Muslim Festivals/Feasts and ceremonies: 1. The New Year (Ras al-am): Muharram is the month that comes at the start of the Muslim calendar. Iranians stuck to Now Ruz (new light)- the Sassanid new year and celebrated it at the vernal equinox which comes around March 21 of the Gregorian calendar. 2. Ashura: the tenth day of Muharram is a day during which Muslims fast, pray and perform ritual activities. For Shia Muslims this is a day of national mourning because it recalls the sad memory of the death of Hussein, the second son of Imam Ali on this day. 3. Mawlid An-Nabi: Commemorates the birth of the Prophet on the twelfth day of Rabi al-awwal, which is the third month of the Muslim calendar. The festivities include many different activities, such as visiting the Prophet’s grave in Medina, and performing certain ceremonies around it; reciting Quranic passages as well as stories from the Prophets’ biography and poems extolling his virtues, giving alms to the poor; attending Sufi dhikr ceremonies, eating festive meals, organizing fairs, singing and dancing. This birthday feast is widely celebrated in the Muslim world. 4. Laylat Al-Miraj: The night of the Prophet’s ascension into Heaven. This is commemorated on the 27th day of Rajjab. According to Muslim belief this event took place during the second year of the Prophet’s dispensation. Not celebrated much by believers. This night is propitious for meetings of meditation and invocation of God during which ritual libations are also offered. 5. Laylat Al-Qadr: The night of Power or the night of the decree. It is commemorated on the 27th day of Ramadan. It is the most important night of the month, since it was the night of the revelation of the Quran. “we have indeed revealed this message in the night of Power (Quran, XCVII: 1). Spiritually, it is worth a thousand nights taken together, and the Quran defines it as a night of peace .. until the rise of the sun in the morning (Quran, XCVII: 5). 6. Id Al-Fitr: This is referred to as the feast of the breaking of the fast. It is also referred to as the lesser feast (Id al Saghir) and is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal. It’s significance lies in the fact that it heralds the end of the month of the fast (Ramadan). An important prayer that is performed at the mosque or idgaah marks the commencement of the celebrations that usually last for about three days. 7. Id Al-Adha: The feast of the sacrifice. It is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhul Hijja. This is referred to as the great feast (Kurban Bayram in Turkey, Bakr-Id in the Indian subcontinent). This feast commemorates the sacrifice of the patriarch Abraham. The essence of this feast is donation and sharing. It is within this strictly religious framework that the slaughter of the Id animal (sheep, goat, camel, cow, buffalo) takes place. Once the animal has been sacrificed and carved into portions, it is distributed among the poor, family members and friends. This also applies to those who are in Mecca for the pilgrimage. Their offerings are sacrificed at the prescribed places and the surplus meat is shared out among the poor. 8. Zawaj: marriage 9. Khatma: completion of the Quran. 10. Bismillah: commencement of the reading of the Quran. Months in the Islamic Calendar: 1. Muharram 2. Safar 3. Rabiul Awwal 4. Rabiul Thani 5. Jamadiul Awwal 6. Jamadiul Thani 7. Rajjab 8. Shaban 9. Ramadan 10. Shawwal 11. Dhul al Qidah 12. Dhul Hijja
The Four Holy Months: a. Rajab b. Dhul al-Qidah c. Dhul al-Hijjah d. Muharram
Muslim Festivals/Feasts and ceremonies:
ReplyDelete1. The New Year (Ras al-am): Muharram is the month that comes at the start of the Muslim calendar. Iranians stuck to Now Ruz (new light)- the Sassanid new year and celebrated it at the vernal equinox which comes around March 21 of the Gregorian calendar.
2. Ashura: the tenth day of Muharram is a day during which Muslims fast, pray and perform ritual activities. For Shia Muslims this is a day of national mourning because it recalls the sad memory of the death of Hussein, the second son of Imam Ali on this day.
3. Mawlid An-Nabi: Commemorates the birth of the Prophet on the twelfth day of Rabi al-awwal, which is the third month of the Muslim calendar. The festivities include many different activities, such as visiting the Prophet’s grave in Medina, and performing certain ceremonies around it; reciting Quranic passages as well as stories from the Prophets’ biography and poems extolling his virtues, giving alms to the poor; attending Sufi dhikr ceremonies, eating festive meals, organizing fairs, singing and dancing. This birthday feast is widely celebrated in the Muslim world.
4. Laylat Al-Miraj: The night of the Prophet’s ascension into Heaven. This is commemorated on the 27th day of Rajjab. According to Muslim belief this event took place during the second year of the Prophet’s dispensation. Not celebrated much by believers. This night is propitious for meetings of meditation and invocation of God during which ritual libations are also offered.
5. Laylat Al-Qadr: The night of Power or the night of the decree. It is commemorated on the 27th day of Ramadan. It is the most important night of the month, since it was the night of the revelation of the Quran. “we have indeed revealed this message in the night of Power (Quran, XCVII: 1). Spiritually, it is worth a thousand nights taken together, and the Quran defines it as a night of peace .. until the rise of the sun in the morning (Quran, XCVII: 5).
6. Id Al-Fitr: This is referred to as the feast of the breaking of the fast. It is also referred to as the lesser feast (Id al Saghir) and is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal. It’s significance lies in the fact that it heralds the end of the month of the fast (Ramadan). An important prayer that is performed at the mosque or idgaah marks the commencement of the celebrations that usually last for about three days.
7. Id Al-Adha: The feast of the sacrifice. It is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhul Hijja. This is referred to as the great feast (Kurban Bayram in Turkey, Bakr-Id in the Indian subcontinent). This feast commemorates the sacrifice of the patriarch Abraham. The essence of this feast is donation and sharing. It is within this strictly religious framework that the slaughter of the Id animal (sheep, goat, camel, cow, buffalo) takes place. Once the animal has been sacrificed and carved into portions, it is distributed among the poor, family members and friends. This also applies to those who are in Mecca for the pilgrimage. Their offerings are sacrificed at the prescribed places and the surplus meat is shared out among the poor.
8. Zawaj: marriage
9. Khatma: completion of the Quran.
10. Bismillah: commencement of the reading of the Quran.
Months in the Islamic Calendar:
1. Muharram
2. Safar
3. Rabiul Awwal
4. Rabiul Thani
5. Jamadiul Awwal
6. Jamadiul Thani
7. Rajjab
8. Shaban
9. Ramadan
10. Shawwal
11. Dhul al Qidah
12. Dhul Hijja
The Four Holy Months:
a. Rajab
b. Dhul al-Qidah
c. Dhul al-Hijjah
d. Muharram