Calendar of Islamic festivals, Holy Days and Significant Events
All dates are subject to change according to the sighting of the moon
Sunday 9th April 2017: Laylatul Mi’raj – The Night of the Ascension. (12th of Rajab)
It is generally believed that the Prophet Mohammad’s (peace and blessings be upon him) miraculous
journey from Makkah, the holiest site of Islam to Jerusalem, the third holiest site of Islam and then
to the heavens took place on this night; the 27th of the month of Rajab. There are no specific rituals
to commemorate the occasion.
Thursday 11th May 2017: Laylatul Bara’ah – The Night of Salvation. (15th Sha`ban)
Many Muslims, not all, regard this night to have great merit and reward, thus spend the night in
prayer and supplication. Some may also fast the following day.
Saturday 27th May 2017: Start of Ramadhan-The Holy Month of Fasting.
Ramadhan is the holiest month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims fast from dawn till dusk throughout
the entire month by refraining from eating, drinking and copulation. During the nights of this month,
Muslims attend special night prayers at the Mosque. Some Muslims will perform spiritual seclusion,
known as I’tikaaf, in the Mosque throughout the final ten days of this sacred month. The odd nights
of the last ten nights are the holiest nights of the entire month.
Wednesday 27th June 2017: Laylatul Qadr – The Night of Power. (night of 27th Ramadhan)
One of the odd nights of the last ten nights is believed to be Laylatul Qadr. This could be any one of
the odd nights. Many Muslims believe the 27th night of Ramadhan has the highest probability of
being Laylatul-Qadr. This night is the most virtuous night of the year as worship and devotion in this
single night is better than one thousand months. The holy Quran was also revealed in this night.
Hence Muslims will try to spend the entire night in prayer, supplication and Qur’anic recitation.
Saturday 24th June 2017: Laylatul Jai’zah – The Night of Reward.
The night preceeding the day of Eid-ul-Fitr is the night in which Allah rewards immensely those who
worship Him during this night and grants them salvation and reward for their fasting throughout the
month of Ramadhan.
Sunday 25th June 2017: Eid-ul-Fitr (1st of Shawwal)-The Celebration of the Breaking of
the Fast.
This is the 1st of the two Islamic annual festivals. This festival is to mark the achievement of
accomplishing the fasts of the month of Ramadhan. Muslims start the day by making a special
donation, known as Sadaqatul-Fitr, to those in the society who are in need so that they may also
join in the celebrations and enjoy the festivals. There are specific congregational prayers in the
morning at the Mosque or on an open field that many may join in together. These prayers are
attended by Muslims in order to receive divine blessings as they start the day of celebrations.
Wednesday 23rd August 2017: (1st Dhul hijjah)
The First of the Virtuous Ten Days of the Month of Zul-Hijjah.
This month takes its name after the great pilgrimage that occurs during it. The first ten days of this
month are regarded as sacred and virtuous as the Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessing be upon
him) encouraged good actions and righteous deeds to be carried out in these specific ten days. Some
Muslims may also fast during the first nine days of this month.
Thursday 31st August 2017: Yawmul Arafah – the Day of Arafah.
This is the most important day for those performing the pilgrimage (Hajj).
Many Muslims around the world will observe a fast on this day.
Friday 1st September 2017: Eid-ul-Adha – The Feast of Sacrifice (10th Dhul hijjah)
This is a celebration which marks the end of the main rituals of the Hajj (pilgrimage). It is also a
commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Isma’eel, in Mina, which is on
the outskirts of the holy city of Makkah. Muslims remind themselves of their own willingness to
sacrifice anything to Allah’s (god’s) will. During this festival, Muslims (who can afford to) will sacrifice
an animal and feed the poor as a symbol of Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice.
Thursday 21st September 2017: Islamic New Year – The 1st of Muharram.
The Islamic Calendar starts from the event of the migration of the Prophet Mohammad (peace and
blessing be upon him) from the holy city of Makkah to Madinah in 622CE. This is known as the Hijrah
in Arabic, thus the Islamic Calendar is referred to as the Hijri Calendar and Muslim dates have the
suffix A.H (After Hijrah). There is no specific ritual required on this day, but many Muslims will fast
voluntarily on various days of this month for blessings. Muslims will generally contemplate upon the
meaning of the Hijrah and its affects and the willingness to give things up as part of their devotion
towards their religion.
Saturday 30th September 2017: Ashurah – The 10th of Muharram.
Although the entire month is sanctified, the 10th day is the most sacred amongst the days of this
month as it marks the victory of the Prophet Moses (Musa) over the Pharaoh of Egypt. Majority of
the Muslims have observed fasting on this day since the time of the Prophet Mohammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) as he also fasted on this day. The Prophet Moses also fasted to give thanks to
Allah on this day for his victory, thus to commemorate and offer their own thanks to Allah, Muslims
fast on this day.
Shia Muslim communities commemorate the martyrdom of Hussain, on this day, the grandson the
Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him), in 680CE and thus observe this day as a day
of mourning.
18th November 2017: Rabi-ul-Awaal – the Month of the Birth of the Prophet Mohammad
(peace and blessings be upon him).
The Muslim community reflects on the life and character of the Prophet Mohammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) in this month by organising lectures, speeches, seminars and conferences.
The majority of the Muslim community do not celebrate the actual birthday or commemorate the
anniversary of the Prophet Mohammad’s (peace and blessings be upon him) death as they feel that
there is no religious or historical evidence that the Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be
upon him) or his companions or the Muslims of the early centuries held such celebrations or rituals
to commemorate such days.
Thursday 30th November 2017: 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal. The Day of the Prophet’s
(PBUH) Birth
Many Muslims do commemorate the birth of the Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon
him), on this particular day of the month of Rabi ul Awwal.
Thursday 29th March 2018: Laylatul Mi’raj – The Night of the Ascension. (12th of Rajab)
It is generally believed that the Prophet Mohammad’s (peace and blessings be upon him) miraculous
journey from Makkah, the holiest site of Islam to Jerusalem, the third holiest site of Islam and then
to the heavens took place on this night; the 27th of the month of Rajab. There are no specific rituals
to commemorate the occasion.
Tuesday 1st May 2018: Laylatul Bara’ah – The Night of Salvation. (15th Sha`ban)
Many Muslims, not all, regard this night to have great merit and reward, thus spend the night in
prayer and supplication. Some may also fast the following day.
Wednesday 16th May 2018: Start of Ramadhan-The Holy Month of Fasting.
Ramadhan is the holiest month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims fast from dawn till dusk throughout
the entire month by refraining from eating, drinking and copulation. During the nights of this month,
Muslims attend special night prayers at the Mosque. Some Muslims will perform spiritual seclusion,
known as I’tikaaf, in the Mosque throughout the final ten days of this sacred month. The odd nights
of the last ten nights are the holiest nights of the entire month.
Monday 11th June 2018: Laylatul Qadr – The Night of Power. (night of 27th Ramadhan)
One of the odd nights of the last ten nights is believed to be Laylatul Qadr. This could be any one of
the odd nights. Many Muslims believe the 27th night of Ramadhan has the highest probability of
being Laylatul-Qadr. This night is the most virtuous night of the year as worship and devotion in this
single night is better than one thousand months. The holy Quran was also revealed in this night.
Hence Muslims will try to spend the entire night in prayer, supplication and Qur’anic recitation.
Thursday 14th June 2018: Laylatul Jai’zah – The Night of Reward.
The night preceeding the day of Eid-ul-Fitr is the night in which Allah rewards immensely those who
worship Him during this night and grants them salvation and reward for their fasting throughout the
month of Ramadhan.
Friday 15th June 2018: Eid-ul-Fitr (1st of Shawwal)-The Celebration of the Breaking of
the Fast.
This is the 1st of the two Islamic annual festivals. This festival is to mark the achievement of
accomplishing the fasts of the month of Ramadhan. Muslims start the day by making a special
donation, known as Sadaqatul-Fitr, to those in the society who are in need so that they may also
join in the celebrations and enjoy the festivals. There are specific congregational prayers in the
morning at the Mosque or on an open field that many may join in together. These prayers are
attended by Muslims in order to receive divine blessings as they start the day of celebrations.