Muslim holidays, including Ramadan and Hajj, are calculated according to the Muslim calendar and can cause disputes between Sunni and Shia Muslims. Other holidays include Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha. Muslims also celebrate the Islamic New Year, Ashura, Mawlid An-Nabi, and Jumu’ah. Fridays are set aside for prayer and are not considered business days in Muslim areas.
Two important Muslim holidays are celebrated around the world: Ramadan, the month of fasting, and Hajj, the month designated for pilgrimage to Mecca for Muslims who can afford it. Many other holidays are celebrated by most Muslims, including Eid Al-Fitr, which falls at the end of Ramadan, and Eid Al-Adha, which falls at the end of Hajj.
Muslim holidays are calculated according to the Muslim calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar used worldwide. To add complication to the matter, Sunni and Shia Muslims calculate their calendars differently, so disputes have been known to arise over when a holiday should actually be celebrated. In communities with large Muslim populations, Muslim holidays are often designated as general holidays, with the calendar of the more dominant sect used to determine when they should occur.
The first holiday of the year is the Islamic New Year, which falls on the first day of the first month. 10 days later, devout Muslims observe Ashura, a day of fasting and contemplation that is set aside for thinking about faith, life, and other matters. Many Muslims also celebrate Mawlid An-Nabi, the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
Ramadan falls during the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. During Ramadan, Muslims fast during daylight hours and often attend additional religious services. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Fitr, the festival of fast breaking, which is treated as a great excuse to throw large feasts with lots of food, dancing and general celebrations to commemorate the end of the fast. Some mosques also hold open mosque days during this time, to encourage curious potential converts to explore Islam during Muslim holidays, when people are especially active.
After the Hajj in the 12 month, Muslims around the world celebrate Eid Al-Adha, the day of sacrifice, which commemorates the story of Abraham. It is traditional to slaughter a lamb or sheep on Eid Al-Adha, with people sharing the meat for themselves, family members and the poor. People also organize parties and celebrate with meals on Eid Al-Adha.
Jumu’ah, known as Friday to English speakers, is also a Muslim holiday. Fridays are set aside as Muslim holidays, just like Saturdays in the Jewish faith and Sundays in the Christian faith. On Fridays, people attend services in the mosque and take time to pray and celebrate their faith. In Muslim areas of the world, Fridays are not usually considered business days for this reason.
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