THE NIGHT OF BLESSING
If you follow world news - even on an average basis - you may have realised that certain Islamic events occur at different times of the Gregorian Calendar every year. The season of Hajj and the celebration of Eid are probably the most noticeable.
The reason for this is a simple one. The Islamic Calendar is dictated by lunar cycles and thus, on average moves up the Gregorian one by about 10 days every year. Where Ramadan (the month of fasting) was observed in April a few years ago, it is now barely two weeks away and will occur over October and November.
The calendar is divided into the usual 12 months but each month has either 29 or 30 days depending on the sighting of the new moon.
THE SEASON OF WORSHIP
If you have any Muslim friends you may have heard them mention in the past few weeks that the current days are holy ones. This is because a month and a half ago, Rajab – the 7th month of the Islamic year began. Together with the 8th and 9th months of Shabaan and Ramadan, it is part of the Season of Worship.
In many traditions, Rajab is said to be the Month of Allah, Shabaan that of the Prophet (pbuh) and Ramadan that of the people. Muslims increase their efforts to better themselves spiritually in these months, observing voluntary fasts often as they prepare for the 30-day period of continuous fasting and seek nearness to their Creator.
For Shia’s, these months hold occasions of great joy and celebration. The 13th of Rajab sees the birthday of the first* Divine Imam – Ali bin Abu Talib. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and is loved with a passion by the Shia.
It is over his right of succession that the differences between the Shia and the Sunni arise and many at times, the Shia are identified as Shia-ne-Ali meaning the Followers of Ali. A title that was originally used as a insult against them by those who opposed them and has over time been adopted by the Shia themselves as a declaration of loyalty and affinity to Ali.
Shabaan which is currently ongoing begins with the birthdays of the 3rd and 4th Imam’s. However, it is on the 15th of this month when the moon is full and fills the sky with its brilliance, that Shia celebrate one of the greatest nights of the calendar.
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