Muslim holidays in Islam, there are many holidays in Islam, but the two are official holidays: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Because both holidays fall on dates in the Islamic lunar calendar, which differs from the solar Gregorian calendar, they are commemorated on different Gregorian dates each year
Introduction to Islam
Islam is a monotheistic religion that believes Muhammad(PBUH) as a divine messenger. With 1.9 billion adherents, or 24.9 percent of the world’s population, known as Muslims, it is the world’s second-largest religion.
In 47 nations, Muslims constitute the majority of the population. According to Islam, God is compassionate, all-powerful, and one-of-a-kind, and he has guided humanity via prophets, disclosed texts, and natural signs.
The primary texts of Islam include the Quran, which is considered the exact word of God, and Muhammad’s (c. 570 – 632 CE) teachings and normative examples (called the sunnah, which is formed of tales called tales hadith).
Muslims accept that Islam is the complete and global form of a primordial faith revealed many times previously by prophets such as Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Muslims see the Quran, which is written in Arabic, as God’s absolute and last revelation.
Like other Abrahamic religions, Islam preaches an ultimate judgment in which the virtuous are rewarded in paradise and the evil are punished in ■■■■. The Five Pillars of Islam, which are required acts of worship and obey Islamic law (sharia), which impacts nearly every area of life and society, from finance and welfare to women and the environment, are religious principles and practices.
Culture versus Relegion
| Culture | Relegion |
|---|---|
| Encompasses relegion | Subset of culture |
| Acquired body of knowledge | Belief system |
| Focused on the people of a society | Associated with the Supreme Being |
| Evolution of humans and their traditions | Revelation of the Supreme Being to humanity |
| Practical | Written in text |
| Changes through time | Fixed from the beginning |
Muslim Holidays
There are several additional notable days and festivals, some shared by all Muslims, while others are exclusive to Shia Islam or its branches.
Both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha fall within ten days: the last ten nights of Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr) and the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah (Eid al-Adha). The Night of Power, one of Ramadan’s last ten nights, is the holiest night of the year. The Day of Arafah, the day before Eid al-Adha, on the other hand, is the holiest in the Islamic year.
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Furthermore, Friday is considered the holiest day of the week and is regarded as a festival in Islamic culture. Friday prayers (Juma) are congregational prayers held in mosques, and Muslims are urged to wear clean clothes, perfume, and bathe before the services. On this day, it is common to enjoy special dinners with family.
Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr, a highly celebrated Muslim celebration, will most likely fall on May 3 this year. According to the lunar calendar, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated following the conclusion of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset; hence, Eid al-Fitr is also known as the ‘Festival of Breaking Fast.’
Many people celebrate the holiday by paying visits to friends and family, exchanging gifts, and preparing special foods and sweets associated with the occasion. In several South Asian nations, such as Pakistan and India, elders offer money presents to youngsters, known as ‘Eidi.’
Other cultural customs include Muslims attending an exceptional early prayer service on the day of Eid. After the prayer, all Muslims in the congregation, strangers or acquaintances, share Eid pleasantries by embracing.
The Origins of Eid ul-Fitr
The date of Eid ul-Fitr changes every year according to the Islamic calendar, which is based on lunar cycles. Every year, the day moves forward by at least ten days, falling earlier and earlier. Eid al-Fitr will begin multiple likely falls on May 12 this year.
However, depending on when Ramadan — Muslims’ Holy Fasting Month — begins, Eid al-Fitr may happen on May 13 or 14. In any case, the Muslim community throughout the world celebrates the event for three days. Following a month of fasting and abstinence, Many nations observe Eid al-Fitr by their respective cultures and customs. People in the Middle East perform morning prayers by travelling to a specifically designated place known as ‘Eid-gah.’ Eid-gah is often a prominent vacant place. Eid morning prayers, unlike other Muslim prayers, do not have a specific call to prayer.
People in other countries, such as Malaysia and Pakistan, visit family and friends, bringing presents and unique culinary items with them.
On the morning of Eid, people in these nations prepare unique food dishes such as sheer khurma’ and sawaiyan.’ These desserts are prepared using vermicelli, milk, sugar, and dried fruits. South Asians also refer to Eid al-Fitr as ‘choti’ Eid, which translates as “little Eid.”
In Islam, there are two Eid festivals: Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr marks the conclusion of the Hajj pilgrimage with the sacrifice of animals such as sheep, goats, cows, and camels.
Day of Arafah
The Day of Arafah (or Arafat) occurs on the ninth day of the Islamic lunar month, which falls on July 8. It falls on the second day of Hajj in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar, Dhul-Hijjah. It is considered the most fantastic day of the year for Muslims. The day marks the culmination of a pilgrimage for Muslims in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, who congregate in the mountain plain of Arafah to pray and supplicate for pardon.
The Origin of Day of Arafah
For Muslims, the Day of Arafah is regarded as a holy and noble day. It indicates the day when the Prophet Muhammad delivered his farewell speech to the numerous Muslims he conducted Hajj on Mount Arafah at the end of his life. Verse 5:3 of the Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad as he was standing on the plain of Arafah.
‘Freedom from Fire’ is another name for Arafah Day. Arafah means ‘to be aware.’ In Islam, Adam and Eve (known as Hawa) are believed to have been separated from heaven and placed on Earth, where they met in the plains of Arafah. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have emphasised the significance of standing on Arafah as a necessary element of performing Hajj.
Eid ul-Adha.
Eid al-Adha is a Muslim holy day that commemorates Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) willingness to make a sacrifice according to God’s command: the life of his beloved son Isaac. But, just as Ibrahim was ready to kill his son, God, moved by Ibrahim’s faith, supplied a sacrificial ram in his stead.
Muslims today commemorate this occasion by dividing a killed animal into three parts: one for themselves, one for their families, and one for the poor.On this great day, we may all engage in the spirit of sharing. This year’s holiday will be mainly observed on July 20.
The Prophet Ibrahim, also known as Abraham in Christianity and Judaism, faced difficulties and tribulations throughout his life. One of these tests came when he was told by Allah (God) in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismael. Both father and son agreed to fulfil God’s wishes and travelled to Mount Moriah.
Ismail lay face down on the ground, his father holding a sharp knife to his throat. Only when Ibrahim was about to kill his son, God send a big ram to be slain in Ismael’s place, therefore reminding everyone of God’s kindness and benefits to those who relentlessly do good.
Eid ul-Adha also commemorates the conclusion of Hajj, the compulsory religious journey to Mecca for Muslims. This day’s primary ceremony is the slaughter of a goat, sheep, or camel, followed by its distribution. One-third of the meat is distributed to impoverished people, one-third to friends and neighbours, and one’s family consumes one-third.
Muslim New Year
The Islamic New Year, also identified as the Arabic New Year or Hijri New Year, is glorified on the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic time. The first year of this calendar began in Gregorian CE 622 when the Prophet Muhammad and his companions moved from Mecca to Medina. Hijri 1443 will be the Islamic New Year in 2021.
Days begin at sunset in the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic year is 11 to 12 days more diminutive, the event occurs on a different day each year. Muharram is regarded as the month of remembering and is significant to Muslims worldwide because of the ceremonies and prayers that mark the event.
The word ‘Hijri’ is derived from the Arabic word Hijra, which means “migration.” The Islamic calendar begins with the journey of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD.
The Origins of Islamic New Year
Muslims in Mecca and other regions experienced religious persecution for their beliefs in the 7th century C.E. As a result, the flight of Muhammad and his followers to the city that would later be known as Medina — a movement known as the Hijra — where Muhammad would establish a constitution outlining Muslim rights and obligations. This event is significant in the Muslim religion, which is why the Islamic New Year celebrates it.
Ashura
According to the Islamic calendar, Ashura is a holy day observed by Muslims all over the globe on the 10th of Muharram. Ashura falls on August 18 this year. Shia Muslims see it as the culmination of Muharram and the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali (the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson) at the Battle of Karbala.
For Sunnis, Ashura commemorates the day Moses fasted to express his thankfulness for the Israelites’ liberation. Today is also a holy day of sorrow, especially commemorated by Shia Muslims. Other Muslim groups fast and meditate during the day.
The origin of Ashura
Ashura commemorates the tragic ‘Battle of Karbala,’ in which the 7th-century revolutionary leader Husayn ibn Ali was assassinated. Millions of Muslims throughout the world commemorate Husayn’s sacrifice and noble stance on social justice on the Day of Ashura.
The narrative is based on situations that happened 13 centuries ago, following the death of Prophet Muhammad in 632 A.D. A disagreement erupted when the Muslim community’s leader and caliph were to be selected. Most Muslims supported Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s close associate, to take over the leadership and become the first caliph.
When Ali’s second son Husayn graced the third imam, the conflict between the imam and the caliph became even more heated. The Umayyad dynasty ruled the Islamic kingdom from 661 to 750 A.D. In the blessed month of Muharram in 680 A.D., one of the caliphs named Yazd ordered Husayn to promise allegiance to him and his caliphate. Husayn refused the order because he saw Yazd as an illegitimate and unjust ruler.
At Karbala, Husayn and his supporters were encircled and stopped by Umayyad forces. On Ashura day, Husayn and his men made their last prayers at dawn, predicting their fate. Notwithstanding knowing they would die that day, the men waited loyally to Husayn and his cause.
Milad an-Nabi,
Muslims commemorate Milad an-Nabi, commonly known as Mawlid, as the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. Even though the Muslim religion does not generally celebrate birthdays since there is no record of the Prophet doing so, the Prophet’s acknowledged birthdate began being honored early in Islam’s history and is now recognized as a nationwide holiday in many Muslim nations.
History of Milad an-Nabi
Mawlid, which means “to give birth” in Arabic, today refers to the Prophet’s birthday as well as the text chanted at the day’s ceremonies. Even though Muhammad’s birthdate is debatable, many Muslims observe this occasion. This festival occurs in the third month of the Islamic calendar and may have originated in the eighth century.
Milad an-Nabi festivities became increasingly prominent in the 11th century, and it was first celebrated as an official festival in Egypt. During this time, only Shia Muslims, the region’s governing clan, were permitted to celebrate the holiday, and the festivities were not open to the general public. Other countries, besides Egypt, began to celebrate Milad an-Nabi in the 12th century, including Syria, Morocco, Turkey, and Spain. Soon after, Sunni Muslims began to observe the day as well. This festival occurs in the third month of the Islamic calendar and may have originated in the eighth century.
Milad an-Nabi festivities became increasingly prominent in the 11th century, and it was first celebrated as an official festival in Egypt. During this time, only Shia Muslims, the region’s governing clan, were permitted to celebrate the holiday, and the festivities were not open to the general public. Other countries, besides Egypt, began to celebrate Milad an-Nabi in the 12th century, including Syria, Morocco, Turkey, and Spain. Soon after, Sunni Muslims began to observe the day as well.
Summary
Islamic dates are historically determined by ■■■■■-eye observations of the new moon. Some Muslims regard this behavior as a religious obligation. Because of the traditional dependence on lunar observation, dates are “approximate” until the new moon is spotted.
Frequently Asked Questions
People usually ask many questions about Muslim Holidays. A few of them are discussed below:
1. Do Muslims have birthdays?
Muslims do not even commemorate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (PBUH). Birthdays are culturally significant events. Muslims do not observe Christmas in the same way that Christians do. Other Muslims may not celebrate birthdays for cultural reasons since the Quran and authentic hadith prohibits us.
2. What do Muslims consume?
Diet. Muslims shall consume only permissible food (halal) and not eat or drink anything prohibited (haram). Halal food necessitates the invocation of Allah’s name at the time the animal is slaughtered. Lamb, beef, goat, and chicken, for example, are halal if they are slaughtered by a Muslim and a prayer is offered.
3. Do you wish everyone a good Ramadan?
Ramadan Mubarak is the most frequent Ramadan greeting (Rah-ma-dawn Moo-bar-ack). It simply means “good Ramadan” or “fortunate Ramadan.”
4. Do Muslims have faith in God?
“There is no deity but Allah,” says the Islamic declaration of witness, or shahada. Muslims believe he created the world in six days and sent prophets such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad. He urged humanity to worship only him and reject idolatry and polytheism.
5. Which of the following religions is the oldest?
The term Hindu is an exonym, and while Hinduism has been dubbed the world’s oldest religion, many practitioners refer to their faith as Santana Dharma.
Conclusion
Some Muslims are becoming increasingly tolerant of astronomical forecasts to predetermine dates due to technical advancements and a more excellent grasp of astronomy. For the last 1,440 years, Muslims have celebrated Eid (Muslim festival) festivals. Muslims, in general, observe two significant holidays: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
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