Encyclopedia of Islam

holidays

  

305  J

---

friends, and performance of charitable acts. Aside 

from these celebrations, every Friday in the year 

is considered to be an especially holy day because 

it is the day of communal 

prayer

. However, it is 

not regarded as a day of rest like the Sabbath is 

in Judaism (Saturday) and Christianity (Sunday). 

Another important day for many is Laylat al-Qadr 

(n

ight

 

oF

 d

estiny

), which falls in the latter part 

of Ramadan. It commemorates the first revelation 

of the Quran to m

Uhammad

. Most Muslims, with 

the exception of the followers of the Wahhabi 

sect, also celebrate the day of Muhammad’s birth 

(m

awlid

 al-Nabi), which falls on the 12th of Rabi 

al-Awwal, the third lunar month. Another event 

celebrated by many Muslims every year is the 

n

ight

 J

oUrney

 

and

 a

scent

 of Muhammad.

In addition to these major holidays, which 

are observed by all Muslims, the Shia observe 

holy days commemorating the deaths of the 

i

mam

s (sacred leaders descended from Muham-

mad) and other members of Muhammad’s family 

(

ahl

 

al

-

bayt

). The most important of these holy 

days is a

shUra

, which remembers the martyr-

dom of h

Usayn

 

ibn

 a

li

 (d. 680) on the 10th day 

of the 12th month (Dhu al-Hijja). The Shia also 

observe the anniversary of g

hadir

 k

hUmm

 on the 

18th of the same month, which is associated with 

Muhammad’s designation of a

li

 

ibn

 a

bi

 t

alib

 (d. 

660), their first imam, as his successor to lead 

the community. Members of Sufi brotherhoods 

celebrate the major religious feasts observed by 

other Muslims. In addition, they participate in pil-

grimages and festivals connected with saintly men 

and women, especially members of Muhammad’s 

family and their descendants. These are usually 

popular religious gatherings that occur at local 

shrines at different times of the year. Some attract 

millions of celebrants from far and wide, such as 

the mawlid of a

hmad

 

al

-b

adaWi

 of Tanta (e

gypt

) 

and  z

aynab

 of c

airo

 or the urs of Muin al-Din 

Chishti in a

Jmer

 (i

ndia

).

Muslims share some holidays with non-Mus-

lims. The most important seasonal holiday cel-

ebrated by people living in Muslim lands, n

avrUz

,

is connected with the advent of spring. It is 

observed in i

ran

,  a

Fghanistan

, Azerbaijan, and 

Kurdish areas of i

raq

  and  t

Urkey

  on March 21. 

Egyptians celebrate spring on Shamm al-Nasim 

(Smelling the Breeze), which falls on the first 

Monday after the Coptic Christian feast of Easter. 

Moreover, secular national holidays are observed 

in many countries with Muslim majorities. These 

usually commemorate the country’s independence 

from colonial control, a political revolution, or a 

victory in war. Some countries honor the memory 

of their founders with holidays, such as m

UstaFa

k

emal

 a

tatUrk

 (d. 1938) in Turkey and m

Uham

-

mad

  a

li

 J

innah

 (d. 1948) in p

akistan

. Most 

Muslims recognize the religious holidays of non-

Muslims, wishing them well on these occasions 

and participating in feasts and parades. Non-Mus-

lims, likewise, often recognize Muslim holidays. 

Such reciprocal interfaith activities occur both 

in countries where Muslims are majorities and 

where they are minorities. In the U

nited

  s

tates

, 

there has been growing recognition by commu-

nity leaders and the media of Muslim observance 

of the Ramadan fast. On the other hand, follow-

ers of radical and puritanical Islamic doctrines 

have denounced the observance or recognition of 

non-Muslim holidays by Muslims because of the 

belief that they are unauthorized innovations that 

may lead Muslims astray. Outside of s

aUdi

 a

rabia

,

however, such views are in the minority.

See also 

bidaa

; 

moon

; W

ahhabism

.