There are two official holidays in Islam: Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha. Eid Al-Fitr is celebrated at the end of Ramadan (a month of fasting), and Muslims usually give zakat (charity) on the occasion. Eid Al-Adha is celebrated on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah and lasts for four days, during which Muslims usually sacrifice an animal and distribute its meat among family, friends, and the poor.
Both holidays occur on dates in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, which is lunar, and thus their dates in the Gregorian calendar, which is solar, change each year. The Gregorian calendar is based on the orbital period of the Earth's revolution around the Sun, approximately 3651â„4 days, while the Islamic calendar is based on the synodic period of the Moon's revolution around the Earth, approximately 291â„2 days. The Islamic calendar alternates months of 29 and 30 days (which begin with the new moon). Twelve of these months constitute an Islamic year, which is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year.
Eid holidays
Religious practice
Ramadan is the month in which Muslims must fast from dawn to sunset, this is meant to feel like the poor people, when they go without food or water. Therefore Muslims fast by denying themselves both food and drink. This, they believe to allow the nourishment of the soul. In addition, there are culture-specific beliefs regarding the watching of television, listening to music, and the practicing of any secular habit that does not in some way enhance spirituality.
Pilgrimage
Hajj
Umrah
Dates of holidays and other days of note
Some Gregorian dates may vary slightly from those given, and may also vary by country. See Islamic calendar.
References
- ^ "2014 Special Islamic Days". Islamic Finder. Retrieved 3 July 2014.Â
- ^ "Gregorian/Hijri Calendar for 1435". Islamic Finder. Retrieved 3 July 2014.Â
- ^ "2015 Special Islamic Days". Islamic Finder. Retrieved 3 July 2014.Â
- ^ "Gregorian/Hijri Calendar for 1436". Islamic Finder. Retrieved 3 July 2014.Â
- ^ "2016 Special Islamic Days". Islamic Finder. Retrieved 3 July 2014.Â
- ^ "Gregorian/Hijri Calendar for 1437". Islamic Finder. Retrieved 3 July 2014.Â
- ^ "2017 Special Islamic Days". Islamic Finder. Retrieved 3 July 2014.Â
- ^ "Gregorian/Hijri Calendar for 1438". Islamic Finder. Retrieved 3 July 2014.Â
- ^ "2018 Special Islamic Days". Islamic Finder. Retrieved 23 November 2014.Â
- ^ "Gregorian/Hijri Calendar for 1439". Islamic Finder. Retrieved 23 November 2014.Â
Further reading
- Leaman, Oliver, "Festivals of Love", in Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God (2 vols.), Edited by C. Fitzpatrick and A. Walker, Santa Barbara, ABC-CLIO, 2014, Vol I, pp. 197-199.
External links
- The Umm al-Qura Calendar of Saudi Arabia (with date converter valid from 1937 to 2077)
- The Islamic Calendar/Hijri Calendar for Mecca
- Eid ul Adha
