Muslim

9 Mar (Sunni) 14 Mar (Shia)	Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Milad un Nabi)	Day on which the birth of the Prophet Muhammad is commemorated. In the Indian subcontinent and some Arab countries the celebration starts with readings from the Qur'an, followed by poetry and songs in praise of the Prophet. In some big cities of the Islamic world the day is marked by processions and flag waving under large decorations of lights.
19 Jul (Sun)	Muhammad's Night Journey to Jerusalem and Ascension	Day commemorating the Prophet Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and thence through the heavens to the presence of God, all in one night. It was during this journey that the command to pray five times a day was given. The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem marks the place from where Muhammad is said to have ascended. Muslims celebrate this day by reading the Qur'an and saying additional prayers.
5 Aug (Wed)	Lailat-ul-Bara'h (Night of Forgiveness)	Occurring two weeks before Ramadan, this is a day on which Muslims seek forgiveness for their sins. Many Muslims believe that a person's destiny for the coming year is fixed on this night. The night is spent in prayer, asking God's guidance and forgiveness. In some Muslim countries believers visit the graves of relatives. Giving to charity is another tradition on this day, while in some places the night is marked with firework displays.
22 Aug - 19 Sep (28 days)	Ramadan	A period of fasting lasting for one lunar month. Throughout the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from all food, drink and smoking during daylight hours. Fasting (sawm) is one of the five pillars of Islam, ensuring that everyone gains some experience of deprivation. It is customary to break each day's fast in the evening by consuming dates and water. Those who cannot fast are obliged to give to charity to compensate for the lost days. Children are not required to take part in the fast.
16 Sep (Wed)	Lailat-ul-Qadr	Lailut ul-Qadr literally means the Night of Destiny or Night of Measures and commemorates the night on which the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qur'an. Muslims believe that this night is kept secret by God, but that Muhammad told them to seek it in the last ten days of Ramadan. Many Muslims spend the night at their local mosque praying and studying the Qur'an.
20 Sep (Sun)	Eid-ul-Fitr	Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Fitr means "to break" and therefore symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period and of all sinful habits. On the day of the celebration, a typical Muslim family gets up very early and attends special prayers held only for the occasion in mosques. Festivities, merriment, gift-giving and feasting start after the prayers. This festival is traditionally a time for family get-togethers and contact with friends. Charity donations collected during Ramadan, called Zakat, are given to those in need before the Eid prayer. The traditional greeting on this day is "Eid Mubarak (happy and blessed Eid)".
25 - 28 Nov (4 days)	Hajj	Hajj refers to the annual pilgrimage made by worldwide Muslims to the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so is obliged to make this pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. It is the fifth of the Five Pillars in Sunni Islam and one of the ten Branches of Shi'a Islam. Upon arrival in Mecca, the pilgrim performs a series of ritual acts symbolic of the lives of Ibrahim (Abraham) and Hagar.
27 Nov (Fri)	Eid-ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice)	Major festival marking the end of the annual Hajj. Pilgrims sacrifice animals at the village of Mina on their way back to Mecca from Mount Arafat (where they have spent the first day of the festival) in commemoration of Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael. Muslims all over the world sacrifice an animal if they can afford it. The meat is distributed amongst the poor and some is shared with relatives and friends.
18 Dec (Fri)	Al-Hijra (New Year's Day)	New Year’s Day in Islam, commemorating the migration (known as the Hijra) of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in AD 622. This event led to the establishment of the Muslim community there. Muslims calculate all dates from this starting point in history and such dates are given the suffix AH, meaning After the Hijra. The day itself is celebrated in mosques by the reading of stories about the Prophet and his companions.
27 Dec (Sun)	Ashura	This day commemorates several important events, each having its own importance to different sects of Islam. For Shi'a Muslims, it commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (AD 680), and is a day for mourning. Ashura is also commemorated by Muslims as the date on which Noah's ark came to rest, the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) was born and the Ka'ba was built in Mecca.