Ashuraa Celebrated on the tenth day of Muharram, this day commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and his followers in 663 A.D. Ashuraa is observed with special diligence by the Shi'a sect of Islam, which is predominant in Iran and parts of Iraq. Large processions are formed, and participants display banners and models of the mausoleum of Imam Hussain. It is customary for the Shi'a community to offer milk drinks, known as sharbat (the origin of the English word sherbet), free of charge on this day.

Eid Milad-un-Nabi Celebrated on the twelfth day of the month Rabee-ul-Awwal, this feast commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, venerated by Muslims as the "Seal of the Prophets." Public meetings are held in mosques, where speeches are delivered on different aspects of the Prophet's life and character. Devout Muslims also give large sums of money to charity, and meals of meat and rice are distributed free to the poor. Despite the peerless admiration in which the Prophet is regarded by Muslims, this festival is not an occasion of total joy, because it also marks the date of his death.

Shab-e-Miraj "The Night of the Ascent," commemorating the occasion when the Prophet Muhammad was taken into heaven and granted a vision of the divine resplendence. It is celebrated on the twenty-seventh day of the month Rajab. In some Muslim countries, the houses and streets are decorated with bright bunting and at night are brightly lit with electric lights. In the evening, worshippers assemble in the mosques. Many devout Muslims spend the night in prayer. Shab-e-Miraj is also an occasion for Muslims to give alms to the poor, one of the central requirements of Islam.

Ramadan The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the month in which the Archangel Gabriel began to reveal the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad. Ramadan is a time when devout Muslims turn their attention away from the material world and toward the spiritual. They are required to fast from sunrise to sunset as well as to abstain from sexual intercourse and smoking. This fast is obligatory for every healthy adult Muslim.

Lailat-ul-Qadr "The Night of Decrees," observed on the twenty-seventh of Ramadan, as the occasion on which the Archangel Gabriel began to reveal the Qur'an to the Prophet. Tradition says that during the last ten days of Ramadan, Muhammad would stay awake the whole night. As a result, on this night, devout Muslims stay up all night and ask forgiveness for their sins.

Eid-ul-Fitr The feast commemorating the end of fasting at Ramadan — one of the most joyous occasions in the Islamic year. On the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, it is customary to serve a sweet breakfast dish called sheer-kurma, vermicelli in milk with raisins, dates, almonds, and other nuts. After a service at the mosque, people retire to their homes and invite friends and relations to join them in elaborate meals. Gifts are exchanged. Eid-ul-Fitr is one of two Muslim feasts, along with Eid-ul-Adha ten weeks later, that are celebrated as public holidays in Muslim nations.

Hajj Hajj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca in Saudia Arabia, is one of the "five pillars" of Islam and is performed during the eighth to the thirteenth of the month Zul-Hijja. Over a million Muslims may perform this profound act of devotion in a given year. It involves a number of observances, including putting on Ihram, a simple, two-piece white garment for men, and circumambulation of the Ka'aba, a simple, cubic stone structure that is the center of Islamic observance worldwide. Pilgrims customarily follow the observances at Mecca with a visit to the tomb of the Prophet in Medina.

Eid-ul-Adha The Festival of Sacrifice. According to the Qur'an, Abraham (venerated in Islam as a great prophet) was commanded to sacrifice his son Ishmael. At the last minute, however, God interceded and a ram was offered up in Ishmael's place. Muslims also make an animal sacrifice on this date. A third of the meat is kept for the household, and the rest is given uncooked to the poor and to friends and relatives. Eid-ul-Adha, like Eid-ul-Fitr, is a public holiday in Muslim countries.