About Islamic Holidays 

Introduction

The topic of holidays is likely one of great sentimental value to converts. After all, many fond family memories are likely linked to holidays, holidays may be the exclusive trigger for large family gatherings, holiday traditions may have been passed on for generations, and some people may feel sorrow or loneliness extracting certain activities or decorations from certain times of the year. Converts may wonder, “What ‘new’ holidays will I celebrate as a Muslim?”, “Can I still celebrate religious holidays such as Christmas since Muslims also believe in Jesus?”, and “Can I celebrate non-religious holidays like Thanksgiving with my family?”

There are differing opinions regarding the celebration of holidays beyond the two holidays noted below (Eid al-fitr (عيد الفطر) and Eid al-adha (عيد الاضحى)). Converts need to become educated about Islamic text and scholar positions regarding holidays, and then form a sincere conclusion in what one believes in and what will be ‘celebrated’ in what manner. The information below is intended to be straightforward and unbiased and present the differing positions on this topic. 

Islamic text and scholar positions regarding holidays

There is no content in the Qur'ân explicitly listing any dates or milestones as holidays. In addition, there is no hadith (حديث, reports of sayings, doings, or contentions of the Prophet Mohammad, PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) within the collections of Bukhari or Muslim that provides guidance on holidays (note that the standard approach for this website is to only include verses from the Qur'ân and ahadith ( أحاديث, plural of hadith) from within the collections of Bukhari or Muslim). However, we feel obligated to note that ahadith regarding holidays exists within other hadith collections, and the hadith is widely followed by Muslims and strongly regarded by most scholars. Among the reputable hadith within other collections is the following:
“When the Apostle of Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) came to Medina, the people had two days on which they engaged in games. He (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked: What are these two days (what is the significance)? They said: We used to engage ourselves on them in the pre-Islamic period. The Apostle of Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) said: Allâh (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) has substituted for them something better than them, the day of sacrifice and the day of the breaking of the fast.”  (Reference: Hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik in Abu Dawud collection, Book 3 #1130.)
This hadith prescribes Muslims celebrate 2 milestones as holidays: Eid al-fitr (عيد الفطر) and Eid al-adha (عيد الاضحى). Eid al-fitr is a holiday marking the end of Ramadhan (for more information about Eid al-fitr, please visit this page). Eid al-adha overlaps with the annual time of pilgrimage (hajj), and commemorates the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to follow Allâh's (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) command to sacrifice his son Ishmael. Note that this story is also found in the Jewish Torah and the Christian Old Testament (Genesis 22). 

Muslims generally do not celebrate any milestones in addition to Eid al-fitr and Eid al-adha as ‘holidays’, such as the birthday or death of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم), or any other prophet’s birthday or death, or any other Christian or Jewish holidays (e.g., Easter or Christmas), however there are some countries comprised primarily of Muslims that mark certain Islamic dates as holidays and offer parades to celebrate the event.

There are mixed opinions among scholars regarding ‘celebrating’ any additional Islamic milestones, any other national holidays, or birthdays in general. Some scholars explicitly state that celebrating any additional days besides Eid al-fitr or Eid al-adha as holidays is haram and bidah (بدعة, innovation in worship) because the Prophet (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not celebrate additional days; some scholars recommend considering several factors (such as whether the date/holiday is a milestone exclusive to other religions, and whether one will be conducting activities that are exclusive traditions of other faiths) when determining whether Muslims should observe additional holidays. Suhaib Webb explains:
With regards to the statement [of the Prophet (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم)] that “Allah [The Exalted] (SWT, سبحانه وتعالى) has given you better than those (feasts): Eid al-Adha(Sacrificing) and the ‘Eid al-Fitr”, then “those feasts” were those with strict religious over tones: one a Christian holiday and the other a pagan one. 

In addition, the Prophet (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) mentioned that the Islamic holidays were two: ‘Eid al-Fitr and ‘Eid al-Adha. But it is not understood from this that he (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade people from gathering and celebrating [other non-religious occasions]. Even if a person considered [such gatherings] disliked there is no need for him to bother others by making things difficult that were not prohibited by the Qur'ân, the Sunna, the consensus [of the scholars] and where no agreement was reached within the schools of Islamic law.

This is because ease in matters [such as these where there is no prohibition and the origin is that of permissibility] is a must, and those statements that create hardship and burden [related to such matters], that are not based on explicit texts [that prohibit them], are weak. Thus, there is nothing that prohibits us from facilitating such matters for the people and giving them some breathing room because ease and facilitation are from the foundations of Islam: Allah says, “And He did not make any hardship for you in religion.” (Reference: Qur'ân Surah al-Hajj 22:78) and “Allah wants to lighten your burdens.” (Reference: Qur'ân Surah al-Nisa 4:28) and “Verily, with hardship there is ease. Verily with hardship there is ease.” (Reference:Qur'ân Surah al-Sharh 94:5-6)..."
Reference: Suhaib Webb webpage "Holidays Free of Religious Overtones"
Additional commentary reading regarding the permissibility of Muslims to celebrate additional days:


About the Islamic Calendar

The Islamic (Hijri) calendar is a lunar calendar first introduced in 638 CE. The calendar is comprised of 12 lunar months, meaning it is based on the motion of the moon. With 12 months x 29.53 days per month, the lunar calendar is 354.36 days, making the Islamic calendar 11 days shorter than a solar year and the Gregorian calendar.

For more information regarding the Islamic months and special days within each month, please visit the Inter-Islam website.