Muslim+Traditions+and+Holidays

__**Muslim Traditions and Holidays**__

1. **Important Traditions in the Muslim Faith**

//a.// A newborn baby has the call to prayer whispered into the left ear, the profession of faith whispered into the right ear, honey or date paste placed in the mouth, and a name selected. On the sixth day after birth, the first bath occurs. On the seventh day or a multiple of the seventh, the head is shaved, and alms are distributed, ideally in silver weighing as much as the hair. Religious instruction starts at age four years, four months, and four days, beginning with the standard phrase: "In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful. //b.// Male circumcision takes place between the ages of seven and twelve. //c.// Marriage requires a payment by the husband to the wife and the solemnization of a marital contract in a social gathering. In the marriage ceremonies the donning of a nose ring by the bride and the procession of the bridegroom take place. In a traditional wedding, males and females attend ceremonies in different room. //d.// When a family member dies they wash and enshroud the body. It is also buried as prayers from the Koran are recited. On the third day, friends and relatives grieve together, read the Koran, and pray for the soul of the deceased. In Muslim faith a mourning period can be up to 40 days. //e.// The first month of the Islamic calendar is Muharram. The tenth day of Muharram is Ashura, the anniversary of the death of Husayn, the son of Ali. Ashura, is a major holiday, and it is very importance for the Shia. People act in ritualized mourning that sometimes includes processions of colorful replicas of Husayn's tomb. //f.// In the Muslim faith shrines attached to the memory of great Sufi saints are important.

2. **Ramadan**

//a.// Ramadan is during the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, but changes every year for the regular calendar. Over one billion Muslims throughout the world celebrate Ramadan. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control. Muslims like to think of it asa tune-up for their spiritual lives. //b.// While Muslims do not have to fast regularly, during Ramadan they have no choice but to fast. If you are sick, traveling, or are not ableto fast for any other reason, you must make it up. //c.// Fasting during Ramadan is the most widely practiced form of worship by the Muslims. As the third religious obligation of Islam, fasting has many special benefits. Among the many benefits, the most important is that you learn self-control. Since Muslims are not preoccupied with food during the day, a measure of control is given to one's spiritual nature, which becomes a means of coming closer to God. Ramadan is also a time of intensive worship, reading of the Qur'an (the main religious text of Islam), giving charity and doing other good deeds. //d.// As a secondary goal, fasting is a way of experiencing hunger and developing sympathy for the less fortunate, and learning to be thankful and to appreciate God’s gifts. Fasting is also beneficial to the health and provides a break in the cycle of rigid habits or overindulgence. //e.// The last ten days of Ramadan are a time of special spiritual power as everyone tries to come closer to God through devotions and good deeds. Muslims spend the entire nights in prayer. During the month, Muslims try to read as much of the Qur'an as they can. Most try to read the whole book at least once.


 * A popular food during Ramadan is Khajla Phehni, a deep-fried vermicelli.**

3. **Eid ul-Fitr**

//a.// The celebration at the end of Ramadan is called Eid-ul-Fitr, which means the Festival of Fast-Breaking. This holiday is very similar to similar to Christmas; it is a celebration with strong religious significance. During Eid-ul-Fitr, everyone must donate something to a special charity of some sort. Muslims visit friends and relatives, attend and community prayer in the morning, and dress in holiday attire. During Eid-ul-Fitr, you can say "Eid mubarak," or "a blessed 'Eid". In some places, children are given gifts or money by their parents and relatives, which is also similar to Christmas. //b.// The celebration of 'Eid-ul-Fitr lasts three days, although the main festivities occur on the first day. Muslims gather in a community center for prayer and enjoy breakfast together. Children and adults get time off from school and work whenever possible.


 * Millions of Muslims celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan by celebrating Eid ul-Fitr.**


 * Muslims visit graves of their relatives to mark the occasion.**

4. **The Sects of Islam** //a.// Sunni v. Shi'a
 * The Sunnis make up around 85% of the Muslim population, while the Shi’as make up about 10%.
 * After the death of the prophet Muhammad in the year 632, the Islamic religion split into two major groups, depending on their position of the next leaders. These two groups are the Sunni and Shi’a.
 * The most distinct difference between the two is that when the prophet Muhammad died, who was to be the next caliph. The Shi’as believe that only the descendents of Muhammad were the rightful heirs to the spiritual leadership of the Islamic faith. Sunnis believe that the next successor is to be determined by means of democratic principles.
 * __We see the difference between the modern Shi'as and Sunnis in the differnece between the types of religion followed by Baba and Ali. Ali is a strict Shi'a who follows all laws in the Koran to the best he can accordingly to way he interprets them. He does not miss a prayer session, and teaches Hassan to do the same. Baba is a Sunni who does not pray at all and even makes fun of those who are teaching to Amir. He is one who follows Wester standards and doesn't even believe in a god. The two are exaggerated from reality, but do show the difference in method of prayer and ethics between the two sects.__

//b.// The other sects of Islam that are not as commonly heard are the Kharijis, Druze, Alawi, Ismali, Ahmadiyyah, Sufi, and Wahhabi.
 * Containing less than one percent of all Muslims, **Kaharijis** believed in the literal meaning of the Koran and that anyone could become a caliph, but only if they are religiously pure. And for the election to be valid, the election had to be held completed the entire Muslim community.
 * The **Druze** are not regarded as Muslims by other Muslims, but do consider themselves Muslims. They may have originally been a part of a Shi'a group, but have diverged so much, the Koran does not seem to be a part of their religion.
 * The **Alawi** are found almost exclusivly on the Syrian coast plains.
 * **Ismali** believe that the progressionof spiritual leadership should have continued through the sons of Muhammad, and that Islam has never been without a living Imam, Islamic leader, even though recognized spiritual authority became rare as Islam matured.
 * The **Ahmadiyyah** were founded in Qadian, India by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who died in the year 1908.
 * Sufis are mysicts within the Muslim faith. They follow mystical interpretations of Islamic doctrines and practices.
 * A strong in Muslim sect in Saudi Arabia, Wahhabism started as a spiritual campaign of renewal in city-states of Arabia. They opposed all innovations within Islam, often using violence to enforce its traditional views. It demands punishment for those who enjoy any form of music except the drum and severe punishment up to death for drinking or sexual transgressions. It condemns as unbelievers those who do not pray.

5. **The Afghan New Year** //a.// The Afghan New Year is called //Nowruz//, which literally means "new day" in Persian (Faris); it has a many variations to its spelling. //b.// It is held in a number of countries besides Afghanistan. The people of Iran, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and some of the other Asian republics formerly ruled by the Soviet Union celebrate Nowruz. Kurds in Iraq, Georgia, Syria, and Turkey also celebrate the new year. //c.// Preparations
 * Nowruz represents the awakening of the natural life, which symbolizes the triumph of good over evil that are represented by the winter
 * Minstrels, referred to as //Hajid Firuz//, dress up in makeup and brightly colored satin outfits. They parade through streets with loud instruments to spread goo cheer and news of the coming new year.

//d.// Haft-seen (also //Haft-sinn//)
 * House cleaning in every household is important to the fresh start in the year to come.
 * Children jump over bonfires the wednesday before. They gather coins and treats as they visit their neighbors.

//e.// Nowruz begins with the precise beginning of the spring equinox, on the first day of Farvardin on the solar Islamic calendar, which usually makes it the 20th or 21st of March. The festivities last for thirteen days. //f.// Greetings on Nowruz:
 * Haft-seen is the special table prepared for Nowruz and includes seven different elements starting with the letter "sin" in Persain (Farsi), similar to "s" in English, which symbolize life, wealth, health, love, patience, purity, and abundance.
 * **Sabzeh**, wheat or lental sprouts- represent rebirth
 * **Samanu**, creamy wheat germ pudding- considered holy
 * **Seeb**, apple- health and beauty
 * **Senjid**, dried fruit of lotus trees- love
 * **Sir**, garlic- health (considered medicinal)
 * **Somagh**, sumac berries- the color of the sun and the triumph of good over evil
 * **Serkeh**, vinegar- old age and patience
 * Other symbolic items are sometines place of the table:
 * A book symbolizing wisdom (Koran)
 * Sekeh, coins representing wealth
 * Sonbol and Laleh, hyacinth and tulips- spring
 * Painted eggs, fertility of the land and the people
 * Mirror- relfection of life and human consciousness
 * Candles- one on either side of the mirror for each child, happiness
 * Goldfish- life
 * An orange floating in a bowl of water- the earth floating in space
 * Traditional foods are also seen on the table
 * In 2008, it will fall on March 21st
 * Zarathushta's birthday
 * The sixth day of the celebration is Zarathyshta's birthday
 * According to Islam, born more than 3000 years ago was Zarathushtra, the first monotheist
 * The 13th day of Nowruz is called "Sizdah Bedar"
 * //Sizdah// means "thirteen" and //bedar// means "to get rid of": "getting rid of the thirteenth."
 * It is a day with lots park-going families, who try to bring luck by passing the day outside.
 * It is tradition to throw away the **Sabzeh** from the Haft-seen table. It is supposed to collect all the sickness and pain from the family in the coming year. Taking someone else's sabzeh on the last day is considered a bad omen, bringing someone else's hardships upon oneself.
 * Another tradition at the picnics on Sizdah Bedar is the knotting of grass blades by unmarried girls in hope for a good husband.
 * //Nowrooz mobarak//: Happy Nowruz
 * //Nowrooz pirooz//: Nowruz is prosperous
 * //Sal-e no mobarak//: Happy New Year
 * //Sad sal bi in sal-ha//: May another hundred years be as happy ans joyus as this one (referring to the holiday feeling)


 * The Tajiks in Afghanistan celebrate New Year's Eve with a parade.**



6. **Connections to __The Kite Runner__**

"I remember one time Baba took me to the yearly Buzhashi tournament that took place on the first day of spring, New Year's Day. Buzhashi was, and still is, Afghanistan's national passion. A chapandaz, a highly skilled horseman usually patronized by rich aficionados, has to snatch a goat or cattle carcass from the midst of a melee, carry that carcass with him around the stadium at full gallop, and drop it in a scoring circle while a team of other chapandaz chases him and does everything in its power-kick, claw, whip, punch-to snatch the carcass from him" (20).