List of observances set by the Islamic calendar explained

All Islamic observances begin at the sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in question unless otherwise noted.

Holidays for 1441 (2019-2020)

width=20%Date on Islamic Calendarwidth=20%Gregorian datewidth=25%Name width=45%Notes
MuharramAugust 30 - September 29, 2019Muharram (alternative spellings here)1st Month of the Islamic calendar, can be either 29 or 30 days.
1 Muharram August 31, 2019Islamic New Year
1-10 MuharramAugust 31-September 9, 2019Bibi-Ka-Alamevent held in Hyderabad, India
2 Muharram September 1, 2019Shia day of Mourning: Arrival of Imam Hussain in Karbalā, 61 A.H.
3 MuharramSeptember 2, 2019Shia day of Mourning: Water supply to Imam Husain & his companions was stopped in Karbalā
6 Muharram September 5, 2019Mourning of MuharramSee Hosay and Tabuik
7 Muharram September 6, 2019Shia day of Mourning: Stored water in the tents runs out
9 Muhurram September 8, 2019Day of Tasu'aSee also Chehel Minbari (Shia Muslims, Lorestan Province, Iran)
10 MuharramSeptember 9, 2019Day of AshuraFor Sunnis, the crossing of the Red Sea by Moses occurred on this day. For both Shias and Sunnis, the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, and his followers.
12 MuharramSeptember 11, 20193rd day of Ashura
17 Muharram September 16, 2019Shia day of Remembrance: Aam-ul-feelAbraha attacked on Ka'aba
18 Muharram September 17, 2019
20 Muharram September 19, 2019
25 Muharram September 24, 2019
30 MuharramSeptember 29, 2019Note: Observed next day in years in which Muharram has only 29 days
September 30 - October 28, 20192nd Month of the Islamic Calendar
1 SafarSeptember 30, 2019
7 SafarOctober 6, 2019
10 SafarOctober 9, 2019Multiple Shia days of remembrance
12 SafarOctober 11, 2019Shia day of remembrance: Birth of Janab-e-Salman-e-Farsi
17 SafarOctober 18, 2019Shia day of remembrance:Martyrdom of Imam Ali Reza, 203 A.H.According to some scholars 29 Safar or 23rd Dhu al-Qi'dah
20 Safar October 19, 2019Arba'een
28 Safar October 27, 2019Shia Day of mourning: Demise of Muhammad and Imam Hassan (Mujtaba)Public holiday in Iran According to some scholars 17 Safar or 23rd Zul'Hijjah
29 SafarOctober 28, 2019Martyrdom of Imam RezaPublic holiday in Iran
October 29-November 27, 20193rd month on Islamic calendar, can have 30 days some years
1 Rabi' al-awwalOctober 29, 2019Shia day of Remembrance: Hijrat (migration) of Muhammad
5 Rabi' al-awwalNovember 2, 2019Shia day of Remembrance: Wafat of Janab-e-Masooma-e-Qum
8 Rabi' al-awwalNovember 5, 2019Shia day of Remembrance: Martyrdom of Imam Hasan Askari, 260 A.H.
November 6, 2019Eid-e-Shuja'Observed by most Twelver Shi‘a Muslims
November 6, 2019
November 9, 2019MawlidSunni only, Shia celebrate on Rabi' al-awwal 17
14 Rabi' al-AwwalNovember 11, 2019Shia day of Remembrance: Yazid was killed
15 Rabi' al-Awwal November 12, 2019Shia day of Remembrance: First mosque (Quba Mosque) was established, 1 A.H
17 Rabi' al-awwalNovember 14, 2019MawlidShia sect date. Sunnis celebrate on 12th. Public holiday in Iran
17 Rabi' al-awwalNovember 14, 2019Shia day of Celebration: Birth of Imam Jafar-as-Sadiq, 83 A.H.
18 Rabi' al-awwalNovember 15, 2019Shia day of Remembrance: Birth of Janab-e-Umm-e-Kulsum Bint-e-Ali
Rabi' al-thani (29 days), also called Rabī` al-ĀkhirNovember 28-December 26, 20194th month of the Islamic calendar
November 28, 2019
December 5, 2019Shia day of Mourning: Martyrdom of Imam Hasan Askari, 260 A.H.Commemorated by Chup Tazia
December 11, 2019Urs of Abdul-Qadir Gilani
Jumada al-awwal (29–30 days) (also called Jumada I Jumada al-Ula or Jumadil Awwal)December 27, 2019 - January 25, 20195th Month of the Islamic calendar
1 Jumada al-awwalDecember 27, 2019 Shia day of Remembrance: Death of Harun Rashid
10 Jumada al-awwalJanuary 5, 2020
14 Jumada al-awwalJanuary 9, 2020Shia day of Mourning: Martyrdom of Janab-e-Fatima-az-Zahra, 11 A.HAccording to some scholars on 13th of same month or 3rd Jamadi-ul-Aakhir
15 Jumada al-awwalJanuary 10, 2020Shia day of Celebration:Birth of Imam Zain-ul-Abideen, 37 A.H.According to some scholars on 15th of Jamadi-ul-Aakhir or 5th Shabaan
Jumada al-thani (1-29) (also called Jamaad-ath-Thaanee, Jumaada al-Akhir, Jumada al-Akhira)January 26-February 24, 20206th month of the Islamic calendar
January 28, 2019Martyrdom of Fatima (Iran)
13 Jumada al-thaniFebruary 7, 2019Shia day of Remembrance:Death of Umm ul-Banin (mother of Abbas ibn Ali)
February 14, 2019Shia day of Celebration: Birth of Janab-e-Fatima-az-Zahra, 8 B.H./Mother's Day in Iran
February 20, 2019Shia day of Mourning: Martyrdom of Imam Ali NaqiAccording to some scholars on 3rd of Rajab
RajabFebruary 25 - March 24, 20207th Month of the Islamic calendar
1 RajabFebruary 25, 2020Shia day of Celebration:Birth of Imam Mohammed Baqir, 57 A.H.
6 RajabMarch 1, 2020Urs of Moinuddin Chishti. (Sunni)
7 RajabMarch 2, 2020Shia day of Celebration: Birth of Abbas, 36 A.H.According to some scholars on 4th Shabaan
9 RajabMarch 6,

2020


Shia day of Celebration:

Birth of Janab E Ali Asghar

10 RajabMarch 7, 2020Shia day of Celebration: Birth of Imam Mohammad Taqi, 195 A.H.
13 RajabMarch 10, 2020Shia day of Celebration: Birth of Imam AliPublic holiday in Iran
13 Rajab March 8, 2020Father's Day in Iran, Mauritania Somalia, and Sudan
15 RajabMarch 10, 2020Shia day of Mourning: Martyrdom of Imam Jafar-as-Sadiq
18 RajabMarch 13, 2020Shia day of Remembrance: Wafat Ibrahim
20 RajabMarch 15, 2020Shia day of Celebration:Birth of Janab-e-Sakina
22 RajabMarch 17, 2020Shia day of Celebration: Niyaz/Nazr of Imam Jafar-as-Sadiq
24 RajabMarch 19, 2020Shia day of Remembrance: Birth of Janab-e-Ali-Asgar
25 RajabMarch 20, 2020Shia day of Mourning: Martyrdom of Imam Musa-e-Kazim
26 RajabMarch 21, 2020Shia day of Remembrance: Wafat of Abu Talib
27 RajabMarch 22, 2020Lailat al-Mi'rajPublic holiday in Iran
28 RajabMarch 23, 2020Shia day of Mourning: Imam Husayn ibn ‘Alī started his journey to Karbalā from Medina, 60 A.H.
Sha'banMarch 25 - April 23, 20208th Month of the Islamic calendar
15 Sha'ban April 8, 2020 Public holiday in Iran, Gargee'an
Ramadan (calendar month) (also called Ramadhan)April 24 - May 23, 20209th month of the Islamic calendar
1 RamadanApril 24, 2020First day of RamadanPublic holiday in Malaysia
14 RamadanMay 7, 2020Garangao
15 RamadanMay 8, 2020Gargee'an
17 RamadanMay 10, 2020Day of Nuzul Al-QuranPublic holiday in Malaysia, this date is also celebrated in Indonesia. See also 22 Ramadan for alternative date.
19 RamadanMay 12, 2020One of three dates used by Shia Muslims for Laylat al-QadrSee notes for 23 Ramadan
20 RamadanMay 13, 2020Conquest of MeccaShia day of remembrance
21 RamadanMay 14, 2020Martyrdom of Imam Ali, also one of the dates used by Sunnis for Laylat al-Qadr, see 27 Ramadan entry.Public holiday in Iran, Azadari in Lucknow, see entry for 23 Ramadan.
22 RamadanMay 15, 2020Shia Day of Remembrance: Nuzool QuranShia sect only, day is celebrated 17 Ramadan in Indonesia and Malaysia
23 RamadanMay 16, 2020Laylat al-Qadr, Shia DateMost Shia traditions celebrate on this date, they believe that is Laylat al-Qadr is to be found in the last ten odd nights of Ramadan but mostly on the 19th, 21st or 23rd of Ramadan with 23rd being the most important night. The 19th, according to the Shia belief coincides with the night Ali was attacked in the Mihrab while worshipping in the Great Mosque of Kufa, and died on the 21st of Ramadan. Shia Muslims regard these three nights as greatly rewarding. Sunnis also use this date as one of the Laylat al-Qadr days, see 27 Ramadan entry.
25 RamadanMay 18, 2020 One of the dates of Laylat al-Qadr in Sunni traditionSee notes for 27 Ramadan.
27 RamadanMay 20, 2020Laylat al-Qadr, Sunni Date
Last Friday of the month of RamadanMay 22, 2020Jumu'atul-Wida/Quds Day
29 RamadanMay 22, 2020One of the dates of Laylat al-Qadr in Sunni traditionSee entry for 27 Ramadan
29-30 Ramadan (Ramadan is 30 days during some years)May 22-23, 2020Chaand Raat
ShawwalMay 24-June 21, 202010th month of the Islamic calendar
1-2 ShawwalMay 24-25, 2020Eid al-FitrChaand Raat, Durbar festival, Lebaran
2 ShawwalMay 25, 2020Shia Day of Remembrance: Battle of the Trench (Khandak)
8 ShawwalMay 31, 2020Day of Sorrow
9 ShawwalJune 1, 2020Shia Day of Remembrance: Janab-e-Khadijat-ul-Kubra married to Muhammed
10 ShawwalJune 2, 2020Shia Day of Remembrance: Ghaibat-e-Kubra-e-Imam-e-Zaman
15 ShawwalJune 7, 2020Shia Day of Remembrance: Shahadat of Hamzah in Battle of Uhud, 3 A.H.
25 ShawwalJune 17, 2020Martyrdom of Imam JafarPublic holiday in Iran
29 ShawwalJune 21, 2020Shia Day of Remembrance: Birth of Abu Talib
Dhu al-Qi'dah (also called Dhu'l-Qa'dah, or Zulqida)June 22 - July 21, 202011th month of the Islamic calendar
1 Dhu al-Qi'dahJune 22, 2020
6 Dhu al-Qi'dahJune 27, 2020
11 Dhu al-Qi'dahJuly 2, 2020
25 Dhu al-Qi'dahJuly 16, 2020
29 Dhu al-Qi'dahJuly 20, 2020
Dhu al-Hijjah (also Dh-ul-Hajja, Zulhijja or Zil-Hajj)July 22-August 19, 202012th month of the Islamic calendar
1 Dhu al-HijjahJuly 22, 2020
July 22-July 30, 2020Fasting days
1-10 Dhu al-Hijjah July 22 - July 31, 2020Nights for standing (Qiyaam) in Tahajjud
3 Dhu al-Hijjah July 24, 2020Shia Day of Remembrance: Renunciation of Adam accepted
7 Dhu al-Hijjah July 28, 2020Shia Day of Mourning: Martyrdom of Imam Mohammad Baqir
8 Dhu al-Hijjah July 29, 2020
8–13 Dhu al-HijjahJuly 29 - August 3, 2020Hajj
9 Dhū al-ḤijjahJuly 30, 2020Day of Arafah/Shia Day of Mourning: Martyrdom of Janab-e-Muslim ibn Aqil & Hani ibn Urwah in Kufa
9-13 Dhu al-HijjahJuly 30 - August 3, 2020Takbirut Tashreeq
10-13 Dhu al-HijjahJuly 31 - August 3, 2020Eid al-AdhaDurbar festival
15 Dhu al-HijjahAugust 5, 2020Shia Day of Celebration: Birth of Imam Ali Naqi
16 Dhu al-HijjahAugust 6, 2020Shia Day of Mourning: Wafat of Janab-e-Zainab
18 Dhu al-HijjahAugust 8, 2020Shia sect only, public holiday in Iran
19 Dhu al-HijjahAugust 9, 2020Shia Day of Remembrance: Sayeda Fatima went to Ali's house after their marriage
23 Dhu al-HijjahAugust 13, 2020Shia Day of Remembrance: Martyrdom of Farzand-e-Muslim
24 Dhu al-HijjahAugust 14, 2020
27 Dhu al-HijjahAugust 17, 2020Shia Day of Remembrance: Wafat of Janab-e-Meesum-e-Tammaa

See also

External links