Islamic Celebrations

Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal)
The Celebration concluding Ramadan

Ramadan, the month of fasting, ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr. Literally the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," Eid al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations (Eid al-Adha is the other). At Eid al-Fitr people dress in their finest clothes, adorn their homes with lights and decorations, give treats to children, and enjoy visits with friends and family.
A sense of generosity and gratitude colors these festivities. Although charity and good deeds are always important in Islam, they have special significance at the end of Ramadan. As the month draws to a close, Muslims are obligated to share their blessings by feeding the poor and making contributions to mosques.

Eid al-Adha (10 Dhu'l-Hijjah)
The celebration concluding the Hajj

Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates the prophet Abraham's willingness to obey Allah by sacrificing his son Ishmael. According to the Qu'ran, just before Abraham sacrificed his son, Allah replaced Ishmael with a ram, thus sparing his life.
One of the two most important Islamic festivals, Eid al-Adha begins on the 10 day of Dhu'l-Hijja, the last month of the . Lasting for three days, it occurs at the conclusion of the annual Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims all over the world celebrate, not simply those undertaking the hajj, which for most Muslims is a once-a-lifetime occurrence.
The festival is celebrated by sacrificing a lamb or other animal and distributing the meat to relatives, friends, and the poor. The sacrifice symbolizes obedience to Allah and its distribution to others is an expression of generosity, one of the five pillars of Islam.

Muharram (1 Muharram)
The Islamic New Year

The month of Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic liturgical year. The Islamic year begins on the first day of Muharram, and is counted from the year of the Hegira (anno Hegirae) the year in which Muhammad emigrated from Mecca to Medina (A.D. July 16, 622).
The Islamic new year is celebrated relatively quietly, with prayers and readings and reflection upon the hegira.

Mawlid al-Nabi (12 Rabi 1)
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday

This holiday celebrates the birthday of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. It is fixed as the 12th day of the month of Rabi I in the Islamic calendar. Mawlid means birthday of a holy figure and al-Nabi means prophet.
The day is commemorated with recollections of Muhammad's life and significance. Fundamentalist Muslims ,

Laylat al Mi’raj

It is the night Prophet Muhammad ascended to the Jannah (Paradise). The part journey from Mecca to Jerusalem is called Isra and Mi’raj is the second part of the journey where Prophet Muhammad was ascended to Allah’s presence and to Jannah. Salah (daily prayers) became mandatory after this journey.

Alvida Jumma

It is the last Friday in Ramadan. Every Friday is a mubarak (blessed) day for Muslims including the last Friday of Ramadan.
Going to mazaar (graveyards) is a Sunnah. The intention must be to remind ourselves death and Akhirah (afterlife). Quran can be read for the deceased. You can also pray for the deceased.

Day of Arafa

It is the 9th day of the month Dhu al-Hijjah -the last month in the Islamic Calendar). It is also the second day of Hajj. The next day is the first day of Eid al-Adha.

The Day of Ashura

Is the 10th day of Muharram. It is the day Prophet Noah’s ship landed on ground after The Flood. It is the day Red Sea was split off so that Prophet Musa and the believers escaped the Pharaoh and his army chasing them. It is also the day where Allah accepted the tawba (repentance) of the peoples of Prophet Adam and Prophet Yusuf (Joseph).

Islamic New Year

It is the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. The first Islamic year began in 610 AD with the Hijra of Prophet Muhammad and the first Muslims from Mecca to Medina.




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