FEASTS
AND FASTS OF ISLAM
Ramadan
Ramadan, referred to before, is the most holy fast of Islam. During the
holy month of Ramadan, faithful Muslims fast from both food and sex every day
during daylight hours. The fast is meant to develop self-control, devotion to
God, and identification with the destitute. However, some Muslims gorge
themselves so much after dark each evening that the "fast" often seems
more like a feast. Ramadan marks the anniversary of the first month of the first
year on the Muslim calendar, which was adopted in a.d.
622.
'Idu'1-Fitr
(Breaking the Fast)
The "Feast of the Breaking of the Fast" is the first day after
Ramadan when food is eaten during daylight hours. On that day Muslims give alms
before saying their prayers in the mosque. After hearing the sermon, the people
mingle, visit, and enjoy a festive meal.
El-Dahiya
(Feast of Sacrifice)
The Feast of Sacrifice is the most important feast of the whole year. The
pre-Islamic Arabs, interestingly enough, offered similar animal sacrifices as
part of the concluding ceremonies to their own pilgrimages to the Ka'bah in
Mecca. Muhammad simply adapted their practice to his religion and called it
El-Dahiya.
The
feast is said to be in memory of Abraham attempting to sacrifice Ishmael (not
Isaac) when Gabriel substituted a ram for the lad. It is considered highly
meritorious to sacrifice one animal for each member of the family. But since
this would involve an expenditure which few could bear, it is allowable to
sacrifice one animal for the entire household.