Islam & Festivals (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

Id-ul-Adha: The festival of sacrifice

What is Id-ul-Adha?

• Id-ul-Adha (Eid-ul-Adha) is one of the two main Muslim festivals, along with Id-ul-Fitr

• Id-ul-Adha is the festival of sacrifice

• Muslims remember the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isma’il when God asked him to

  • Ibrahim had a dream that he had to sacrifice his son Isma’il

  • Isma’il was ready to give his life

  • God called out to Ibrahim as he was about to sacrifice Isma’il and praised them for their faithfulness

  • In this test of faith, Ibrahim and Isma’il showed obedience and devotion to God

  • This story is told in the Qur’an (Surah 37:83–111)

• Muslims remember this level of devotion and celebrate it at Id-ul-Adha, which was started by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and marks the end of Hajj

How is Id-ul-Adha celebrated?

• Muslims remember the sacrifice that Ibrahim and Isma’il were willing to make to God by sacrificing an animal, such as a sheep 

• The meat produced is shared with the poor

  • In the UK, Muslims will often arrange to do this using halal methods of preparing the meat

• Muslims will go to the mosque for special prayers and a sermon

• They will wear new clothes and exchange cards, and presents

• They will use the greeting “Id Mubarak”, which means “have a blessed Id”

• This is an important celebration that brings families and the Muslim community together

• On an individual level, each person will remember the sacrifice Ibrahim and Isma’il were willing to make by trying to show a similar level of devotion to God in their own lives

  • They will also remember and be grateful for God’s mercy

Id-ul-Fitr: The festival following Ramadan

What is Id-ul-Fitr?

• Id-ul-Fitr (Eid-ul-Fitr) is the festival that marks the end of Ramadan fasting

• It starts when the first new moon is seen at the end of the lunar month of Ramadan

• It is special because the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the first person to celebrate the festival

• Muslims celebrate the end of their period of fasting (Sawm) with great joy for the blessings it has brought them

What happens during Id-ul-Fitr?

• The activities and celebrations for Id-ul-Fitr are similar to those of Id-ul-Adha

• Muslims will go to the mosque for special prayers and a sermon

• They will wear new clothes and decorate their homes

• They exchange cards and gifts

• They will use the greeting “Id Mubarak”, which means “have a blessed Id”

• The head of each household will donate to charity on behalf of the household, so that people in need are not left out during this time of celebration

• Like Id-ul-Adha, Id-ul-Fitr brings the community and families together and unites everyone

• Muslims will take time to give thanks to Allah for everything in their lives and for the blessings they have received during their period of fasting

Ashura: The day of remembrance

What is Ashura?

• Ashura is another festival marked by Shi’a Muslims

• Ashura commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn (Hussain), grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and son of Ali

• Husayn was killed with his family in Karbala, Iraq, because he would not swear allegiance to a leader called Yazid, who was oppressing his people and going against the teachings of Islam

• Ashura is marked on the 10^th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar

How is Ashura commemorated?

• It is a solemn occasion

• There are ten days of mourning in the lead-up to Ashura

• Shi’a Muslims gather at the mosque, which is draped in black, each night from the start of Muharram until Ashura

• Many Muslims wear black in mourning, and no music is allowed at this time

• There are speeches and plays that remember the sacrifice of Husayn and the need to fight for justice

• On the day of Ashura, there may be parades through the streets

• Some Shi’a Muslims go on pilgrimage to Karbala to visit the shrine of Husayn

• Although some people perform acts of self-flagellation (hitting themselves with a whip) to express their sorrow

  • This is not considered acceptable by Islamic scholars

• In the UK, Muslims may donate blood to the NHS to remember Hussain 

• Sunni Muslims remember a different occasion at Ashura

• It marks the day that Musa (Moses) and the Israelites were saved from the Pharaoh in Egypt

• Sunni Muslims undertake a two-day fast to remember their survival, as the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) suggested

The Night of Power

What is the Night of Power?

• Laylat al-Qadr means “The Night of Power” or “The Night of Decree” 

• It marks the night when the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) first revealed the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) 

• This event took place during the month of Ramadan, in a cave near Makkah called Hira

• Muslims believe the revelation began with the words:

• The exact date of the Night of Power is not known, but it is believed to fall within the last ten nights of Ramadan, most likely on the 27th night

Why is the Night of Power important?

• The Night of Power is important to Muslims for many reasons

  • First, it marks the beginning of the Qur’an’s revelation

    • It is the start of the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) mission and the beginning of Islam as a complete way of life

    • The Qur’an is seen as the final revelation from Allah, guiding Muslims in faith, worship and moral conduct

  • It also has spiritual significance for Muslims

    • The Qur’an describes Laylat al-Qadr as:

• This means worship on this single night is worth more than worship over 83 years, showing its enormous spiritual value

• Muslims believe that this day has extra significance, particularly relating to forgiveness and mercy

  • Muslims believe that sins are forgiven for those who sincerely pray, seek forgiveness and remember Allah on this night

  • The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:

• On this night, Muslims also believe that it is a Night of Destiny for Allah

  • It is believed that on this night, Allah decides the fate of people for the coming year

  • It reminds Muslims of Allah’s power, control and wisdom over all things

• Muslims are therefore encouraged to worship more during this time

  • They perform extra prayers (Qiyam or Tahajjud), recite the Qur’an, make du’a (supplication) and reflect on their lives

  • Many try to stay awake all night during the last ten days of Ramadan, seeking Laylat al-Qadr