Festivals & Commemorations
Religious Studies A: AQA GCSE Religions, topic 4.3.11
Festivals for Sunnis and Shi'as
Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr are the two main festivals that are important for both Sunnis and Shi'as.
Eid al-Adha
- Commemorates complete obedience to Allah - Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son to Allah when God intervened.
- During the 4 days of this festival, people often exchange presents.
- Muslims attend a service in mosques, which focuses on the importance of obedience to Allah.
- Muslim families often sacrifice an animal and divide it into three parts: one to their family, one to their relatives, and one to the poor.
Eid al-Fitr
- Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan.
- Celebrates the completion of the fourth pillar
- The fourth pillar is fasting, observing sawm.
- Thanking Allah for giving Muslims the strength to complete the fourth pillar.
- There are prayers and a sermon either in or outside the mosque.
- There is a meal to break the fast and family and friends exchange presents.
Zakah during Eid al-Fitr
- Muslims pay a Zakah of around 2,5% of one's wealth, on this day.
- This enables poorer people to celebrate as well.
- Charities and mosques usually give zakah in the form of food.
Ashura
This festival is most important for Shi’a Muslims, although Sunnis think of it as a day of atonement.
Prior to Ashura
- The ten days leading up to Ashura are a period of mourning.
- They are characterised by processions, passion plays, and recitations of stories and poems about the death of Husayn.
- Shi’a Muslims wear black during this period and some practice self-flagellation.
Day of Ashura
- Commemorates the death of Husayn, son of ‘Ali, and grandson of Muhammad.
- He died in battle and a Passion narrative has developed around his death.
- Fasting on Ashura is not compulsory as Muhammad decreed that Muslims should observe sawm on Ramadan.
Ashura Processions
- Many Shi’a Muslims use the Ashura processions to protest against the injustice of the suffering of the Shi’a community as a persecuted minority.
Test yourself on Festivals & Commemorations
What are the two main festivals that are important for both Sunnis and Shi'as?
What does Eid al-Fitr celebrate?
Ashura is most important for who?
On what day is the death of Husayn commemorated?