astronomical calculations are employed. The months are known as:
- Muharram
- Safar
- Rabiulawal (or Rabi I)
- Rabiulakhir (or Rabi II)
- Jamadilawal (or Jumada I)
- Jamadilakhir (or Jumada II)
- Rajab
- Shaban
- Ramadan
- Shawwal
- Zulkadah
- Zulhijjah
Al-Hijra
This holiday marks the beginning of the Muslim New Year on the first day of the month
of Muharram. In addition to being the start of the New Year, Al-Hijra is also the anniversary
of Muhammad's hijra to Medina, an important event theologically. Sometimes this is
also called Rabi Al-Awwal.
'Ashura
Taking place on the tenth day of Muharram, 'Ashura marks the anniversary of the death
of Imam Husain, the grandson of Muhammad. This is a holy day celebrated more by Shi'ites
than by Sunni Muslims, because Sunnis don't recognize Husain's claim to being the
proper successor to Muhammad. However, tradition has it that a number of other important
events occurred on 'Ashura, including Noah's ark coming to rest, the Prophet Abraham
being born, and the Kaaba being built.
For Shi'ites, 'Ashura is the most sanctified day of the month, and celebrating it
includes fasting and "passion plays" of his martyrdom. Because of this, the
day is not "celebrated" in the way that holy days normally are. Some
mourners beat their chests, lamenting and grieving over Husain's death, and replicas
of his tomb are profusely decorated on this date.
Mawlid al-Nabi
This date marks the celebration of Muhammad's birth in 570 C.E., and has been fixed at the
12th day of the month Rabi al-Awwal. Mawlid al-Nabi appears to have been first celebrated
in the thirteenth century and involved a month-long festival. Today, the focus is mostly on
the actual date itself and includes sermons, gift giving, and a feast. Some of the most
conservative sects, like the Wahhabis, regard such a celebration as idolatrous and condemn
it. Thus, Saudi Arabia does not recognize Mawlid al-Nabi at all, but other countries (like
Egypt and Turkey) have many celebrations.
Laylat Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj
This literally means "the night journey and ascension," although the day
is sometimes called by the shorter form Isra wa Al-Miraj. It is celebrated on the
twenty-seventh day of Rajab, and tradition has it that on this date Muhammad traveled
from Mecca to Jerusalem, then ascended into heaven, and returned to Mecca all in
the same night. The rock from which he supposedly ascended to heaven can still be
seen in the Dome of the Rock.
Muslims also believe that it was on the night or Laylat Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj that Muhammad
established the current form of the five daily prayers which all believers must recite. The
story also has it that Muhammad prayed together with Abraham, Moses and Jesus in the
Al-Asqa mosque in Jerusalem, and because of that this date is also regarded as
demonstrating that Muslims, Christians and Jews all follow the same god.
Ramadan
Also known as Ramadhan or Ramazan, this is a month when Muslims are expected
to fast all day long. Learn more about the nature of Ramadan, exemptions, what is
forbidden, and special days which fall during this month on the separate
Ramadan page.
The term Eid is the Arabic term for festivity or celebration, and is only
attached to a couple of holy days in the Muslim year, signifying their importance:
Eid Al-Adhha
This holy day is the "feast of sacrifice" and is celebrated from the tenth through
the thirteenth days of Zul-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Muslim calendar. Eid Al-Adhha
marks the anniverary of Abraham's attempt to sacrifice his son Ishmael on God's orders
(In the Jewish and Christian traditions, Abraham attempted to sacrifice Isaac). At this
time special prayers are said either in mosques or in fields designated for that purpose.
It is during this time of the year that people generally make the Haj, or the
pilgrimage to Mecca. Whether on the Haj or at home, people celebrating this begin the
first day with sacrificing an animal as a commemoration of the Angel Gabriel providing
Abraham with a lamb as a substitute. Most of the meat is shared with family and
neighbors, but one-third is given to the poor.
Yom Arafat
This holy day takes place on the ninth of Dhu Al-Hijja, just before the celebration of Eid Al-Adhha.
People on the Haj assemble for the "standing" on the plain of Arafat, which is located near
Mecca. Muslims elsewhere in the world gather at a local mosque for prayer and solidarity on
Yom Arafat.
Laylat Al-Baraa
This term Laylat Al-Baraa means "night of repentance" and it commemorates the night when
all who repent are granted forgiveness. Muslims believe that it is on this night that God
sets each person's path for the coming year. Thus, Muslims ask God for forgiveness for past
sins and for blessings in the coming year on Laylat Al-Baraa.
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