Islamic holidays

Islamic Holidays

Islamic holidays, also known as Islamic festivals or Muslim holidays, are celebrated by Muslims worldwide. These holidays are based on the Islamic calendar, which is a lunar calendar, and thus the dates of the holidays change each year in the Gregorian calendar. The two most well-known Islamic holidays are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, but there are several other significant holidays and observances in Islam.

Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr is a festival that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. It is a time of celebration and thanksgiving to Allah for the strength to complete the fast. The holiday lasts for three days and includes prayer, feasting, and giving of gifts and charity.

Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah. It also marks the end of the Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. The holiday lasts for four days and involves prayer, animal sacrifice, and charity.

Mawlid al-Nabi

Mawlid al-Nabi is the observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. While not celebrated by all Muslims, those who observe Mawlid al-Nabi do so with prayers, feasting, and reading of the prophet's life story.

Islamic New Year

The Islamic New Year, also known as Hijri New Year, marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar year. It is a time for Muslims to reflect on the passage of time and their own mortality.

Ashura

Ashura is a day of fasting observed by Sunni Muslims to commemorate the day that Moses and the Israelites were saved from Pharaoh by Allah. For Shia Muslims, Ashura commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala.

Other Observances

Other significant Islamic observances include Laylat al-Qadr, the night in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad, and Isra and Mi'raj, the two parts of a Night Journey that Muhammad took during a single night from Mecca to Jerusalem and then an ascension to the heavens.

See Also

• Islamic calendar
• Eid al-Fitr
• Eid al-Adha
• Mawlid al-Nabi
• Islamic New Year
• Ashura
• Laylat al-Qadr
• Isra and Mi'raj