The Islamic Lunar

The regular calendar that we use nowadays of based on the movement of the sun and is referred to as Gregorian. Before this calendar was established, people used a based on the movement of the . It was easier to follow the phases of the moon than to work out that the solar year contains 365 days. The lunar year contains 354 days; it is about 11 days shorted than the solar year. For example, the period of 32 solar years corresponds to 33 lunar years. Nowadays, the Chinese , the Jewish holidays and the all follow the lunar year. In order to correct for the 11 days difference, the Chinese and the Jewish add one every three years. That way, their calendar varies slightly from year to year but does not change seasons. The Islamic calendar has stayed purely lunar so that the various holidays vary around the year and the month of occurs during all four seasons throughout the earth. It would not be fair for those living in the southern hemisphere if happened always during the month of December (shortest days in the north and longest days in the south). In order to keep this spirit of fairness, those living too far north (close to the North Pole) or too far south (where the day could last either 2 or 22 hours), should follow the calendar of Mekka.

The month of Ramadan is the best well known of the 12 lunar . In 2003, it will start on October 26th (first day after Daylight Saving Time ends) and will move forward by about 11 days every year. rely on moon sightings to determine the beginning of this and other lunar months. The month preceding Ramadan is called Sha^ban, the one following it is called . The Break of Fast (^Eid al-Fitr) will fall on November 25th in 2003 (subject to sighting the night before) which corresponds to the first day of Shawwal (two days before the US Thanksgiving Holiday). The second Muslim holiday celebration (^Eid al-Adha) takes place on the 10th day of Dhul Hijja, during the period of pilgrimage to Mekka. There is a period of two lunar months (about 29 days long each) and 10 days between the two ^Eid celebrations.

The names of the 12 lunar months are included here: 1. , 2. , 3. Rabi^ al- Awwal, 4. Rabi^ ath-Thani, 5. Jumada al-Awwal, 6. Jumada ‘ath-Thani, 7. , 8. Sha^ban, 9. Ramadan, 10. Shawwal, 11. Dhul Qi^da, and 12. Dhul Hijja.

The :

The best known Islamic holidays are mentioned here by order of importance. For Muslims, any time of the year can be a source of reflection, inspiration and reaching out.

The Break of Fasting (^Eid al-Fitr): This holiday marks the end of the month of fasting (Ramadan). It is an opportunity for celebration, congregational prayer, family visits, and visits to the graves of loved ones. Muslim children wear their best clothes to go to the (Masjid), they are given gifts and an allowance especially to those who are old enough to practice fasting. Various sweets and traditional deserts are prepared and offered to the family and friends that come to visit during this “open house” period of 3 days.

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Sacrifice Holiday (^Eid al-Adha): This holiday commemorates the near sacrifice of Abraham’s son as related in the Bible and in the Qur’an. It is the period of pilgrimage to the holy city of Mekka for those who can. This is a time for prayers, thanks for what one has and charity to the less fortunate. During this holiday, it is customary to sacrifice a small animal (sheep for example) just as Abraham did, and share the meat with the needy. Abraham is the forefather of all three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and .

New Year (1st of Muharram): This is the (first day of the first lunar month). The Islamic calendar started at the migration of the fledgling group of Muslims around the Prophet from their hometown of Mekka to their welcoming and adoptive city of . This happened in year 622 AD corresponding to year 0 AH (After Hijra). The small group of persecuted and fleeing emigrants (less than 100) called Muhajiroon were welcomed by their Medina helpers called Ansars. This move gave enough freedom to the Muslims to create a living, functioning and highly prosperous community under the auspices of Islam.

Prophet’s Birthday ( an-Nabi): Muslims do not celebrate birthdays. They, however, use this occasion to pray and reflect. The prophet had lived from 570 AD to 632 AD, i.e., for a period of 63 years. He had started receiving revelations at age 40, had to flee his native city of Mekka at age 53 and died in Medina at age 63. He has left us the book of God (Qur’an) and the tradition of his Prophet (Sunna). The Sunna is made up of what he did (Seera) and what he said ().

Isra/Mi^raj: This is not really a celebrated a holiday but the anniversary marking the miraculous journey of the Prophet from Mekka to Jerusalem (Isra), then to the seventh heaven (Mi^raj) by night. This journey took place when the Prophet’s mission needed it the most (it had reached its lowest point). God took his servant and Prophet on this special mission to strengthen him and solidify his goals. He ascended to the seventh heaven from the rock around which the Dome of the Rock mosque in Jerusalem was built. There, the Prophet met other prophets that had come before him (Abraham, Moses, Jesus, etc), received details on the five daily prayers and was in the presence of God himself. After this event, the message of Islam took off with the Hijra migration (3 years later) and the rest is Islamic history. This event is a subject of inspiration for the mystical branch of Islam, the Sufis.

Summary of the Islamic Holidays:

Recent Islamic holidays (over the period of one year) are included here:

Islamic New Year - Muharram 1st, 1423 = March 15th, 2002. Prophet’s Birthday – Rabi^ al-Awwal 12th, 1423 = May 25th, 2002. Isra/Mi^raj – Sha^ban 26th 1423 = October 3rd, 2002.

27 First Day of Fasting - Ramadan 1st, 1423AH = Nov 6th, 2002. Break of Fast Holiday (Eid al-Fitr) – Shawwal 1st, 1423 AH = December 6th, 2002. Sacrifice Holiday (^Eid al-Adha) - Dhul Hijja 10, 1423 AH = February 12th, 2003.

These holidays happen 11 days earlier every year of the regular (Gregorian) calendar. For instance, the Islamic New Year fell on March 4th, 2003, etc.

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