Children of Abraham
Richard
L. Shafer
Over
the past couple of years, this column has reported various religious celebrations,
and some of the customs and foods associated with them. This year, Jews and Muslims are looking to
October as a month filled with celebrations:[1]
o
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), Tues., Oct. 4. This day marks the beginning of the
Jewish year 5766 and opens the Ten Days of Penitence, which close with Yom
Kippur.
o
First Day of Ramadan,
Weds., Oct. 5. This day marks the beginning of a month-long fast that all
Muslims must keep during the daylight hours. It commemorates the first
revelation of the Qur'an.
o
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Thurs., Oct. 13. This day marks the end of the Ten Days of Penitence
that began with Rosh Hashanah. It is described in Leviticus as a “Sabbath of
rest,” and synagogue services begin the preceding sundown, resume the following
morning, and continue to sundown.
o
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), Tues., Oct. 18. This festival, also known as the Feast of the Ingathering,
is both a harvest festival and a commemoration of the forty years of wandering
after the Jews were freed from
o
Shemini Atzeret (Assembly of the Eighth Day), Tues., Oct. 25. This joyous holiday, encompassing
Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah), falls immediately after the seven days
of Sukkot. It marks the end of the year’s weekly readings of the Torah (Five
Books of Moses) in the synagogue, and the beginning of the new cycle of
reading.
o
Lailat Ul Qadr, Sunday, Oct 30, the 27th night of
Ramadan. Also called the “Night of Power,” this day celebrates the first
revelation of the Qur’an to Muhammad. The festival of The Night of Power marks the
night in which the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by
Allah. Muslims regard this as the most
important event in history, and the Qur'an says that this night is better than
a thousand months (97:3), and that on this night the angels descend to
earth. This is a festival that Muslims
spend in study and prayer. Some will spend the whole night in prayer or in
reciting the Qur’an. Lailat al Qadr is a good time to ask for
forgiveness. Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever
establishes the prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to
attain Allah's rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be
forgiven."(Bukhari Vol 1, Book 2: 34)[2]
Religious celebrations for
Jews and Muslims occur on a Lunar calendar basis. So don’t make your “regular” calendar with
these dates as reminders for next year – you’ll have to check them in a 2006
calendar, like the one at http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0760942.html. For example, Ramadan begins in 2006 on
September 24.
Yes, Christians have October
holidays too. For example, October 4,
Tuesday, is St. Francis Day, and Catholics
(especially) celebrate with a Blessing of the Animals. October 18, Tuesday, commemorates St. Luke, Apostle & Evangelist. Milvian Bridge Day, October 28, is a day of reflection, discussion
and debate regarding the place of religion in society[3]. And
of course, October 31 is All Hallows Eve
(and Reformation Day for
Protestants). Happy Halloween, friends!