From: "John A. MacDougall" <apakabar@access.digex.net>
Subject: Arts & Culture Corner
Forwarded message:
From apakabar@igc.apc.org Fri Dec 31 08:22:09 1993
Date: Fri, 31 Dec 1993 05:22:26 -0800
From: Indonesia Publications/Task Force Indonesia <apakabar@igc.apc.org>
Message-Id: <199312311322.FAA14273@cdp.igc.org>
To: apakabar@access.digex.net
Subject: IN: Muslim Holidays 1994
/* Written 9:24 pm Dec 30, 1993 by awair@igc.apc.org in igc:gen.muslims */
/* ---------- "Muslim Holidays 1994" ---------- */
From: Arab World and Islamic Resources <awair>
Subject: Muslim Holidays 1994
From
AWAIR: Arab World and Islamic Resources and School Services
awair@igc.apc.org
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MUSLIM HOLIDAYS
Strictly speaking, the only holidays which are considered "religious"
are Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha.
The Prophet Muhammad recommended some other days as fasting
days in addition to Ramadan, and these too are observed by many
Muslims.
The holidays of Laylat Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj and Laylat Al-Qadr are
celebrated in various ways throughout the Muslim world, while the
Prophet's birthday, Mawlud Al-Nabi is celebrated according to local
custom in some regions and not in others. Many Muslims would
respond, "We do not celebrate the Prophet's birthday. He was after
all, just a man."
RAMADAN
Ramadan is the month of fasting preceding Eid Al-Fitr and the ninth
month of the Islamic calendar. Ramadan is a month of spiritual and
physical purification and self-discipline:of abstention from food,
drink, and marital relations from before sunrise until sunset; of
feeling a common bond with the poor; of piety and prayer.
Anyone who is in good health during Ramadan is required to fast the
entire month; and whoever is sick or on a journey is to fast the
number of days missed at a later date. Children below the age of
puberty, pregnant women and the aged are exempt from fasting,
although many children do fast along with their families to show
they are aspiring to the adult actions of their faith.
Each night during Ramadan, special congregational prayers are held
at each local mosque (masjid in Arabic) in which one thirtieth
portion of the Quran is read. By the end of Ramadan, the entire book
is completed.
EID AL-FITR
Eid Al-Fitr is the feast/festival that marks the end of the month of
Ramadan fasting, expressing happiness in having completed the fast.
It is also the first day of the month of Shawwal of the Islamic
calendar.
At the beginning of the day each member of the family performs an
act of charity for the poor. Once this is completed, the family is
ready for a happy holiday. The early morning prayers are said and the
day is celebrated with visiting family members and friends, making
special foods, calling those who are far away, or sending letters and
cards. Eid Al-Fitr includes new clothes for everyone, gifts to
children from parents and relatives, plays, folktales, games, puppet
shows and trips to amusement parks for children. Children are
allowed to stay up late at night.
EID AL-ADHA
Eid Al-Adha or Feast of the Sacrifice, commemorates Abraham's
willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael, in obedience to God. This
feast is part of the Hajj, and takes place on the 10th of Dhu Al-Hijja
of the Islamic calendar. For those on the Hajj and for many others
the day begins with the sacrifice of an animal in commemoration of
the Angel Gabriel's substitution of a lamb as Abraham's sacrificial
obligation. One third of the meat is given to the poor, with the
remainder shared with neighbors and family members.
This holiday is then celebrated in much the same way as Eid Al-Fitr
- with good food, gifts for children and general merrymaking.
OTHER SPECIAL DAYS
Laylat Al-Baraa is the night of repentence. (Laylat means night). It
is the night when forgiveness is granted to those who repent.
Yom Arafat falls on the 9th of Dhu Al-Hijja, when people on the Hajj
are assembled for the "standing" at the plain of Arafat (in Mina near
Makkah) during the Hajj. Muslims around the world gather at the
local mosque (masjid) for prayer in spiritual solidarity with those
at Arafat.
Ashura is celebrated on the 9th and 10th of Muharram. The word
ashura means "ten" and is a time of fasting, reflection and
meditation. Jews of the city of Medina fasted on the 10th day in
remembrance of their salvation from the Pharaoh, and the Prophet
Muhammad pledged he would fast for two days instead of one in
remembrance, but he died the following year and so never fasted as
he had hoped. Among Shiite Muslims, it is a day of special sorrow
commemorating the martyrdom of the Prophet's grandson Hussain
and his followers at the battle of Kerbala in IslamUs first century. It
is commemorated in Shiite communities with re-enactment of these
events and is a time of mourning.
Laylat Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj (the night journey and ascension)
commemorates the journey of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to
Jerusalem, his ascension into the seven heavens, and his return in
the same night. These events acknowledge that all the Abrahamic
faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) have one and the same God
as their source. In this night, Muslims believe, the Prophet was
instructed to establish the five daily prayers in their current form.
On this night, Muslims believe, Muhammad prayed together with
Abraham, Moses and Jesus in the area of the Al-Aqsa mosque. The
rock from which he is believed to have ascended to heaven to speak
with God is the one seen inside the Dome of the Rock. "Isra wa Al-
Miraj" as it is sometimes called is celebrated on the 27th of Rajab
of the Islamic calendar.
Laylat Al-Qadr (the night of power) falls on one of the last ten days
of Ramadan on an odd numbered day (such as the 23rd, 25th or 27th).
In the Quran this night is said to be equal to one thousand months
and on this night the prayers of the sincere Muslim are certain to be
answered.
Mawlud Al-Nabi is the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. It occurs on the
12th of Rabi Al-Awal of the Islamic calendar. Speeches are given
about the life of the Prophet in gatherings, and dinners are held. This
occasion was not celebrated in the early times of Islam and is
therefore unevenly celebrated today.
The First of Muharram marks the new year. The date fluctuates (in
the Gregorian calendar) from year to year as it is based on the
Islamic lunar calendar.
Rabi Al-Awwal commemorates the Hijrah (migration) of the Prophet
Muhammad from Makkah to Medina, and marks the beginning of the
Islamic calendar in history (622 A.D.).
Calendar of Muslim Holidays
1994
Mawlud Al-Nabi August 20
*Ramadan Begins* February 12
Laylat Al-Qadr March 4, 6, 8 & 10
*Eid Al-Fitr* March 14
*Eid Al-Adha* May 21
New Year's Day June 11
Ashura May 30
Calendar Notes: These dates are tentative, give or take a day or two.
Because the Muslim calendar is lunar, the year is 354 days long. Days
begin at sunset. According to the Muslim calendar, we are now in the
early 15th century because the years are counted from the date of
Muhammad's Hijra. So December 1993 A.D. is 1414 A.H. on the Muslim
calendar.
The holidays in bold face type are those that are considered
religious holidays (holy days) by all Muslims. The calendar here gives
dates for other days which are observed in varying degrees by
Muslim communities within the larger world of Islam.
From: THE ARAB WORLD NOTEBOOK: FOR THE SECONDARY SCHOOL
LEVEL, edited by Audrey Shabbas and Ayad Al-Quazzaz, Najda: 199O,
pp. 33-34. Available for US$39.95 from AWAIR: Arab World and
Islamic Resources and School Services, 1864 Euclid Ave., Suite 4,
Berkeley, CA; tel. 510-704-0517.
Permission to reproduce in electronic form only and for classroom
use.
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