The Muslim Compendium
2020
A Daily Introduction
to
Muslim History and Culture
*****
2020
{1441/1442 AH}
*****
January 1
{6 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
{6 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Wednesday
{yawm al-arbi‘a’ (the fourth day)}
*****
The Islamic Calendar
Part One
*****
The Islamic, Muslim, or Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days. The Islamic calendar is used in Muslim countries to determine the proper days of Islamic holidays and rituals, such as the annual period of fasting (Ramadan) and the proper time for the pilgrimage to Mecca (the hajj). In contemporary times, for the most part in the everyday life of Muslim countries, the Western or Gregorian calendar is used. Rents, wages, etc. are paid by the Gregorian calendar, which is also used for agriculture if no traditional solar calendars are used for this purpose like the Berber calendar or the Coptic calendar. This preference for the Gregorian calendar is because the Islamic calendar, being a lunar calendar, is not well suited for agricultural work.
*****
*****
January 2
{7 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
{7 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Thursday
{yawm al-khamis (the fifth day)}
*****
The Islamic Calendar
Part Two
*****
The Islamic calendar employs the Hijri year as its beginning year. The Hijri year (and the Hijri era) began in the Gregorian calendar year of 622 AD/CE. During that year, the Prophet Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to Yathrib (now Medina) and established the first Muslim community (ummah), an event commemorated as the Hijra. In the West, dates in the Hijri era are usually denoted AH. "AH" stands for the Latin words "Anno Hegirae" which mean "in the year of the Hijra". The usage of "AH" parallels to the Christian usage of "AD", the Common usage of "CE", and the Jewish usage of "AM". In English, years prior to the Hijra and the Hijri era are designated as "BH". "BH" stands for "Before the Hijra".
*****
*****
*****
The Months of the Islamic Calendar
*****
The months of the Islamic calendar consist of the following:
(1) Muharram
(2) Safar
(3) Rabi' al-Awwal
(4) Rabi' al-Thani
(5) Jumada al-Awwal
(6) Jumada al-Thani
(7) Rajab
(8) Sha'ban
(9) Ramadan
(10) Shawwal
(11) Dhu al-Qa'dah
(12) Dhu al-Hijjah
*****
January 3
{8 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
{8 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Friday
{yawm al-jum‘a (the day of congregation)}
*****
The Months of the Islamic Calendar
*****
The months of the Islamic calendar consist of the following:
(1) Muharram
(2) Safar
(3) Rabi' al-Awwal
(4) Rabi' al-Thani
(5) Jumada al-Awwal
(6) Jumada al-Thani
(7) Rajab
(8) Sha'ban
(9) Ramadan
(10) Shawwal
(11) Dhu al-Qa'dah
(12) Dhu al-Hijjah
*****
*****
January 4
{9 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
{9 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Saturday
{yawm al-sabt (the day of rest)}
*****
Muharram
Part One
*****
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Muharram is one of the four sacred months of the year. During the sacred month of Muharram, warfare is forbidden. Muharram is considered to be the second holiest month, after Ramadan. Since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian (Western) calendar.
*****
*****
*****
Muharram
Part Two
*****
The tenth day of Muharram is known as the Day of Ashura, part of the Mourning of Muharram for Shia Muslims and a day of fasting for Sunni Muslims. The practice of fasting during Ashura stems from the hadith that Musa (Moses) and his people obtained a victory over the Egyptian Pharaoh on the tenth day of Muharram. Accordingly, Muhammad asked Muslims to fast on this day and on the day prior, the Day of Tasu'a.
*****
*****
January 6
{11 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Monday
{yawm al-ithnayn (the second day)}
*****
Muharram
Part Three
*****
In the month of Muharram, Shia Muslims mourn the death of Husayn ibn 'Ali and his family. Husayn ibn 'Ali was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad who led a group of dissident Muslims in opposition to the Umayyad caliph Yazid I. Husayn, and 72 of his followers, were martyred at the Battle of Karbala in 61 AH (680 CE). On the tenth day of Muharram, Shia Muslims honor the martyrs of Karbala by prayer and abstinence from joyous events. Shia Muslims do not fast on the 10th of Muharram, but some will not eat or drink until zawal (afternoon) to show their sympathy with Husayn. In addition, there is an important ziyarat book, the Ziyarat Ashura about Husayn ibn 'Ali. In the Shia sect, it is popular to read this ziyarat (this supplication) on the day of Ashura.
*****
*****
January 7
{12 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Tuesday
{yawm al-thulatha' (the third day)}
*****
Safar
Part One
*****
Safar is the second month of the Islamic calendar. The Arabic word "safar" means "empty", corresponding to the pre-Islamic Arabian time period when people's houses were empty, as they were out gathering food. Safar also means "whistling of the wind", as this was likely a windy time of year. Most of the Islamic months are named according to the weather conditions of the time. However, since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the Islamic calendar months shift about 11 days every year, meaning that the season do not necessarily correspond to the name of the month.
*****
*****
January 8
{13 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
*****
Safar
Part Two
*****
In the month of Safar, Shia Muslims observe Arba'een.
Arba'een is a Shia Muslim religious observance that occurs forty days after the Day of Ashura. It commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed on the 10th day of the month of Muharram. Husayn and 72 of his companions were killed by the forces of the Umayyad caliph, Yazid I, at the Battle of Karbala in 61 AH (680 CE). Arba'een, or forty days, falls on the 20 Safar.
*****
*****
January 9
{14 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
In the month of Safar, Shia Muslims observe Arba'een. Arba'een, or forty days, is also the usual length of mourning after the death of a family member or loved one in many Muslim traditions. During the time of Arba'een, one of the largest pilgrimage gatherings on Earth occurs. Up to 20 million people go to the city of Karbala in Iraq to commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn.
*****
*****
January 10
{15 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
*****
Rabi' al-Awwal
Part One
*****
Rabi' al-Awwal is the third month in the Islamic calendar. During Rabi' al-Awwal, many Muslims celebrate Mawlid -- the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Although the exact date of the birth of Muhammad is unknown, Sunni Muslims believe the date of birth of Muhammad to have been on the twelfth day of Rabi' al-Awwal, whereas Shia Muslims believe him to have been born on the dawn of the seventeenth day of Rabi' al-Awwal. Muhammad himself never celebrated the Mawlid. Instead Muhammad encouraged Muslims to fast on Mondays of every week due to his birthday being on a Monday (yawm al-ithnayn). The "Rabi' al-Awwal" means "the first [month] or beginning of spring", referring to its position in the pre-Islamic Arabian calendar.
*****
*****
January 11
{16 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
*****
Rabi' al-Awwal
Part Two
*****
The word "Rabi'" means "spring" and the word "al-awwal" means "the first". Accordingly, "Rabi' al-Awwal" means "the first spring" in the Arabic language. The name "Rabi' al-Awwal" seems to have to do with the celebration events in the month as "spring" is both the end of darkness (and sadness) and the beginning of light (and happiness). The Arabic calendar being a lunar calendar, the month of Rabi' al-Awwal can be in any season, so the meaning cannot be related to the actual season of spring.
*****
*****
January 12
{17 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
*****
Rabi' al-Awwal
Part Three
*****
Although historians and scholars disagree on the exact date of Muhammad's birth, it is commonly celebrated on the 12th or 17th of Rabi' al-Awwal. The celebration of the Mawlid -- the day of the Prophet Muhammad's birth -- is done differently depending on the country. In some areas celebrations begin as early as the first of the month of Rabi' al-Awwal and can continue until the end of the month. Muslims generally put colored lights on roads, streets, and their homes and display green flags as well to celebrate. In many countries, a procession is also conducted on the 12th or 17th of Rabi' al-Awwal. On these occasions sweets and drinks are also distributed widely from home to home and to the general public. In some areas, Muslims also exchange gifts. The transition from darkness to light (from sadness to happiness), the celebrations, and the time of gift giving, has made Rabi' al-Awwal appear to be the month of blessings.
*****
*****
January 13
{18 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Monday
{yawm al-ithnayn (the second day)}
*****
Rabi' al-Thani
*****
Rabi' al-Thani is the fourth month in the Islamic calendar. It is also known as Rabi' al-Akhir. Two notable deaths occurred in the month of Rabi' al-Thani, Ahmad Sirhindi [27 Rabi' al-Thani] and Ibn 'Arabi [28 or 29 Rabi' al-Thani].
*****
*****
Ahmad Sirhindi
*****
One of the notable historical events that occurred in the month of Rabi' al-Thani is the death of Ahmad Sirhindi on 27 Rabi' al-Thani. Ahmad al-Faruqi al-Sirhindi (b. June 26, 1564, Sirhind, Punjab Region, Mughal India - d. December 10, 1624) was an Indian Islamic scholar, a Hanafi jurist, and a prominent member of the Naqshbandi Sufi order. Ahmad Sirhindi has been described as a Mujaddid, meaning "the reviver", for his work in rejuvenating Islam and opposing the dissident opinions prevalent in the time of the Mughal emperor Akbar.
*****
*****
Ibn 'Arabi
*****
Ibn 'Arabi
Andalusian Muslim Scholar, Mystic, Poet and Philosopher
b. July 26, 1165, Murcia, Taifa of Murcia (now Murcia, Spain)
d. November 16 [28 or 29 Rabi' al-Thani], 1240, District of Salihiyya at Jabal Qasiyun, Damascus, Ayyubid Dynasty (now Damascus, Syria)
*****
One of the other notable dates in the history of the month of Rabi' al-Thani was the death of Ibn 'Arabi on 28 or 29 of Rabi' al-Thani
Ibn 'Arabi (full name Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad ibn 'Ali ibn Muhammad ibn 'Arabi al-Hatimi at-Ta'i), was an Andalusian Muslim scholar, mystic, poet, and philosopher, whose works grew to be influential both in the Muslim world and beyond. Of the over 800 works which are attributed to him, 100 survive in the original manuscript. His cosmological teachings became the dominant worldview in many parts of the Islamic world.
*****
*****
January 14
{19 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Tuesday
{yawm al-thulatha' (the third day)}
*****
Jumada al-Awwal
*****
Jumada al-Awwal, also known as Jumada al-Ula, is the fifth month of the Islamic calendar. The month spans 29 or 30 days. In the year 2020, the month of Jumada al-Awwal appears twice, first in January as part of the Islamic calendar year of 1441 AH and then later in December as part of the Islamic calendar year of 1442 AH. It was in the month of Jumada al-Awwal that the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman sultan Mehmed II occurred {20 Jumada al-Awwal, 857 AH [May 29, 1453] }.
*****
*****
*****
The Fall of Constantinople
Part One
*****
The Fall of Constantinople was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire by an invading Ottoman army on May 29, 1453 (20 Jumada al-Awwal, 857 AH). The Ottoman attackers were commanded by the 21 year old Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II (Muhammad II), who defeated an army commanded by the Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos and took control of the imperial capital, ending a 53-day siege that began on April 6, 1453. After conquering the city, Sultan Mehmed transferred the capital of his Empire from Edirne to Constantinople and established his court there.
*****
*****
*****
The Fall of Constantinople
Part Two
*****
The capture of the city of Constantinople by the Ottoman forces led by Sultan Mehmed II on May 29, 1453 (20 Jumada al-Awwal, 857 AH) marked the end of the Byzantine Empire which itself was a continuation of the Roman Empire, an imperial state dating to 27 BCE which had lasted for nearly 1,500 years. The conquest of Constantinople also dealt a massive blow to Christendom, as the Muslim Ottoman armies thereafter were left unchecked to advance into Europe without an adversary to their rear. The Fall of Constantinople was a watershed moment in military history. Since ancient times, cities had used ramparts and city walls to protect themselves from invaders. Constantinople's substantial fortifications had been a model followed by cities throughout the Mediterranean region and Europe. The Ottomans ultimately prevailed due to the use of gunpowder which powered formidable cannons. The conquest of Constantinople and the end of the Byzantine Empire was a key event which marks, for many historians, the end of the Medieval period.
*****
Muharram
Part One
*****
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Muharram is one of the four sacred months of the year. During the sacred month of Muharram, warfare is forbidden. Muharram is considered to be the second holiest month, after Ramadan. Since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian (Western) calendar.
*****
*****
January 5
{10 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
{10 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Sunday
{yawm al-ahad (the first day)}
*****
Muharram
Part Two
*****
The tenth day of Muharram is known as the Day of Ashura, part of the Mourning of Muharram for Shia Muslims and a day of fasting for Sunni Muslims. The practice of fasting during Ashura stems from the hadith that Musa (Moses) and his people obtained a victory over the Egyptian Pharaoh on the tenth day of Muharram. Accordingly, Muhammad asked Muslims to fast on this day and on the day prior, the Day of Tasu'a.
*****
*****
January 6
{11 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Monday
{yawm al-ithnayn (the second day)}
*****
Muharram
Part Three
*****
In the month of Muharram, Shia Muslims mourn the death of Husayn ibn 'Ali and his family. Husayn ibn 'Ali was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad who led a group of dissident Muslims in opposition to the Umayyad caliph Yazid I. Husayn, and 72 of his followers, were martyred at the Battle of Karbala in 61 AH (680 CE). On the tenth day of Muharram, Shia Muslims honor the martyrs of Karbala by prayer and abstinence from joyous events. Shia Muslims do not fast on the 10th of Muharram, but some will not eat or drink until zawal (afternoon) to show their sympathy with Husayn. In addition, there is an important ziyarat book, the Ziyarat Ashura about Husayn ibn 'Ali. In the Shia sect, it is popular to read this ziyarat (this supplication) on the day of Ashura.
*****
January 7
{12 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Tuesday
{yawm al-thulatha' (the third day)}
*****
Safar
Part One
*****
Safar is the second month of the Islamic calendar. The Arabic word "safar" means "empty", corresponding to the pre-Islamic Arabian time period when people's houses were empty, as they were out gathering food. Safar also means "whistling of the wind", as this was likely a windy time of year. Most of the Islamic months are named according to the weather conditions of the time. However, since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the Islamic calendar months shift about 11 days every year, meaning that the season do not necessarily correspond to the name of the month.
*****
*****
January 8
{13 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Wednesday
{yawm al-arbi‘a’ (the fourth day)}
*****
Safar
Part Two
*****
In the month of Safar, Shia Muslims observe Arba'een.
Arba'een is a Shia Muslim religious observance that occurs forty days after the Day of Ashura. It commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed on the 10th day of the month of Muharram. Husayn and 72 of his companions were killed by the forces of the Umayyad caliph, Yazid I, at the Battle of Karbala in 61 AH (680 CE). Arba'een, or forty days, falls on the 20 Safar.
*****
*****
January 9
{14 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Thursday
{yawm al-khamis (the fifth day)}
*****
Safar
Part Three
*****
In the month of Safar, Shia Muslims observe Arba'een. Arba'een, or forty days, is also the usual length of mourning after the death of a family member or loved one in many Muslim traditions. During the time of Arba'een, one of the largest pilgrimage gatherings on Earth occurs. Up to 20 million people go to the city of Karbala in Iraq to commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn.
*****
*****
January 10
{15 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Friday
{yawm al-jum‘a (the day of congregation)}
*****
Rabi' al-Awwal
Part One
*****
Rabi' al-Awwal is the third month in the Islamic calendar. During Rabi' al-Awwal, many Muslims celebrate Mawlid -- the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Although the exact date of the birth of Muhammad is unknown, Sunni Muslims believe the date of birth of Muhammad to have been on the twelfth day of Rabi' al-Awwal, whereas Shia Muslims believe him to have been born on the dawn of the seventeenth day of Rabi' al-Awwal. Muhammad himself never celebrated the Mawlid. Instead Muhammad encouraged Muslims to fast on Mondays of every week due to his birthday being on a Monday (yawm al-ithnayn). The "Rabi' al-Awwal" means "the first [month] or beginning of spring", referring to its position in the pre-Islamic Arabian calendar.
*****
*****
January 11
{16 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Saturday
{yawm al-sabt (the day of rest)}
Rabi' al-Awwal
Part Two
*****
The word "Rabi'" means "spring" and the word "al-awwal" means "the first". Accordingly, "Rabi' al-Awwal" means "the first spring" in the Arabic language. The name "Rabi' al-Awwal" seems to have to do with the celebration events in the month as "spring" is both the end of darkness (and sadness) and the beginning of light (and happiness). The Arabic calendar being a lunar calendar, the month of Rabi' al-Awwal can be in any season, so the meaning cannot be related to the actual season of spring.
*****
*****
January 12
{17 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Sunday
{yawm al-ahad (the first day)}
*****
Rabi' al-Awwal
Part Three
*****
Although historians and scholars disagree on the exact date of Muhammad's birth, it is commonly celebrated on the 12th or 17th of Rabi' al-Awwal. The celebration of the Mawlid -- the day of the Prophet Muhammad's birth -- is done differently depending on the country. In some areas celebrations begin as early as the first of the month of Rabi' al-Awwal and can continue until the end of the month. Muslims generally put colored lights on roads, streets, and their homes and display green flags as well to celebrate. In many countries, a procession is also conducted on the 12th or 17th of Rabi' al-Awwal. On these occasions sweets and drinks are also distributed widely from home to home and to the general public. In some areas, Muslims also exchange gifts. The transition from darkness to light (from sadness to happiness), the celebrations, and the time of gift giving, has made Rabi' al-Awwal appear to be the month of blessings.
*****
*****
January 13
{18 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Monday
{yawm al-ithnayn (the second day)}
*****
Rabi' al-Thani
*****
Rabi' al-Thani is the fourth month in the Islamic calendar. It is also known as Rabi' al-Akhir. Two notable deaths occurred in the month of Rabi' al-Thani, Ahmad Sirhindi [27 Rabi' al-Thani] and Ibn 'Arabi [28 or 29 Rabi' al-Thani].
*****
*****
Ahmad Sirhindi
*****
One of the notable historical events that occurred in the month of Rabi' al-Thani is the death of Ahmad Sirhindi on 27 Rabi' al-Thani. Ahmad al-Faruqi al-Sirhindi (b. June 26, 1564, Sirhind, Punjab Region, Mughal India - d. December 10, 1624) was an Indian Islamic scholar, a Hanafi jurist, and a prominent member of the Naqshbandi Sufi order. Ahmad Sirhindi has been described as a Mujaddid, meaning "the reviver", for his work in rejuvenating Islam and opposing the dissident opinions prevalent in the time of the Mughal emperor Akbar.
*****
*****
Ibn 'Arabi
*****
Ibn 'Arabi
Andalusian Muslim Scholar, Mystic, Poet and Philosopher
b. July 26, 1165, Murcia, Taifa of Murcia (now Murcia, Spain)
d. November 16 [28 or 29 Rabi' al-Thani], 1240, District of Salihiyya at Jabal Qasiyun, Damascus, Ayyubid Dynasty (now Damascus, Syria)
*****
One of the other notable dates in the history of the month of Rabi' al-Thani was the death of Ibn 'Arabi on 28 or 29 of Rabi' al-Thani
Ibn 'Arabi (full name Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad ibn 'Ali ibn Muhammad ibn 'Arabi al-Hatimi at-Ta'i), was an Andalusian Muslim scholar, mystic, poet, and philosopher, whose works grew to be influential both in the Muslim world and beyond. Of the over 800 works which are attributed to him, 100 survive in the original manuscript. His cosmological teachings became the dominant worldview in many parts of the Islamic world.
*****
*****
January 14
{19 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Tuesday
{yawm al-thulatha' (the third day)}
Jumada al-Awwal
*****
Jumada al-Awwal, also known as Jumada al-Ula, is the fifth month of the Islamic calendar. The month spans 29 or 30 days. In the year 2020, the month of Jumada al-Awwal appears twice, first in January as part of the Islamic calendar year of 1441 AH and then later in December as part of the Islamic calendar year of 1442 AH. It was in the month of Jumada al-Awwal that the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman sultan Mehmed II occurred {20 Jumada al-Awwal, 857 AH [May 29, 1453] }.
*****
*****
January 15
{20 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
{20 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Wednesday
{yawm al-arbi‘a’ (the fourth day)}
*****
The Fall of Constantinople
Part One
*****
The Fall of Constantinople was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire by an invading Ottoman army on May 29, 1453 (20 Jumada al-Awwal, 857 AH). The Ottoman attackers were commanded by the 21 year old Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II (Muhammad II), who defeated an army commanded by the Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos and took control of the imperial capital, ending a 53-day siege that began on April 6, 1453. After conquering the city, Sultan Mehmed transferred the capital of his Empire from Edirne to Constantinople and established his court there.
*****
*****
January 16
{21 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
{21 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Thursday
{yawm al-khamis (the fifth day)}
*****
The Fall of Constantinople
Part Two
*****
The capture of the city of Constantinople by the Ottoman forces led by Sultan Mehmed II on May 29, 1453 (20 Jumada al-Awwal, 857 AH) marked the end of the Byzantine Empire which itself was a continuation of the Roman Empire, an imperial state dating to 27 BCE which had lasted for nearly 1,500 years. The conquest of Constantinople also dealt a massive blow to Christendom, as the Muslim Ottoman armies thereafter were left unchecked to advance into Europe without an adversary to their rear. The Fall of Constantinople was a watershed moment in military history. Since ancient times, cities had used ramparts and city walls to protect themselves from invaders. Constantinople's substantial fortifications had been a model followed by cities throughout the Mediterranean region and Europe. The Ottomans ultimately prevailed due to the use of gunpowder which powered formidable cannons. The conquest of Constantinople and the end of the Byzantine Empire was a key event which marks, for many historians, the end of the Medieval period.
*****
*****
January 17
{22 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
{22 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Friday
{yawm al-jum‘a (the day of congregation)}
*****
Muhammad Ali
*****
Muhammad Ali
2005 Presidential Medal of Freedom
1999 Time Magazine's List of 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century
1999 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Century
1999 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Sports Personality of the Century
Three-Time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
1960 Olympic Light-Heavyweight Gold Medal Boxing Champion
b. January 17, 1942, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
d. June 3, 2016, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
*****
Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., on January 17, 1942, was an American professional boxer, activist and philanthropist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", Muhammad Ali is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest boxers of all time.
*****
*****
January 18
{23 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
{23 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Saturday
{yawm al-sabt (the day of rest)}
*****
The Five Pillars of Islam
*****
The Five Pillars of Islam are:
(1) Shahada {The Muslim Statement of Faith}
(2) Salat {Daily Prayer}
(3) Zakat {Almsgiving}
(4) Sawm during Ramadan {The Month of Daytime Fasting}
(5) Hajj {The Pilgrimage to Mecca}
*****
January 19
{24 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
{24 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Sunday
{yawm al-ahad (the first day)}
*****
Shahada
*****
{lā ʾilāha ʾillā llāh muḥammadun rasūlu llāh}
*****
“There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah.”
or
“There is no God but God, and Muhammad is the Prophet of God.”
*****
The Shahada is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is the Muslim statement of faith, or the Islamic creed. The Shahada is a personal testimony of belief in the oneness of God (tawhid) and the acceptance of Muhammad as God’s prophet.
*****
January 20
{25 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Monday
{yawm al-ithnayn (the second day)}
*****
Salat
*****
Salat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Salat refers to the obligatory religious duty of every Muslim to pray five times daily. Salat is deemed to be a physical, mental, and spiritual act of worship. Salat is performed before dawn, at noon, at mid-afternoon, before sunset, and at mid-evening. The Friday midday prayer is performed in the mosque (jam‘i). This Friday salat is followed by the khutba – the sermon preached by the official preacher (the khatib) from the minbar (the high seat in the mosque).
*****
*****
January 21{26 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Tuesday
{yawm al-thulatha' (the third day)}
*****
Zakat
*****
Zakat
*****
Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Zakat is the Arabic term for almsgiving. Zakat (almsgiving) is treated in Islam as a religious obligation which, by Quranic ranking, is next after prayer in importance. Zakat is mandatory and is considered to be a tax. The payment of, and disputes on, zakat have played a major role in the history of Islam, most notable during the Ridda wars (the Wars of Apostasy) that occurred after Muhammad’s death in 632 CE.
*****
{27 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Wednesday
{yawm al-arbi‘a’ (the fourth day)}
*****
Sawm During Ramadan
Part One
*****
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm) to commemorate the first revelation of the Qur'an to Muhammad according to Islamic belief. This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
*****
*****
January 23
{28 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
{28 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Thursday
{yawm al-khamis (the fifth day)}
*****
Sawm During Ramadan
Part Two
*****
The word "Ramadan" comes from the Arabic root "ramida" or "ar-ramad", which means scorching heat or dryness. Fasting is fard (obligatory) for adult Muslims, except those who are suffering from an illness, travelling, are elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, chronically ill or menstruating. Fasting the month of Ramadan became obligatory (wajib) in the second year after the Muslims migrated from Mecca to Medina. Fatwas have been issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with a natural phenomenon such as the midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca, but the more commonly accepted opinion is that Muslims in those areas should follow the timetable of the closest country to them in which night can be distinguished from day.
*****
*****
The word "Ramadan" comes from the Arabic root "ramida" or "ar-ramad", which means scorching heat or dryness. Fasting is fard (obligatory) for adult Muslims, except those who are suffering from an illness, travelling, are elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, chronically ill or menstruating. Fasting the month of Ramadan became obligatory (wajib) in the second year after the Muslims migrated from Mecca to Medina. Fatwas have been issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with a natural phenomenon such as the midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca, but the more commonly accepted opinion is that Muslims in those areas should follow the timetable of the closest country to them in which night can be distinguished from day.
*****
*****
January 24
{29 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
{29 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Friday
{yawm al-jum‘a (the day of congregation)}
*****
Sawm During Ramadan
Part Three
*****
While fasting from dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations. Muslims are also instructed to refrain from sinful behavior that may negate the reward of fasting, such as false speech (insulting, backbiting, cursing, lying, etc.) and fighting except in self-defense. Pre-fast meals before dawn are referred to as "suhoor", while the post-fast feasts after sunset are called "iftar". Spiritual rewards (thawab) for fasting are also believed to be multiplied within the month of Ramadan. Fasting for Muslims during Ramadan typically includes the increased offering of salat (prayers), recitation of the Qur'an, and an increase in doing good deeds and charity.
*****
*****
*****
*****
January 25
{30 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
{30 Jumada al-Awwal, 1441 AH}
Saturday
{yawm al-sabt (the day of rest)}
*****
The Hajj
Part One
*****
Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. The Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims and must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support their family during their absence. Literally speaking, Hajj means heading to a place for the sake of visiting. In Islamic terminology, Hajj is a pilgrimage made to the Kaaba, the "House of God", in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
*****
*****The Hajj
Part One
*****
Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. The Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims and must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support their family during their absence. Literally speaking, Hajj means heading to a place for the sake of visiting. In Islamic terminology, Hajj is a pilgrimage made to the Kaaba, the "House of God", in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
*****
January 26
1 Jumada al-Thani, 1441 AH
Sunday
{yawm al-ahad (the first day)}
*****
The Hajj
Part Two
*****
The state of being physically and financially capable of performing the Hajj is called "istita'ah", and a Muslim who fulfills this condition is called a "mustati". The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to God (Allah). The word "Hajj" means "to attend a journey", which connotes both the outward act of a journey and the inward act of intentions. The rites of Hajj, which according to Islam go back to the time of the Prophet (the biblical) Abraham who re-built the Kaaba after it had been first built by the Prophet (the biblical) Adam, are performed over five or six days, beginning on the eighth and ending on the thirteenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. The Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, alongside Shahada, Salat, Zakat, and Sawm (the fasting during the month of Ramadan). The Hajj is the second largest annual gathering of Muslims in the world, after the Arba'een Pilgrimage in Karbala, Iraq.
*****
*****
January 27
2 Jumada al-Thani, 1441 AH
Monday
{yawm al-ithnayn (the second day)}
Jumada al-Thani
*****
Jumada al-Thani, also known as Jumaada al-Akhir or Jumada al-Akhira, is the sixth month of the Islamic calendar.
*****
*****
January 28
3 Jumada al-Thani, 1441 AH
Tuesday
{yawm al-thulatha' (the third day)}
*****
Fatima bint Muhammad
*****
Fatima bint Muhammad
Daughter of Muhammad
b. 615 CE {20 Jumada al-Thani, 5 AH}, Mecca
d. August 18, 632 {3 Jumada al-Thani, 11 AH}
*****
Fatima bint Muhammad was the youngest daughter and, according to Shia Muslims, the only child of the Prophet Muhammad and Khadijah who lived to adulthood and, therefore, the only child of Muhammad and Khadijah to become part of Muhammad's household. Fatima's husband was Ali, the last of the Rightly Guided (Rashidun) Caliphs. Her uncle included Hasan and Husayn, the second and third Shia imams, respectively. Fatima is the object of love and respect of Muslims, as she was the child closest to her father and supported him in his difficulties, was the supporter and loving caretaker of her own husband and children, and was the only child of Muhammad to have male children live beyond childhood, whose descendants are spread throughout the Islamic world and are known as Sayyids. The 11th century dynasty ruling Egypt at the time of the Crusades, the Fatimids claimed descent from her.
*****
January 29
4 Jumada al-Thani, 1441 AH
Wednesday
{yawm al-arbi‘a’ (the fourth day)}
*****
Mohammad Abdus Salam
*****
Mohammad Abdus Salam
1979 Nobel Prize in Physics
b. January 29, 1926, Jhang, Punjab, British India
d. November 21, 1996, Oxford, United Kingdom
*****
Mohammad Abdus Salam was a Pakistani physicist. The 1979 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded jointly to Sheldon Lee Glashow of the United States, Steven Weinberg of the United States, and Mohammad Abdus Salam of Pakistan "for their contributions to the theory of the unified weak and electromagnetic interaction between elementary particles, including, inter alia, the prediction of the weak neutral current." Mohammad Abdus Salam was the first Pakistani scientist to be awarded the Nobel Prize. He was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community and, as such, was not considered a Muslim by the government of Pakistan.
*****
'Ali ibn Abi Talib
Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad
Fourth Rashidun Caliph
First Shia Imam
b. September 15, 601 (13 Rajab, 21 BH), Ka'ban, Mecca, Hijaz, Arabian Peninsula
d. January 29, 661 (21 Ramadan, 40 AH), Kufa, Mesopotamia, Rashidun Empire
Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad
Fourth Rashidun Caliph
First Shia Imam
b. September 15, 601 (13 Rajab, 21 BH), Ka'ban, Mecca, Hijaz, Arabian Peninsula
d. January 29, 661 (21 Ramadan, 40 AH), Kufa, Mesopotamia, Rashidun Empire
*****
January 30
5 Jumada al-Thani, 1441 AH
'Ali ibn Abi Talib was the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. He ruled as the fourth caliph from 656 (35 AH) to 661 (40 AH), but is regarded as the rightful immediate successor to Muhammad as an Imam by Shia Muslims. 'Ali was the first male who accepted Islam and, arguably, the first Muslim. 'Ali protected Muhammad from an early age and took part in almost all the battles fought by the nascent Muslim community. After migrating to Medina, Ali married Muhammad's daughter Fatima. He was appointed caliph by Muhammad's companions in 656 (35 AH), after Caliph Uthman ibn Affan was assassinated. 'Ali's reign saw civil wars and, in 661 (40 AH), he was attacked and assassinated by a Kharijite while he was praying in the Great Mosque of Kufa.
*****
*****
January 31
6 Jumada al-Thani, 1441 AH
'Ali ibn Abi Talib
Part Two
*****
'Ali ibn Abi Talib is important to both Shias and Sunnis, politically and spiritually. The numerous biographical sources about 'Ali agree that he was a pious Muslim, devoted to the cause of Islam and a just ruler in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah. While Sunnis consider 'Ali the fourth and final of the Rashidun (rightly guided) caliphs. Shia Muslims regard 'Ali as the first Imam after Muhammad. Shia Muslims also believe that 'Ali and the other Shia imams (all of whom are of the household of Muhammad) are the rightful successors to Muhammad. It was this disagreement that split the umma into Shia and Sunni branches.
*****
January 30
5 Jumada al-Thani, 1441 AH
Thursday
{yawm al-khamis (the fifth day)}
*****
'Ali ibn Abi Talib
Part One
*****
'Ali ibn Abi Talib
Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad
Fourth Rashidun Caliph
First Shia Imam
b. September 15, 601 (13 Rajab, 21 BH), Ka'ban, Mecca, Hijaz, Arabian Peninsula
d. January 29, 661 (21 Ramadan, 40 AH), Kufa, Mesopotamia, Rashidun Empire
*****
*****
'Ali ibn Abi Talib
Part One
*****
'Ali ibn Abi Talib
Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad
Fourth Rashidun Caliph
First Shia Imam
b. September 15, 601 (13 Rajab, 21 BH), Ka'ban, Mecca, Hijaz, Arabian Peninsula
d. January 29, 661 (21 Ramadan, 40 AH), Kufa, Mesopotamia, Rashidun Empire
*****
'Ali ibn Abi Talib was the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. He ruled as the fourth caliph from 656 (35 AH) to 661 (40 AH), but is regarded as the rightful immediate successor to Muhammad as an Imam by Shia Muslims. 'Ali was the first male who accepted Islam and, arguably, the first Muslim. 'Ali protected Muhammad from an early age and took part in almost all the battles fought by the nascent Muslim community. After migrating to Medina, Ali married Muhammad's daughter Fatima. He was appointed caliph by Muhammad's companions in 656 (35 AH), after Caliph Uthman ibn Affan was assassinated. 'Ali's reign saw civil wars and, in 661 (40 AH), he was attacked and assassinated by a Kharijite while he was praying in the Great Mosque of Kufa.
*****
*****
January 31
6 Jumada al-Thani, 1441 AH
Friday
{yawm al-jum‘a (the day of congregation)}
*****'Ali ibn Abi Talib
Part Two
*****
'Ali ibn Abi Talib is important to both Shias and Sunnis, politically and spiritually. The numerous biographical sources about 'Ali agree that he was a pious Muslim, devoted to the cause of Islam and a just ruler in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah. While Sunnis consider 'Ali the fourth and final of the Rashidun (rightly guided) caliphs. Shia Muslims regard 'Ali as the first Imam after Muhammad. Shia Muslims also believe that 'Ali and the other Shia imams (all of whom are of the household of Muhammad) are the rightful successors to Muhammad. It was this disagreement that split the umma into Shia and Sunni branches.
*****
*****
No comments:
Post a Comment