Id
There are several important festivals in Islam that are celebrated throughout the year around the world. The word 鈥渋d鈥 itself means festival, and the two most important festivals in the Islamic calendar are Id-ul-Adha and Id-ul-Fitr.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, which means that it follows the pattern of the moon. A lunar year has up to 355 days, which means that these festivals change their date each year in the main calendar used in the UK, in which a year has 365 days.
Id-ul-Adha
Id-ul-Adha is the commemoration of sacrificeThe act of giving something precious to another person or to God. and marks the end of Hajj, the annual pilgrimageA journey which has religious or spiritual significance, usually to an important religious place. to Makkah. The festival is a reminder of Allah鈥檚 blessings and shows how important it is to submit to Allah.
During Hajj, Muslims remember the trials of the prophet Ibrahim, who was asked to make a great sacrifice for the sake of God.
Ibrahim dreamed that Allah told him to sacrifice his son Isma鈥檌l.
My son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you.
Ibrahim explained his dream to Isma鈥檌l, who agreed that the sacrifice had to be done. At the last minute, Allah told Ibrahim to sacrifice a ram instead. This was a test of Ibrahim鈥檚 loyalty to Allah.
On the first morning of Id-ul-Adha, Muslim men and women around the world attend morning prayers at their local mosques. The service includes communal prayers and a sermon that teaches the importance of obeying Allah and talks about the lesson learned by Ibrahim.
Muslims commemorate and remember Ibrahim鈥檚 trials by themselves slaughtering an animal, such as a sheep, camel or goat. The meat is divided into three. A third is kept, a third is given to relatives or neighbours and a third is given to the poor.
As this is a special occasion, everyone wears new clothes. People also spend time with family and friends, and presents and cards are exchanged. Women and young girls often decorate their hands with beautiful patterns using mendhi (henna). Delicious food is eaten and shared with others.
Id-ul-Fitr
Id-ul-Fitr occurs at the end of RamadanThe month of fasting and prayer in Islam, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. and is a day of thanksgiving to Allah. It is a joyful festival that also celebrates the fact that Muslims have completed the Fourth Pillar of Islam which is sawm, the obligation to fast during Ramadan.
At Id-ul-Fitr, a special ZakahThe third of the Five Pillars of Islam. It means the 'purification of your wealth' by giving a proportion of your earnings to help the poor. is held. It is given to Muslims who are less well off so that they can celebrate the festival as well.
There is a service with prayers and a sermon, and family and friends meet and exchange gifts.
Id-ul-Fitr is important in encouraging communities to get along, as often there are special celebrations (eg fun fairs) put on to enable members of other faiths to get involved.
Ashura
AshuraThe anniversary of the death of Husayn (Hussein), one of the Prophet Muhammad鈥檚 two grandsons. He is held in high importance in Shi'a Islam. is a special and solemn day on which 厂丑颈鈥檃 MuslimThe word 'Shi'a' comes from a phrase meaning 'followers of Ali'. Shi'a Muslims believe that Ali succeeded the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims commemorate the death of Hussein, AliBelieved by 厂丑颈鈥檃 Muslims to be the rightful successor to Muhammad. son, in battle. On Ashura, Muslims wear black and plays are often performed to remind Muslims of the events that led to Hussein鈥檚 death.
Ashura is a reminder of the suffering the 厂丑颈鈥檃 community has experienced, as they have been persecutionTo ill-treat people for their religious or political beliefs. as a minority.