Festivals
There are two celebrations which are prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad (Sunnah):
Eid-al-Fitr (The Festival of Fast-Breaking): 1st day of the Islamic month of Shawwal.
Eid-al-Adha (The Festival of Sacrifice): 10th day of the Islamic month of Hijja.
Fridays (Jumu'ah)
The Friday of each week is a special day. Its significance is due to the
obligatory (fard) congregational prayer, which is prescribed in the Qur'an.
Information
on prayer - Fiqh us-Sunnah Volumes one and two
Other historical occasions
Other occasions which are commenorated by Muslims are related to historical
events. Their observance is neither obligatory (from Qur'an) or from the
Prophet Muhammad (Sunnah).
The Day of Hijrah (The Emigration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina): commemorated on 1st day of the Islamic month of Muharram, the first day of the Islamic year.
Meelad al-Nabi (Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad): 12th day of the Islamic month of Rabi' al-Awwal.
Lailat al-Qadr (The Night of Power): one of the odd-numbered nights of the last ten days of the month of Ramadan.
Lailat al-Isra wa al-Mi'raj (The Night of the Journey and the Ascension): the night of the 27th of the month of Rajab.
There are three ceremonial occasions in the life of a Muslim family:
Birth
Marriage Contract
Death
| Festivals |
Eid-al-Fitr (The Festival of Fast-Breaking)
and
Eid-al-Adha (The Festival of Sacrifice)
Eid means 'a recurring happiness or festivity'. There are
two Eids: Eid-al-Fitr, celebrated on 1st of Shawwal following the month
of fasting, Ramadan, and Eid-al-Adha, celebrated on 10th of Dul-Hijja,
following the course of hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
When the Prophet Muhammad arrived in the city of Medina, he found that the
people of that city celebrated many festivals. He abolished these pagan
observances and told the Muslims that God has prescribed only two festivals for
them - the two Eids. The Eids are days of thanksgiving and
rejoicing for every Muslim, as well as for the community of Muslims as a
whole. Eid-alFitr celebrates the completion of a month of fasting
and Eid-al-Adha the completion of hajj, both fasting and pilgrimage being
acts of worship undertaken for the sake of God alone.
While the Eids are occasions for joy and happiness, they are certainly
not occasions for frivolity, over-eating or the pursuit of pleasure. The
joy which we feel on Eid is the spiritual joy of fulfillment - fulfillment of
God's command of discipline, piety and collective worship. Each of the Eid
days begins with prayer (salat) and is spent in alms-giving, visiting
friends and relatives, and exchanging greetings and gifts. The spirit of Eid
is the spirit of peace and forgiveness, for at these times one should forget all
grudges and ill-feeling toward one's fellow men if he has not already done
so. On Eid one makes a fresh start in his relations with others in
a brotherly spirit.
| Fridays (Jumu'ah) |
Friday - Yawm al-Jum'a (The Day of Assembly) in Arabic - is the day of
obligatory congregational prayer (salat), and hence has a special religious and
social significance for Muslims. While it is preferable to observe all the
daily obligatory prayers in congregation, it is not required to do so. On
the other hand, it is obligatory (fard) on every adult Muslim male to observe
the Friday prayer in congregation. For women it is optional.
In Muslim countries, Friday prayer is always observed in mosques.
However, in North America where there are not many mosques, any place where
people can gather is suitable for this purpose. It is the duty of Muslims
residing in a community to make some permanent arrangement for the observance of
Jum'a (Friday) prayer.
The Jum'a prayer, like any other congregational prayer, is led by an imam
(leader). The prayer is preceeded by a sermon (khutbah), delivered by the
imam who is leading the prayer. The sermon is a part of the
worship and consists of two parts divided by a short interval. Current
affairs, problems of Muslims (local or universal), a commentary on or
explanation of Qur'anic passages or religious practices are suitable subjects
for a sermon. Friday sermons have been and should continue to be a means
of educating Muslims concerning their responsibilities and obligations, of
keeping them abreast with current affairs, and of strengthening the spiritual
bond between the believers. A sermon should begin and end with praise to
God, blessings on the Prophet Muhammad and his Companions, and a supplication
for all Muslims.
As Friday is the day of collective worship for Muslims, its observance may seem
to resemble the Sabbath or Sunday in Judaism or Christianity. The
similarity, however, is apparent rather than real. The basis of the
Sabbath observances in these religions originated from the idea that as God the
Creator "rested" on the seventh day after six days of
"labor" at completing the creation of the heavens and the earth, so
man should also rest in honor and observance of the Creator's "rest"
(see Exodus 20:8-11). This idea is fundamentally contrary to the teachings
of Islam, as the omnipotent God does not become weary and requires rest from His
"work". There is no Sabbath in this sense in Islam.
Muslims can carry on their usual activities and business before and after the
Friday prayer. God says in Quran:
"O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for prayer on Friday, hasten earnestly to the remembrance of God, and leave off business; that is best for you if you but knew. And when the prayer is finished, then you may disperse through the land and seek the bounty of God, and celebrate the praises of God often, that you may prosper." ( Qur'an 62:9-10)
| Commemoration of Historical Occasions |
The Day of Hijrah (The Emigration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina)
Hijrah was the most significant event in the history of Islam. It marked the beginning of the success and spread of Islam. In Mecca the Muslims had been relentlessly persecuted, their lives and properties had not been safe, they had not been able to form a community or practice their religion openly, and they had not had any social or political influence. All by God's permission, migrated to Medina. The people of Medina accepted Islam, taking the Prophet Muhammad as their guide and leaderl. Once they were secure from continued persecution, they organized themselves into a religious community, received the injunctions of God and acted upon them, practiced and preached their religion, andconsolidated their strength. To commemorate Hijrah, the second Caliph, Umar, after consulting with the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad, declared 1 Muharram of the year of Hijrah (July 15, 622 A.D.) to be the first day of the first year of the Islamic Calendar. Hijrah day is commemorated by exchanging greetings and relating stories about the Prophet Muhammad and his Companions.
Meelad al-Nabi (Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad)
Meelad an-Nabi is the commemoration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad was born on 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal 54 years before Hijrah, or August 20, 570 A.D., - a monday - early in the morning. Muhammad was the "Seal of the Prophets" (Qur'an 33:40) and through him the Qur'an was revealed, God's final and complete message to Mankind.
Muslim everywhere commemorate this occasion. This is not an occasion for frivolity or pleasure-seeking, but an occasion of inner joy and happiness. Assemblies are held throughout the Muslim world to narrate the stories of the Prophet's birth, childhood, manhood, his preaching, his character, his suffering and his forgiveness of even his most bitter enemies, his fortitude in the face of general opposition, his emigration to Medina, his treatment of others, his leadership, and his fianl triumph, through God's grace, over the hearts of manking.
"God and His angels bless the
Prophet. O you who believe! bless him and salute him with a worthy
salutation" (Qur'an 33:56)
Lailat al-Qadr (The Night of Power
The night in which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) first received the message from God communicated by the Angel Gabriel is referred to in the Qur'an as 'The Night of Power' (Lailat al-Qadr). Muhammad was then forty years old. The first verses which Gabriel recited to him on that night were the following:
"Read in the name of thy Sustainer, Who created - created man from a clot. Read, and thy Sustainer is the Most Bountiful One, Who taught the use of the pen - taught man that which he did not know" (Qur'an 61:1-5)
The communication of the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad continued during the twenty-three years of his prophethood and ended shortly before his death. From sound traditions of the Prophet we know that Lailat al-Qadr is one fo the odd-numbered nights of the last ten days of the month of Ramadan. Prophet Muhammad used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights of Ramadan to a greatest extent than at any other time. In most Muslim countries, the night of 27th of Ramadan, that is, the night preceeding the twenty-seventh day is observed as Lailat al-Qadr. In the Qur'an it is said about this Night:
"We have indeed refelaed this
(Qur'an) in the Night of Power.
And what will make thee understand what the Night of Power is?
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein
descend the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) by God's permission,
on every errand. Peace - until the day breaks"
(Qur'an 97:1-5)
A portion of the night on which Lailat al-Qadr is observed, is usually spent in reading Qur'an, and a portion in additional prayer and supplication. In fact the whole month of Ramadan is dedicated to fasting, prayer, charity and goodwill.
Lailat al-Isra wa al-Mi'raj (The Night of the Journey and the Ascension)
During the tenth year of Prophet Muhammad's prophethood, in the night of 27th of the month of Rajab, the Prophet saw, in a most radiant vision - physical as well as spiritual - some of the signs of God. The Qur'an refers to this experience in the following verse:
"Glory be to Him Who did take
His servant (Muhammad) for a
journey by night from the Sacred Mosque (Ka'aba) to the
Farthest Mosque (the remains of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem) -
the precincts of which We have blessed - that We might shoe him
some of Our signs. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing"
(Qur'an 17:1)
Through this manifestation, God raised the Prophet to the highest spiritual elevation of which man is capable. During this night the five daily prayers (salat) were prescribed by God. Muslims celebrate this night by reading Qur'an and praying supererogatory (additional) prayers.
Ceremonies
Birth
The Birth of a baby is a time for rejoicing. A Muslim couple looks upon their child as a gift and trust from God. In some Muslim countries, the choosing of a name for the infant is a special occasion, usually celebrated on the seventh day after birth. Relatives and friends gather at the home of the parents, and the name is announced. A feast usually follows. It is tradition to shave the baby's head on the seventh, or fourteenth, or twenty-first day after birth and to distribute charity among the poor on the occasion.
The Marriage Contract (Aqd Nikah)
The Islamic teachings encourage Muslims to marry, to live together in mutual love, harmony and respect, to have children and to raise them as believing and practicing Muslims. Marriage in Islam is a civil contract, a mutual agreement of two persons before God and man, and no mystical or sacramental significance is associated with it.
Since there is no priesthood in Islam, it is not required - although it is desirable for the sake of giving a form to the ceremony of marriage itself - to have a person officiating between the bride and groom. It is necessary only that at least two adult Muslims be present to witness the exchange of vows and that the event be announced and made known publicly. This is the minimum requirement according to Islamic law. However, customarily the wedding date is announced beforehand and the ceremony is attended by relatives and friends of the two parties. This may be done in any appropriate manner, with as little or much ceremony and embellishment as desired; keeping in mind that Muslims are enjoined by God in Qur'an not to make displays of wealth to impress others and not to be wasteful.
A typical marriage ceremony may be performed at any convenient and appropriate gathering place. Some person known for his knowledge of Islamic law ordinarily officiates for the exchange of marriage vows. He may recite some passages from Qur'an and give a general discourse on the social and religious significance of marriage, the responsibilities and rights of the husband and wife, and pray for God's blessing on the newly married couple. Apart from verbal exchanges of the pledges, both the bride and groom sign a written contract before witnesses. It is also required that a man give to his wife some type of marriage gift (mehr) for only her exclusive use unless she voluntarily agrees to share it.
Death
Death is the end of the present like, but a Muslim believes in the life Hereafter. For Muslims, then, death is not the final end, but a temporary separation from the beloved person, who will be brought back to life on the Day of Judgement, and if God wills, reunited with his family once more. Although, we mourn the loss of our relative or friend, Muslims are advised by the Prophet Muhammad not to indulge in extravagant expressions of grief like wailing or loud crying. This is an offense against God's will. When Muslims first hear the news of a person's death, they say:
"Inna lil Allahi wa inna
ilaihi raaji'un" (Qur'an 2:156)
"Verily, unto God do we belong and, verily,
unto Him shall we return"
Relatives and friends gather at the home of the deceased person, give comfort and solace to the immediate family members, recite Qur'an, and pray for God's forgiveness and mercy for the deceased. The Prophet also urged Muslims to bury the dead without delay. For burial, the body is washed, wrapped in sheet (s) of cloth, and is carried to a mosque or to the burial place itself for the funeral prayer. The funeral prayer is very short and is offered in congregation. The body is then buried.
"All that is on earth will
perish, and there will remain only the
Face of thy Sustainer, majestic, full of bounty and honor"
(Qur'an 55:26-27)