What Are The Most Religious Celebrations In Islam?

[Trupti]

I'll be honest, I only know of two holy celebrations, Ramadan and Eid; I just know the basics so can someone give us more detail please?

Other questions....

What are other significant celebrations/days? When are they?

Is there a Muslim New Year? When Is it?

What types of traditions do Muslims practice on these days? Customs? Special food? etc etc

[Taibah]

Hi Trupti

Ramadan is a month of fasting and getting closer to Allah. I know that it has been explained in more detail in another post that will be much more eloquent than mine will be.

In Islam, there are two major 'Eids namely the feast of Ramadhan ('EId Al-Fitr) and the Feast of Sacrifice ('Eid Al-Adhha).

Eid is celebrated with much enthusiasm and fervor and Muslims from all strata of life can be seen adorned in beautiful new clothes, visiting the mosques to attend Salatul Eid (Eid prayers).
Thus Eid Ul Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawaal, the tenth month in the Muslim calendar, to mark the end of a month long fast during the month of Ramadan.
Eid Ul Fitr is a day of joy and thanksgiving.

The second 'Eid is the Feast of Sacrifice and it is to be celebrated for the memory of prophet Ibrahim trying to sacrifice his son Isma'il (Ishmael).

Eid al-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice is the most important feast of the Muslim calendar.
Eid al-Adha lasts for three days and commemorates Ibraham's (Abraham) willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son.
Muslims believe the son to be Ishmael rather than Isaac as told in the Old Testament.


After congregational prayers there is many family celebrations with food and visiting. The food of course depends on your cultural background, but usually in all cultures includes a lot of sweets. Kids usually get presents of new clothes and something else on these days as well (A good husband ;) buys his wife something as well).

These are the two main recognized festivals in Islam, though depending on the schools of thought some people celebrate the Prophet's birthday and other days.

Islam does have a new year but the celebrations are not near as elaborate as American new years parties etc. Since Muslims follow the lunar calendar our Eid's and New Years falls on a different day to the Gregorian calendar, the lunar calendar is 10 days shorter (approximately) than the solar calendar.

One fact that I think most people don't realize is that Arab's actually make up a very small percentage of Muslim. Indonesia I believe has the largest number of muslims, pakistan, India, the Balkan areas. All over actually, even in northern China. So the cultural celebrations regarding food and festivities varies depending on their background. In North America, or at least my little community our celebrations have multicultural feel to them because of the diverse mix of backgrounds here.

Taibah

[Noor]

Muslims also celebrate "Laylatul Qadr" meaning "The night of Qadr" which is better than one thousand months. It's not a celebration as Eid but it's an extremely important night when Muslims, depending on the cultures, turn on most of their home lights and also light up a special perfumed stick in their houses. It is believed that angles visit believers on this night. It is a night during the month of Ramadan, though it is not exactly known which night is the "Night of Pwer" but it falls in the last ten days of Ramadan, and believed to be in the Odd Nights - that means the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. Many people also believe that Lailatul Qadr is on the 27th Night, because this was the night that it was originally on.

Good deeds performed on that single night are equal to those performed over a thousand months. It is the Night of Power, when the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) received the Quran.

Laylatul Qadr is a celebration to commemorate the arrival of the final guidance for humans. It is a tribute to the commencement of the message revealed to mankind by their Creator, a message which shows them the way to achieve happiness in both the worlds. Just as the arrival of a child is celebrated, on its birth and then every year, as a bringer of joy and fulfilment for the family, Laylatul Qadr is celebrated as a bringer of light and guidance for mankind. Unlike the birthday which is celebrated with a feast for the senses, Laylatul Qadr includes a feast for the spirit, a feast of worship and prayers.

Believers are encouraged to stay awake the entire night, and pray for blessings and forgiveness.

Noor