The Islamic Year and Holidays
The Islamic calendar begins with the hijra, that is, the migration of Muhammad and the early Muslim community from Mecca to Medina in 622 ce. The Islamic calendar is lunar because the Qur’an stipulates that the moon should be the measure of time.
In most of the Muslim world, however, people use both the lunar and solar calendars. The Qur’an also designates the names of the twelve months of the year.Several important celebrations and feast days occur throughout the Islamic year, and Muslims around the world celebrate these days in a variety of ways. The Feast of Sacrifice, or 'Id (or Eid) al-Adha, is the primary holiday of the Muslim year. The feast takes place at the end of the hajj season, and it is celebrated by all Muslims—not just those who made the pilgrimage that year. The feast commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son at God’s command. In many countries, offices and shops close for two days, and people spend time with their families and friends. In commemoration of the ram that was sacrificed instead of Ishmael, Muslims are expected to slaughter an animal to mark the holiday. However, because this is not always possible, Muslims may make charitable donations as a substitute.
The second most significant holiday in the Muslim calendar is 'Id al-Fitr, the Feast of Fast- Breaking. This holiday marks the end of the month of Ramadan. This feast is a time of joy and forgiveness and is celebrated in many different ways around the world. Muslims mark the day by attending congregational prayers, visiting friends and family, or celebrating in public festivals and carnivals. Often, Muslims will wear elegant clothing for the holiday, and children are dressed in their finest new clothes. In some places, children are also given special treats, money, or gifts.
The Prophet’s birth is also an occasion for celebration in many parts of the Muslim world, such as North Africa, East Africa, and South Asia. This celebration is known as Mawlid al- Nabi and takes place around the twelfth day of the third month of the Islamic calendar. The birth of the Prophet may be marked by state-sponsored ceremonies. Elsewhere, the birthday is marked by all-night recitation sessions, at which participants recite the Qur’an and devotional poetry. Some Muslims criticize the celebration of the Prophet’s birth. They argue that such celebration of Muhammad risks elevating the Prophet to the status of God. Muslims in Saudi Arabia, for example, do not generally celebrate Mawlid al-Nabi. As you learned earlier in this chapter, the month of Muharram is particularly important for the Shi‘a as a time to commemorate the martyrdom of the Prophet’s grandson Husayn.