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Facts about the Islamic

The Islamic has twelve that are based on a lunar cycle. Islamic months begin at sunset of the first , the day when the lunar crescent is visually sighted. Since sighting of the crescent new can vary based on atmospheric conditions, actual dates can vary by 1 or 2 days from when predicted.

The lunar year is approximately 354 days long, so the months rotate backward through the and are not fixed to the .

Months of the Islamic Year

Each in the Islamic year has a meaning to it. Following are the translations. Access the corresponding Gregorian dates for the 2014-15 via this website: http://www.islamicfinder.org/Hcal/index.php 1. - "Forbidden" - it is one of the four months during which it is forbidden to wage war or fight. 2. -"Empty" or "Yellow" 3. Rabia Awal - "First spring" 4. Rabia Thani - " spring" 5. Jumaada Awal - "First freeze" 6. Jumaada Thani - "Second freeze" 7. - "To respect" - this is another holy month when fighting is prohibited. 8. Sha'ban - "To spread and distribute" 9. - "Parched thirst" - this is the month of daytime . 10. - "To be light and vigorous" 11. Dhul-Qi'dah - "The month of rest" - a month when no warfare or fighting is allowed. 12. Dhul-Hijjah - "The month of " - this is the month of the annual to , again when no warfare or fighting is allowed. Important Dates in the Islamic Year

Ramadan - June 28 - July 27, 2014 Of all the months in the , Ramadan is the most . Between dawn and sunset, many abstain from eating and drinking. Eid Al-Fitr – July 28, 2014 Hajj - October 1 - 6, 2014 (annual pilgrimage to Mecca) Eid Al-Adha - October 4, 2014 Islamic – October 24, 2014 - November 3, 2014

Islamic Holidays, A.H. [1435–1436] (2014–2015) All holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the given. The Islamic calendar is based on lunar observation; thus, the above dates may vary by one or two days. Dates apply to North America.

Eid al-Adha Muharram al-Nabi In the Year Ramadan Eid al-Fitr (Festival of () ('s of the begins (Ramadan ends) ) Birthday) A.H. 1435-36 June 28, 2014 July 28, 2014 October 4, 2014 October 24, 2014 January 3, 2015