Holidays

1. Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, during which Muhammad received the first of his revelations. Muhammad later proclaimed all of Ramadan, which comes at a different time each year by the Western calendar, a time of fasting. Muslims do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset during the whole month. Only the sick, elderly, pregnant women and young children do not have to fast. People on long journeys are exempted from fasting, but must make up for lost days fasting when they return home.

2. New Year

The First of Muharram marks the New Year. The date fluctuates (in the Gregorian calendar) from year to year as it is based on the Islamic lunar calendar.
 
 

    3. Ashura

Ashura is celebrated on the ninth and tenth in the month of Muharram. The word ashura means "ten" and is a time of fasting, reflection and meditation. Jews of the city of Medina fasted on the tenth day in remembrance of their salvation from the Pharaoh. The Prophet Muhammad pledged he would fast for two days instead of one in this same remembrance, but he died the following year and so never fasted as he had hoped.

For many Muslims there is joy in commemorating all of the wonderful events traditions say occurred on this day, including: Noah's ark came to rest, the Prophet Abraham was born, the Kaaba was built. Among Shiite Muslims, it is a day of special sorrow commemorating the martyrdom of the Prophet's grandson ,Hussain, and his followers at the battle of Kerbala in Islam's first century. It is commemorated in Shiite communities with a reenactment of these events and is a time of mourning.
 
 

4. Mawlid Al-Nabi

Mawlud Al-Nabi is the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. It occurs on the twelfth of Rabi Al-Awal of the Islamic calendar. Speeches are given about the life of the Prophet in gatherings, and dinners are held. This occasion was not celebrated in the early times of Islam and is therefore unevenly celebrated today, with great and festive celebrations in many Muslim countries (i.e. Egypt and Turkey) and none in others (i.e. Saudi Arabia).
 
 

5. Isra wa Al - Miraj

Laylat Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj("the night journey and ascension") commemorates the journey of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Jerusalem, his ascension into the seven heavens, and his return in the same night. These events acknowledge that all the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) have one and the same God as their source.

On this night, Muslims believe, the Prophet was instructed to establish the five daily prayers in their current form. On this night, Muslims believe, Muhammad prayed together with Abraham, Moses and Jesus in the area of the Al-Aqsa mosque. The rock from which he is believed to have ascended to heaven to speak with God is the one seen inside the Dome of the Rock. Isra wa Al-Miraj as it is sometimes called is celebrated on the twenty-seventh of Rajab of the Islamic calendar.