[Ohio-Communities-of-Faith] Major holidays in the Islamic/Lunar Calendar and much more

[Carolyn Peters]

Thank you for sharing this information regarding special holidays,, This is very informational and educational and we are looking forward to your presentation on Ramadan for April monthly meeting. Cheerfully, Reverend Dr. Carolyn Peters

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 25, 2022, at 1:58 PM, ali benmerzouga <ali.benmerzouga at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hello everyone,
> 
> I would like to let you know about some important religious events and activities for Moslems on the lunar Calendar.
> 
> Like all religions Islam has many important holidays. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar so it has 354 days in a year. Some months are 29 days and some have 30 days.
> 
> Fridays are considered important just as Saturdays and Sundays are special for Jews and Christians. Believers are urged to go to the Mosque and perform the Friday's/Jumua's  Prayer around 1:30 pm or so these days. It will take from start to end about 30 to 45 minutes.
> 
> Now let's focus on two major holidays.  Both are called Eid and they signify important remembrances.
> 
> The first one is Eidul Fitr is the celebration which comes after the wholly month of Ramadan. you would ask, what is the month of Ramadan. It is the 9th month of the Islamic/Lunar calendar. This month is for fasting. Muslims around the world fast from dawn till dusk. we are not to  eat or drink anything - Yes, nothing at all even drinking water and of course no romance! We can eat food, drink water  and romanticized during the night. Very early, before dawn we eat some food and drink water/soda, which is called Sohoor and should stop nowadays around 6:00 am. At sunset we have Iftar the opening of the fast/breaking the fast, which is about 7:45 pm these days.
> 
> The Nights of the wholly month of Ramadhan are given to prayers. The last 10 days are very special. Among these
> 10 nights there is one known as the "Night of Destiny" Prayers during this night  are  better than thousand months or prayers.
> After a month of fasting we celebrate by feasting and visiting with family and friends. The word Fitr means to share with the unfortunate.  Also it is suggested if a person is unable to fast for medical reasons or other situations, to feed the poor.
> 
> Speaking of the wholly month of Ramadhan, this year it will start on April 2 or 3 and end on May 1 or 2.
> 
> The second is Eidull Adhha, is celebrated in the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. The month is known as Dul Hejjah. The Haj pilgrimage happens during this month. The  festival is on the 10th day which ends the pilgrimage. The ten days are holy days and specially the 9th day (Called Arafah Day) when people fast. The other feature is the sacrifice of a ram, goat, or a cow. The meat is distributed among friends and the poor.
> 
> During these two Eids Muslims dress up in new clothes,  eat lots of sweets and visit with family and friends.
> 
> During both Eids there are prayer services in the mosques. After the prayers, friends as well as strangers greet each other by saying Eid Mubarak, (happy Eid.) 
> 
> 
> Before I forget, kids are really having a big treats during these two Eids - in terms of new clothes, money, games, toys, visiting relatives  places, etc.
> 
> Hope this help giving you some idea about some Moslem activities/worships.
> 
> Have a nice day.
> 
> Ali
> 
> P.S.: 
> I have received the above information  through the NFB-Moslem group. I agree with most of it and I did some editing. The original author is Yasmin Reyazuddin. So thankful to her!
> 
> 
>