Islamic festivals

Question 1

Ashura

Answer 1

• first month of the islamic calendar, tenth day
• commemorate the death of husayn the prophets grandson
• they celebrate by wearing black, a day of public mourning, fast and praying
• ‘there shall be no inflicting of harm on oneself’
• predominantly Shia celebrate
• often parades through the street
• they might beat their chest and their bodies in time
• plays reenacting the death of him are usually performed to remind muslims of the events that led to his death
• people may go on pilgrimage to the mosque of husayn in iraq
• in some countries men might cut themselves with blades to emulate the suffering of husayn
• in the uk however they are encouraged to donate blood

Question 1

Laylat al Qadr

Answer 1

• the night of power
• none given to the night when angel fibril afeard to Muhammad on mt Arafat
• muslims will pray all night and aim to read the whole Quran during the month of ramadan
• they will also ask allah for forgiveness
• Muhammad suggested that the night of power happened in the last 10 days of the holy month of ramadan so they traditionally celebrate it on the 27th of the month
• when they recite the Quran, they should behave with respect, when in use it should be placed on a stand ‘rehal’
• muslims should refrain from speaking, eating or drinking or making distracting noises when it is being read
• any person who knows the Quran my memory is a hafiz
• ‘better than a thousand months’

Question 2

Eid ul fitr

Answer 2

• festival marking the end of fasting during the holy month of ramadan
• all muslims celebrate Eid ul fitr and would wish their muslim friends ‘Eid Mubarak’ meaning ‘blessed eid’
• ramadan is the holiest month because it is when Muhammad became prophet on the night of power
• it is celebrated at the first new moon
• Muslims might celebrate by saying personal extra prayers (dua), wearing new clothes, visiting relatives and reading the Quran
• it is a joyous time where they will spend time with family and friends who exchange gifts and attend the mosque where there might be special services and sermons
• muslims will make a special payment called ‘zakat ul fitr’ which will ensure that all muslims can celebrate the festival
• celebrating Eid is a form of worship as you are worshiping allah and thanking him for his guidance received in the Quran
• it is an important celebration for the community and there are often big picnics, eating sugary foods and henna tattoos for women
• ‘fasting is prescribed to you’

Question 3

Eid ul adha