Muslim occasions facts for kids

Muslim occasions are special times when Muslims celebrate important events, mostly from the life of their prophet, Muhammad.

Important Muslim Festivals

Eid ul-Fitr: The Festival of Breaking the Fast

Eid ul-Fitr starts the day after Ramadan ends and lasts for three days. As soon as the sun sets on the last day of Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr begins, and Muslims have a big feast. They also say a special prayer called the Eid prayer. Food and drinks are shared in Mosques.

Eid Al-Adha: The Feast of Sacrifice

Eid Al-Adha means "The Feast of Sacrifice." It celebrates a story about the prophet Abraham. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son to show his loyalty. At the very last moment, God told Abraham it was just a test, and he didn't have to sacrifice his son. To show thanks for God saving Abraham's son, Muslims on this holiday sacrifice a goat or cow.

The meat from the sacrificed animal is divided into three parts. One part is for the person who made the sacrifice. Another part is for their poor relatives. The last part is for poor people in general, no matter their background or religion.

Special Religious Days

Friday (Jumu'ah): A Blessed Day

Muslims believe that good deeds done on any Friday are worth more than on other days. Muslims go to the Mosque to pray on this day. They believe that Adam was created on a Friday. They do not believe that God rested after creating the world, so Friday is not like a Sabbath.

Ashura: A Day of Remembrance

Ashura means ten in Arabic. It is celebrated on the ninth and tenth day of Muharram. Muslims can choose to fast on this day. This is also the day when Muhammad's grandson, Husayn ibn Ali, was killed.

Mawlid an-Nabi: Celebrating the Prophet's Birthday

Mawlid an-Nabi means "The Birth of the Prophet" in Arabic. It celebrates Prophet Muhammad's birthday on the twelfth day of the month of Rabi Al-Awwal. On this day, people chant poetry and prayers to both God and Muhammad.

Laylat ul Isra and Miraj: The Night Journey

Laylat ul Isra and Miraj means "The Night of Power and Ascension." It is when Muhammad was taken to "the farthest Mosque" in Jerusalem. From there, he was taken to see God. During this visit, Muhammad and God talked about how many prayers Muslims should say each day. God first said fifty prayers a day. But Moses and Muhammad asked for fewer, as fifty would be too hard. Eventually, the number was lowered to five prayers a day. If these five prayers are done well, they are considered to be worth fifty prayers.

Laylat al-Qadr: The Night of Power

Laylat al-Qadr means "The Night of Power" in Arabic. It is celebrated near the end of Ramadan. This is a very important holiday because it is when the Qur'an was first revealed to people.

Laylat ul Bara'ah: The Night of Freedom

Laylat ul Bara'ah means "The Night of Freedom from Fire." It is celebrated on the 14th and 15th of the month of Sha'ban. On this night, Muslims pray and read the Qur'an all night long.

Jumu'ah-tul-Wida: Last Friday of Ramadan

Jumu'ah-tul-Wida happens just before Eid ul-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan. Muslims say special prayers on this day.

Eid al-Ghadeer: A Shi'a Celebration

Eid al-Ghadeer is celebrated by Shi'a Muslims. It marks the time when Muhammad gave his last sermon at Ghadir Khumm during the month of Dhul-Hijjah. It also celebrates Ali ibn Abi Talib taking over from Muhammad after Muhammad died.

Cultural Celebrations

The New Year: A Fresh Start

The first day of Muharram is the new year for Islam. While it's not an official Islamic event, most Muslims have some kind of ritual or celebration for it. It is one of their favorite holidays.

Open Mosque Day: Welcoming Visitors

Some mosques organize "Open Mosque Days." They have special programs, show Muslim culture, play videos, and offer discussions and finger foods for visitors. In many Western cities, this is becoming a popular social event.

Religious Practices

Fasting: Learning Patience

Ramadan is celebrated during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During this month, Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink after the sun has risen. When the sun goes down in the evenings, they can eat and drink again. This practice is called fasting. The word "breakfast" comes from "break-fast," meaning to end your fast. This holiday teaches Muslims patience.

The month of Ramadan changes every year because Muslims follow the lunar calendar, which is different from the solar calendar used by Christians.

Pilgrimage: Journeys to Mecca

Hajj: The Great Pilgrimage

Hajj is the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is currently the largest yearly pilgrimage in the world. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every Muslim who is able to and can afford it must make this journey at least once in their lifetime. The Hajj shows how united Muslims are and how they submit to Allah (God).

Umrah: The Lesser Pilgrimage

Umrah is another pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, that Muslims can do at any time of the year. In Arabic, Umrah means "to visit a populated place." It is sometimes called the 'minor pilgrimage' or 'lesser pilgrimage.' The Hajj is the 'major' pilgrimage and is required for those who can do it. The Umrah is not required but is highly recommended.

Example Calendar

Here is an example of how the Islamic lunar calendar dates match up with the solar calendar. This example shows dates from 2008 to 2012. Remember that certain events, like Ramadan, happen at different times each year because the Islamic calendar is based on the moon.

Images for kids

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  The Qur'an

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  The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem