Short backgrounds on observances across the faiths listed on this site.
Holiday names open the Holiday Calendar with dates for that observance.
The Day of Arafah falls on the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the day before Eid al-Adha. For pilgrims performing Hajj, standing at Arafat is a central rite of the pilgrimage. Muslims who are not performing Hajj are encouraged to fast, and many devote additional time to prayer and remembrance of God. The Gregorian date changes each year because the Islamic calendar is lunar.
Arbaeen falls forty days after Ashura and is one of the most important commemorations in Shia Islam. It honors Imam Husayn and those killed at Karbala and is closely associated with pilgrimage to his shrine in Karbala. Mourning, prayer, remembrance, and acts of devotion mark the observance. Arbaeen falls on the 20th of Safar, with its Gregorian date changing each year.
Ashura falls on the 10th of Muharram and has different significance across Muslim traditions. For Sunni Muslims, it is associated particularly with God's deliverance of Moses and the Israelites from Pharaoh, and fasting is recommended. For Shia Muslims, it is a major day of mourning commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husayn at the Battle of Karbala. The Gregorian date changes each year with the lunar calendar.
Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, begins on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah during the annual Hajj season. It commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God and God's provision of a sacrifice in his place. Muslims who are able may offer an animal sacrifice, or qurbani, sharing the meat with family, friends, and those in need. Communal Eid prayer, charity, and family gatherings are central to the observance.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and begins on the first day of Shawwal. The celebration includes a special communal Eid prayer, festive meals, family and community gatherings, and expressions of gratitude to God. Zakat al-Fitr, a required charitable contribution for those able to give it, is provided before the Eid prayer so that those in need can share in the celebration. The Gregorian date varies with the lunar calendar.
Islamic New Year marks the beginning of Muharram, the first month of the Hijri calendar. Unlike the major Eids, it is generally not characterized by prescribed festivities or a universal form of celebration. Some Muslims use the occasion for reflection on the passage of time, Islamic history, and the Hijra, the migration of the Prophet Muhammad and the early Muslim community from Mecca to Medina.
Isra and Mi'raj commemorate the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his Ascension through the heavens. The event holds particular significance because Islamic tradition associates it with the establishment of the five daily prayers. Some Muslim communities mark the occasion with additional prayer, Qur'an recitation, teaching, and reflection, while others do not observe it as a distinct religious celebration.
Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power or Night of Decree, commemorates the night associated with the revelation of the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims seek the night during the last ten nights of Ramadan, particularly the odd-numbered nights, through prayer, Qur'an recitation, supplication, and other acts of worship. The 27th night is widely emphasized in many communities, but the exact night is not known. The Qur'an describes Laylat al-Qadr as better than a thousand months.
Mawlid al-Nabi commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. In many Muslim communities it is marked with Qur'an recitation, devotional poetry, teachings about the Prophet's life, prayer, charity, and community gatherings. Practices vary considerably: some Muslims celebrate Mawlid extensively, others observe it more quietly, and others do not recognize it as a religious observance. Its Gregorian date changes each year with the lunar calendar.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the month of obligatory fasting, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. From dawn to sunset, adult Muslims who are able abstain from food, drink, and sexual relations while giving increased attention to prayer, Qur'an recitation, charity, and spiritual discipline. Nights often include additional prayers known as Tarawih. Ramadan concludes with Eid al-Fitr and moves through the seasons because the Islamic calendar is lunar.
This holiday reference covers major observances across the faiths listed on this site. Local and regional customs can still differ. If something important to your community is missing, or a description needs a correction, please write to us at info@mysacredtimes.com.
