 This U.S. postage stamp commemorates the two major Islamic festivals, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Eid means festival. |
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Muharram (1 Muharram): The Islamic New Year
The month of Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic liturgical year.
The Islamic year begins on the first day of
Muharram, and is counted from the year of the Hegira (anno Hegirae) the
year in which Muhammad emigrated from Mecca to Medina (A.D. July 16, 622).
The
Islamic new year is celebrated relatively quietly, with prayers and readings
and reflection upon the hegira.
Mawlid al-Nabi (12 Rabi 1): Prophet Muhammad's Birthday
This holiday celebrates the birthday of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. It is fixed as the 12th day of
the month of Rabi I in the Islamic calendar. Mawlid means birthday
of a holy figure and al-Nabi means prophet.
The day is
commemorated with recollections of Muhammad's life and significance.
Fundamentalist Muslims, such as the Wahhabi sect, do not celebrate it.
Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal): The Celebration concluding Ramadan
Ramadan, the month of fasting, ends with the
festival of Eid al-Fitr. Literally the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," Eid
al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations (Eid al-Adha
is the other). At Eid al-Fitr people dress in their finest clothes, adorn
their homes with lights and decorations, give treats to children, and enjoy
visits with friends and family.
A sense of generosity and gratitude
colors these festivities. Although charity and good deeds are always
important in Islam, they have special significance at the end of Ramadan. As
the month draws to a close, Muslims are obligated to share their blessings
by feeding the poor and making contributions to mosques.
Eid al-Adha (10 Dhu'l-Hijjah): The celebration concluding the Hajj
Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates the prophet Abraham's willingness to obey Allah by sacrificing his son Ishmael.
According to the Qu'ran, just
before Abraham sacrificed his son, Allah replaced Ishmael with a ram, thus
sparing his life.
One of the two most important Islamic festivals,
Eid al-Adha begins on the 10 day of Dhu'l-Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar. Lasting for three days, it
occurs at the conclusion of the annual Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims all over the world
celebrate, not simply those undertaking the hajj, which for most Muslims is
a once-a-lifetime occurrence.
The festival is celebrated by
sacrificing a lamb or other animal and distributing the meat to relatives,
friends, and the poor. The sacrifice symbolizes obedience to Allah and its
distribution to others is an expression of generosity, one of the five pillars of Islam.
—By Borgna Brunner
| In the Year of the Hegira | |||
| A.H. 1434 | A.H. 1435 | A.H. 1436 | A.H. 1437 |
| Muharram (Islamic New Year) |
|||
| Nov. 15, 2012 | Nov. 5, 2013 | Oct. 25, 2014 | Oct. 15, 2015 |
| Mawlid al-Nabi (Muhammad's Birthday) |
|||
| Jan. 24, 2013 | Jan. 13, 2014 | Jan. 3, 2015 | Dec. 23, 2015 |
| Ramadan begins | |||
| July 9, 2013 | June 28, 2014 | June 18, 2015 | June 6, 2016 |
| Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan ends) |
|||
| Aug. 8, 2013 | July 28, 2014 | July 17, 2015 | July 5, 2016 |
| Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) |
|||
| Oct. 15, 2013 | Oct. 4, 2014 | Sept. 23, 2015 | Sept. 11, 2016 |
NOTE:
The Islamic calendar is based on lunar observation; thus, the above
dates may vary by one or two days. Dates apply to North
America.
| |||
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