Al Hijra
(Go back to the Calendar)

This is New Year's Day for Muslims. Sometimes this is also called Rabi Al-Awwal. Muslim years are dated from the time of the Prophet Muhammad's Hijra or migration from Makkah to Medina that led to the establishment of the Muslim community there. People celebrate by telling stories in the mosques about the Prophet and his companions.

 

Islam means
"submission to God"

 

The Five Pillars of Islam:

Shahadah -- the confession of faith. "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet." This is part of the call to prayer made by the muezzin [announcer] from the mosque's minaret before each of the five daily prayer sessions.

Salat -- prayer. At five set times during the day the Muslim is obliged to pray. This may be done in a mosque, at home or in any other place, and is preceded by ritual washing. On Fridays at midday it is obligatory for men to attend congregational prayer in the central mosque of the area in which they live and at which time the imam gives a sermon.

Zakat -- the payment of alms. This collection is used for the relief of poverty and for the upkeep of sacred places. In some Islamic states the zakat is taken out of wages in the same way as income tax is deducted. It is reckoned at about two and a half per cent of a person's wage.

Saum -- the fasting of Ramadan. The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. From sunrise to sunset no eating, drinking or smoking is allowed.

Hajj -- pilgrimage to Mecca. If circumstances of wealth and health allow, all Muslims are obliged, once in their lifetime, to make a pilgrimage to Mecca and perform certain rituals there.

 

 

 

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