Islamic Festivals and Celebrations »

Islam is the world's fastest-growing religion, and today approximately one out of every five people is a Muslim.

Islamic Festivals and Celebrations provides information about how Muslims live and worship. Major festivals, such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and important religious events, such as Ramadan and Hajj, are described and explained. The book also provides information about daily prayers, celebrations for special occasions like births and weddings, and the observance of other festivals in the Islamic world.

Children's Literature

The "World of Islam" series provides teens with information on Muslim beliefs and life styles, problems facing Muslims in today's world, and relations with non-Muslim nations. This volume begins with a brief overview of Islamic religious practices and the lunar calendar. Especially interesting is a page showing the religious symbols on six flags of Muslim nations. A chapter explains the significance of feasting and fasting during Ramadan and ?Eid al-Fitr; readers will enjoy the color photo of dates and pastries, a specialty of the feasts, and a photo of colorful lanterns decorating a street. The Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, a once-in-a-lifetime requirement for all able Muslims, is presented in detail, including a picture of crowds at the Ka'aba and a city of white tents at Mina. Abraham's submission to Allah is symbolized in ?Eid-al-Adha, when many Muslims sacrifice a sheep and distribute meat to the poor. Chapter 4 discusses celebrations in Muslim family life on occasions of birth, death, and marriage; some Muslims observe Muhammad's birthday. Ashura, celebrated by Shiites as a commemoration of the death of Muhammad's grandson Hussein at the Battle of Karbala in 680, is more controversial—not mentioned is repeated violence by militants in Iraq against Shiite pilgrims. Teachers planning to use this series should be aware that since it has been attacked by an Islamic advocacy group as anti-Islamic (rejected by the publisher and its consultant, a conservative think-tank), it might be advisable to collect supplemental material from a variety of other sources. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft

Learning About Islam 6

From Ramadan to 'Eid al-Fitr 18

From Hajj to 'Eid al-Adha 27

Births, Weddings, and Deaths 40

Other Celebrations 49

Calendar of islamic Festivals 56

Glossary 58

Further Reading 61

Internet Resources 62

Index 63