The Only Two Holidays for Muslims

The Only Two Holidays for Muslims

“You had two days for celebrating joy before Islam, and glorious Allah has replaced them for you by which is better, Eid Al-Adha and Eid Al-Fitr,” prophet Mohammed said, after he asked the people of Madeenah why were they celebrating two special days before Islam. From his words, we know that they are the only holidays for Muslims, and how much important are they. Eid means a festival and a holiday in Arabic language. Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha are two religious holidays. They fall after two great pillars of Islam, Fasting and Hajj. Muslims are awarded by these two holidays for their success in performing the fasting and Hajj. These two holidays are pretty similar in providing the happiness and the enjoyment for people, however, they are different in two points: the main occasion and major activities during these holidays.

Both of Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha have unique dates. Eid Al-Fitr falls at the first day of the month of Shawwal, the tenth month of the lunar calender or the Islamic calender, after the holy month of Ramadan. The word Al-Fitr means breaking the fast. Due to the fact that Muslims fasting the day-time during the whole month of Ramadan, they celebrate Eid Al-Fitr to mark the end of this month. Eid Al-Adha is different because it is after the great Hajj. The date of Eid Al-Adha is the tenth day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah which is the twelfth month of the Islamic calender. Al-Adha word is derived from the sacrifice due to the fact that people are slaughtering a sheep, a goat, a camel or a cow for the sake of Allah. This sacrifice is embodying the sacrifice made by prophet Abraham's when he was about to offer his son for a sacrifice to obey God's