Muslim holidays in 2020: calendar

Content

1 Muslim holidays
2 Muslim calendar features

Around the world, there are nearly 1.6 billion adherents of Islam. Like the Orthodox, they have their own memorable dates marked on the Muslim calendar. What days will the holidays fall in 2020?

Muslim holidays

In 2020, the calendar marked many dates revered by Muslims. Despite the national interpretations of the lunar calendar of the Prophet, in the Muslim world for 2020 fixed dates for the Gregorian calendar are accepted.

Gregorian calendar date	Muslim calendar	Holiday Name	Value, traditions
28 January	3 day Jumad al-Ahir	The suffering of Fatima	The holiday is associated with the name of the daughter of the Prophet. In Islam, Fatima is revered as a symbol of purity and fear of God. Fatima’s death is interpreted as martyrdom, so this date is preceded by a 20-day mourning. In Iran, Fatima’s Day of Suffering is recognized as a public holiday.
February 27-28	First friday eve in rajab	Gift Night	Remember the marriage of the Prophet's parents. On the previous Thursday, it is customary to hold fast, and on the night itself to praise Allah. The more sincere exclamations, the greater grace is sent from the Almighty.
March 21-22	26-27 Rajab number	Ascension Night	It is connected with the memory of the events of the night journey of Muhammad and his ascension to Allah. Believers spend this night reading the Qur'an and retelling each other the events of ancient times.
April 7-8	14-15 Sha Ban number	Night Baraat	The second name is Absolution Night. Allah forgives all who earnestly pray to him these days. It is necessary to pray in solitude, remembering the departed. The tradition of shaking the Tree of Life is interesting: the names are written on the leaves, whose leaf falls, he is destined to die this year.
April 24th	1 day of Ramadan	The beginning of the holy month and the beginning of the Lent.	It is customary not only to fast, but also to do good deeds, paving the way for them to Paradise.
May 19-20	26-27 day of Ramadan	The night of predestination	Muslims believe that angels descend to earth this night. Prayer at this time is considered the strongest of the year. It is this night that determines the fate of everyone living on earth.
May 24-26	1-3 day of Shavval	Eid al Fitr (Uraza Bairam)	The end of Ramadan, a conversation after a long post. This day is spent with relatives, treating the poor, giving alms, giving gifts.
July 31	10 day Zul Hijj	Eid al-Adha	One of the two main days on the calendar. A feast of sacrifices in memory of a legend that tells of the command of Allah to the Prophet to sacrifice his son. Celebrated 3 days with a pilgrimage to Mecca.
August 20	1 day Muharram	Islamic New Year	The year 1442 will come on the Muslim calendar.
August 29	10th day of Muharram	Day of Sorrow, Ashur Day	According to legend, it was on this day that Heaven, Earth, angels and Adam were created. According to Muslim beliefs, the end of the world should also come on this day.
October 28-29	12 night Rabi-ul-Avval	Prophet's Christmas	On one day, both the birth and death of Muhammad are celebrated, since the exact date of his birth is not known. Despite the fact that it is not customary for Muslims to celebrate birthdays, in some countries this tradition has developed its own traditions. For example, in Pakistan he is given 3 days off, wide celebrations are held in Algeria, Syria, Tunisia and Morocco. In Egypt, they organize festivities for children.

Muslim calendar features

Islam is calculated from the day the Prophet Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina, and this happened on July 16, 622 A.D. In fact, this is the lunar calendar: the beginning of the day is the time of sunset. A month lasts 29-30 days, its beginning coincides with the appearance of the crescent (neomania) of the Moon after the new moon. It is interesting that in different countries living according to the Quran, the beginning of the month does not coincide. The date of the new moon is calculated astronomically, but the appearance of neomania depends on the geographical location and atmospheric phenomena. And also, according to a long tradition, the onset of a new month (the appearance of a sickle in the sky) should fix two people.

As in the Gregorian, the Muslim calendar has 12 months, but the duration of the year is 10 days less. Months are not tied to specific dates, so for a long period they can fall either in summer or in winter. Moreover, Muslims have a clear sequence of months:

Muharram. New Year comes just on the first day of this month. One of the four forbidden periods when no military action is allowed.
Safar It is considered the most unlucky period. Perhaps this is due to the fact that in the second month after Muharram, on the way to the battle of the soldiers, they met empty settlements, where there was nothing to profit from. They don’t play weddings in Safar, they don’t start new business.
Rabi-ul-avval. The most revered among Muslims, because it was between his 11th and 12th day in the distant 571 year that the Prophet Muhammad was born. In Rabi-ul-Avval, he passed away.
Rabi-us-Sani. Translated means "second spring." Completes the spring cycle.
Jumad al-ula. This is usually a winter month, which means “freezing”. It got its name on the basis of observations of nature, when water froze, drought occurred and nature froze.
Jumad al-ahir. The second, last winter month.

Muslim man prays in a mosque

Rajab. Holy time noted in the Quran. Sin committed in Rajab is considered very severe. This month it was forbidden to fight and even defend.
Shaban. It falls in June according to the Gregorian calendar. The ancient Arabs began the year with him. One of the most warlike months.
Ramadan. It translates as "to be hot." The hottest time is when the earth literally heats up from fire. It is especially revered by Muslims, because it was in Ramadan that the Qur'an was sent to people.
Shavval. After the scorched Ramadan, a nomadic period begins. Previously, the tribes set off in search of new lands and food. It is especially valuable for Muslims to fast for 6 days, which are equivalent to a whole year of fasting.
Zul Gaada. Behind the nomadic period came a rest, and this is how the name of 11 months in Islam is translated. Zul Gaada is also highlighted in the Qur'an as a sacred time in which one cannot sin.
Zul Hijj. It is considered forbidden, especially the first 10 days stand out in it. This is a month of pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Prophet. Particularly revered is the 9th day of Zul Hij, the day of Araf. This fasting is rewarded with the remission of sins in two years.

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