Calendar & Miqaats

The first of Moharram al-Haraam, beginning of the Hijri new year and the start of the days of mourning leading into Ashara Mubaraka.

The build-up of Ashara Mubaraka, the first ten days of Moharram, during which the Dawoodi Bohra community gathers for daily waaz and majaalis commemorating Imam Husain (AS) and the martyrs of Karbala.

The eve of Ashura, the ninth night of Moharram, observed with intensified mourning and majlis on the night before Yaum-e-Ashura.

Shahadat of Imam Husain (AS) at Karbala — the most solemn day of Ashara Mubaraka.

Shahadat of the 8th Imam, Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (AS), martyred by poison on 17 Safar 203 AH at Sanabad (now Mashhad) in Khorasan. The Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun had summoned him from Madinah and declared him heir, but later had him poisoned. His shrine in Mashhad, Iran became one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world.

Arbaeen, the fortieth day after the shahadat of Imam Husain (AS), marking the conclusion of the principal mourning period for Karbala.

Commemoration of the shahadat of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (AS), the elder grandson of Rasulullah (SAW). The Hijri date is widely observed in the latter part of Safar; confirm the exact day against the community calendar.

Commemoration of the wafat of Rasulullah Mohammed (SAW). The date is observed at the close of Safar; confirm the exact day against the community calendar.

Eid-e-Milad un-Nabi — celebration of the wiladat (birth) of Rasulullah Mohammed (SAW), one of the most joyous occasions of the year.

Urs Mubarak of the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA). Confirm the exact Hijri day against the community calendar before relying on it.

Wiladat of the 6th Imam, Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (AS) — 'al-Sadiq', the Truthful. Born 17 Rabi al-Awwal 83 AH in Madinah. The most prolific transmitter of religious knowledge among the Imams: his students numbered in the thousands, and the Maliki, Hanafi, and other legal schools trace chains through him. He is the last Imam recognized by all Ismaili and Ithna Ashari lines before the split over his son Ismail and Musa al-Kadhim.

Milad (birth anniversary) of the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA). Confirm the exact Hijri day against the community calendar before relying on it.

Wiladat of Imam Ali un-Naqi al-Hadi (AS). Confirm the exact Hijri day against the community calendar before relying on it.

Commemoration of the wafat of Syedatona Fatema az-Zahra (AS), daughter of Rasulullah (SAW). The date is observed in Jumada al-Ukhra; confirm the exact day against the community calendar.

Wiladat (birth) of Syedatona Fatema az-Zahra (AS), traditionally observed on the twentieth of Jumada al-Ukhra.

Wiladat of the 5th Imam, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir (AS) — the 'Baqir al-Ulum' (splitter of knowledge), so named because he split open the sciences of religion as a knife splits fruit. Born 1 Rajab 57 AH. Son of Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS). He expanded Islamic jurisprudence and transmitted an immense corpus of hadith, taught in the schools of Madinah. Buried in Baqi', Madinah.

Wiladat of the 9th Imam, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jawad al-Taqi (AS), observed on the tenth of Rajab al-Asab. He became Imam at age 7–8 — his imamate is a testimony to the divinely-granted knowledge of the Imams independent of age. He is buried in Kadhimiya, Baghdad.

Wiladat (birth) of Amir al-Mumineen Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS), traditionally observed on the thirteenth of Rajab al-Asab.

Shahadat of Imam Musa ibn Jafar al-Kadhim (AS) — the 7th Imam, martyred by poison on 25 Rajab 183 AH while imprisoned by the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid in the prison of Sindi ibn Shahak in Baghdad. 'Al-Kadhim' means the one who suppresses anger — he is renowned for patience and forbearance under persecution. Buried in Kadhimiya, Baghdad, at the great golden-domed shrine.

The twenty-seventh of Rajab al-Asab, commemorating Mabas (the commencement of nubuwwat of Rasulullah SAW) and the Mi'raj (the heavenly ascension).

Wiladat (birth) of Imam Husain (AS), traditionally observed on the third of Shaban al-Karim.

Wiladat of Hazrat Abbas ibn Ali (AS), the standard-bearer of Karbala, traditionally observed on the fourth of Shaban al-Karim. Confirm the exact day against the community calendar.

Wiladat of Imam Ali Zainul Abideen (AS), traditionally observed on the fifth of Shaban al-Karim. Confirm the exact day against the community calendar.

The fifteenth night of Shaban al-Karim — a night of immense blessing on two counts: Laylat al-Bara'at (Night of Forgiveness), and the wiladat (birth) of the 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (ATF), whose occultation (ghayba) and awaited return is central to Bohra faith. Observed with ibadat, dua, and remembrance of the hidden Imam.

Urs Mubarak of the 51st Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Taher Saifuddin (RA). Confirm the exact Hijri day against the community calendar before relying on it.

The first of Ramadan al-Moazzam, the start of the holy month of fasting (sawm).

Wiladat (birth) of Imam Hasan ibn Ali al-Mujtaba (AS) — the eldest grandson of Rasulullah (SAW), son of Amir al-Mu'mineen and Syedatona Fatema az-Zahra. Born 15 Ramadan 3 AH in Madinah. The second Imam. He made peace with Muawiya to preserve the blood of the believers, living under house arrest in Madinah until his shahadat by poison on 28 Safar 50 AH. Buried in Baqi', Madinah.

The nineteenth night of Ramadan al-Moazzam, one of the nights of Laylatul Qadr observed in the last ashara of the month.

The twenty-first of Ramadan al-Moazzam — one of the nights of Laylatul Qadr and the day of shahadat of Amir al-Mumineen Ali (AS).

The Night of Power in the last ashara of Ramadan al-Moazzam.

Urs Mubarak of Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed (RA), the 32nd Dai al-Mutlaq. Confirm the exact Hijri day against the community calendar before relying on it.

The blessed eve preceding Eid ul-Fitr, observed at the close of Ramadan al-Moazzam.

Eid ul-Fitr — the festival marking the completion of the fasts of Ramadan al-Moazzam, observed on the first of Shawwal al-Mukarram.

Commemoration of the shahadat of Imam Jafar us-Sadiq (AS), traditionally observed on the twenty-fifth of Shawwal al-Mukarram. Confirm the exact day against the community calendar.

The first of Zilqada al-Haraam, one of the four sacred (hurum) months of the Hijri calendar.

Wiladat of the 8th Imam, Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (AS), observed on the eleventh of Dhul Qa'ida. He is buried in Mashhad, Iran, at the magnificent shrine of Imam Ridha — one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. He was appointed heir to the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun before his martyrdom by poison.

Shahadat of the 9th Imam, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jawad al-Taqi (AS), martyred by poison on 29 Dhul Qa'ida 220 AH in Baghdad (Kadhimiya). He died at approximately 25 years of age — the youngest of the Imams at the time of martyrdom. He is buried at Kadhimiya alongside his grandfather Imam Musa al-Kadhim (AS).

The Day of Arafah — wuquf at Arafat for the hujjaj.

Eid of sacrifice — Qurbani, the first day of Rami and Tawaf al-Ifadah.

The days of Tashreeq (11th–13th Zilhaj), during which the hujjaj perform Rami al-Jamarat at Mina and Qurbani continues.

Commemoration of the declaration of wilayat of Amir al-Mumineen Ali (AS) at Ghadeer-e-Khum.

Milad (birth anniversary) of the 51st Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Taher Saifuddin (RA). Confirm the exact Hijri day against the community calendar before relying on it.