The Islamic new year begins on the first day of the month of
Muharram.
The Hijri calendar is counted from the year of the Hijra (the year
in which Prophet Muhammad emigrated with Sayiduna Abu Bakr from Mecca
to Madinah over 1400 years ago ( Year 622 A.D).
Today is the 10th of January 2006 which translates to 10th of Dhul-
Hijjah 1426, Hijri.
The Muslim Hijri Calendar has 12 months. Each month is either 29
or 30 days.
The Hijri months are: Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwal, Rabi al-
Akhir, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada ath-Thaniy, Rajab, Sha^ban, Ramadan,
Shawwal, Dhu’l-Qa^dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah
I ask Allah to accept our sacrifices, and I ask Allah to accept
our good deeds, bHappy Eid and Happy New year.**
Re: Islamic New Year
Meanings behind Eid al-Adha
Bismillah, alhamdulillah wassalalatu wassalamu ^ala Rasulillah,
I will insha'Allah summarize in point form the meanings of Eid al-
Adha al-Mubarak and how valuable it is for Muslims.
• Eid al-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice is the most important feast of
the Muslim calendar.
• Eid Adha is on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, which is the last
month in the Muslim calendar.
• The 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah is the day when Hujjaj (pilgrims)
stand on the mountain of ^Arafat.
• It is Recommended (Sunnah) to fast the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah.
• Eid al-Adha concludes the Hajj journey (Pilgrimage) to Meccah al-
Mukarramah.
• Eid al-Adha is followed by 3 days called the Days of Tashreeq.
• Eid al-Adha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to obey
Allah by sacrificing his son.
• Muslims believe the son to be Ismail and not Isaac (Ishaq) as
told in the Old Testament.
• Prophet Ismail is considered the forefather of the Arabs.
• According to the Qur'an, Prophet Ibrahim was about to sacrifice
his son by slaughtering him.
• Although the knife was sharpened, but when Prophet Ibrahim came
to slaughter Ismail, the knife would not cut anything.
• He tried the knife on a plant, but it would not cut at all.
• The reason is that everything that happens in this world is by
the will of Allah.
• Allah did not will for that knife to cut or harm prophet Ismail.
• Allah protected Prophet Ismail and granted prophet Ibrahim a ram
as a sacrifice instead.
• Today millions of Muslims sacrifice goats and give them it away
for the needy and poor people for the sake of Allah.
• The Muslim family eats about a third of the meal and donates the
rest to the poor.
• What a great meaning it is to help the needy and make them all
equally happy and joyful on this day.
• The time of the Udhiah or sacrifice begins at the sunrise of the
Eid day and ends at the sunset of the third day of the days of
Tashriq.