Twelver Shia Twelver Shi'ism (), also known as Imamism () or Ithna Ashari, is the largest branch of Shi'a Islam, comprising about 90% of all Shi'a Muslims. The term ''Twelver'' refers to its adherents' belief in twelve divinely ordained leaders, known as th ...

Muslims commemorate significant events in the lives of their Imams throughout the year. These commemorations, known as ma'ātem, are observed according to the Islamic lunar calendar ( Hijri). They include both joyous occasions, such as the birth anniversaries of

Imam Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Salah, Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, ...

s (Eid al-Melaad), and solemn events, such as the martyrdom anniversaries of Imams (Eid al-Gharib). The following is a list of these commemorations organized by Hijri month.

Muharram

The first ten days of Muharram are marked by a series of commemorative rituals, observed as a period of mourning and reflection in remembrance of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein. During this period, Shia Muslims, including Twelvers and other Shia sects, commemorate the

Battle of Karbala The Battle of Karbala () was fought on 10 October 680 (10 Muharram in the year 61 Hijri year, AH of the Islamic calendar) between the army of the second Umayyad Caliphate, Umayyad caliph Yazid I () and a small army led by Husayn ibn Ali, th ...

and the martyrdom of

Imam Hussein Husayn ibn Ali (; 11 January 626 – 10 October 680 CE) was a social, political and religious leader in early medieval Arabia. The grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and an Alid (the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muhammad's daughter ...

and his companions. From the beginning of Muharram in the Hijri calendar, Shia communities engage in various rituals, such as wearing black attire, holding religious ceremonies, convening mourning councils in Husseiniyas or private homes, and participating in processions to express grief. Common mourning practices include weeping and chest-beating (Latm). These observances culminate on the tenth day, known as

Ashura Ashura (, , ) is a day of commemoration in Islam. It occurs annually on the tenth of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. For Sunni Muslims, Ashura marks the parting of the Red Sea by Moses and the salvation of the Israelites ...

, which marks the peak of the mourning period. Muharram 25 marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of the fourth Shia Imam, Ali ibn al-Hussein al-Sajjad, also known as Zayn al-Abidin. He is believed to have been killed by poisoning in the year 95 Hijri, according to one account, while another version places the event in the year 94 Hijri. Ashura mourning in Karbala by Tasnimnews 02

Ashura mourning in Karbala by Tasnimnews 02

Safar

The 5th of Safar: marks the anniversary of the death of Ruqayya, the daughter of Imam al-Hussein, following the events of the

. She died in

Damascus Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...

. The 7th of Safar marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of the second Shia Imam, Imam al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib. According to Shia belief, he was poisoned by his wife, Ja'dah bint al-Ash'ath, leading to his death. The 17th day of Safar commemorates the martyrdom of the eighth Shia Imam, Ali al-Ridha. According to Shia tradition, he was poisoned by the Abbasid Caliph al-Ma'mun. The 20th of Safar: This day marks the Arbaeeniyah of Imam Hussain, one of the most important occasions for Shia, and it is mentioned in their narrations that visiting Imam Hussein on Arbaeen is one of the signs of a believer. File:Arba'een Pilgrims in Bayn al-Harmian 020.jpg, Arbaeen visitors at Bin al-Haramain, November 2017. File:Mourning of Muharram-Mehran City-Iran-Photojournalism تصاویر با کیفیت پیاده روی اربعین- مهران- عکاس مصطفی معراجی 21.jpg, Arbaeen visitors on the walkway from Najaf to Karbala in 2016. The 28th of Safar marks the anniversary of the death of

Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...

, according to Shia narratives. On this day, Twelver Shia mourn his passing. The 30th of Safar marks the martyrdom of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha in the year 203 AH, as documented by historians such as al-Tabarsi and Ibn al-Athir.Nasser Makarem Shirazi, New Keys, Part
: 1 page: 407-413
Archived
April 18, 2018 at the

Wayback Machine The Wayback Machine is a digital archive of the World Wide Web founded by Internet Archive, an American nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California. Launched for public access in 2001, the service allows users to go "back in ...

Rabi' al-Awwal

The 8th of Rabi' al-Awwal: The anniversary of the martyrdom of the eleventh Imam

Hasan al-Askari Hasan al-Askari (; ) was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He is regarded as the eleventh of the Twelve Imams, succeeding his father, Ali al-Hadi. Hasan Al-Askari was born in Medina in 844 and brought with his father to the garris ...

, who was poisoned by al-Mu'adh al-Abbasi in the city of Samarra in 260 AH. The 9th of Rabi' al-Awwal is known as the Day of the Joy of Zahra and is celebrated as a feast day by Twelver Shia Muslims. This day marks the coronation of Imam Mahdi, the twelfth Shia Imam, who is believed to have received the responsibilities of Imamate and Wilayat on this occasion. The 17th of Rabi' al-Awwal marks the birth of

Mecca Mecca, officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, is the capital of Mecca Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia; it is the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow valley above ...

at dawn on a Friday in the

Year of the Elephant The ʿām al-fīl (, Year of the Elephant) is the name in Islamic history for the year approximately equating to 570–571 CE. According to Islamic resources, it was in this year that prophet Mohammad was born.Hajjah Adil, Amina, "''Prophet ...

, according to Shia narratives. This day is observed as a day of fasting for Twelver Shia Muslims, followed by celebrations after breaking the fast to commemorate Muhammad's birth. Additionally, this date is significant as it also marks the birth of the sixth Imam, Ja'afar al-Sadiq, eighty-three years later.

Rabi' al-Thani

The 8th of Rabi al-Thani marks the anniversary of the birth of Imam al-Hasan al-Askari, the eleventh Imam of the Twelver Shia, who was born in the year 232 AH. 10th Rabi' al-Thani: The anniversary of the death of Fatima al-Masoumeh, daughter of Imam al-Kadhim, in 201 AH.

Jumada al-Awwal

The 5th of Jumada al-Awwal marks the birthday of Zainab bint Ali ibn Abi Talib. The 13th, 14th, and 15th of Jumada al-Awwal are observed as the first Fatimiyya days among Shia communities. These days commemorate the martyrdom of

Fatima Zahra Fatima bint Muhammad (; 605/15–632 CE), commonly known as Fatima al-Zahra' (), was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija. Fatima's husband was Ali, the fourth of the Rashidun caliphs and the first Shia imam. ...

, the daughter of Muhammad, and are designated as periods of mourning and reflection, observed annually.Fatimid Days, Sheikh Hossein Ansarian's website
April 24, 2018 at the

Jumada al-Thani

The 3rd of Jumada al-Thani marks the date on which

, the daughter of Muhammad, died. The 13th of Jumada al-Thani commemorates the anniversary of the passing of Fatima al-Kalabiya, also known as

Umm al-Banin Fāṭima bint Ḥuzām (), better known as ʾUmm al-Banīn (), was a wife of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth Rashidun caliph () and the first Shia Imam. She belonged to the Banu Kilab, a tribe within the Qays confederation. Umm al-Banin marr ...

, the wife of

Ali ibn Abi Talib Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until Assassination of Ali, his assassination in 661, as well as the first imamate in Shia doctrine, Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muha ...

, who died in the year 64 AH. The 20th of Jumada al-Thani marks the anniversary of the birth of Fatima Zahra, which is believed to have occurred either in the second or fifth year of the Muhammad's mission. It is recommended for Muslims to observe fasting on this day.

Rajab

On the 3rd of Rajab, the tenth Imam,

Ali al-Hadi Ali al-Hadi (; – ) was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the tenth Imamate in Shia doctrine, Imam in Twelver Shi'ism, Twelver Shia, succeeding his father, Muhammad al-Jawad (). Born in Medina in 828, Ali is known with the ti ...

, was poisoned in the year 254 AH in

Samarra Samarra (, ') is a city in Iraq. It stands on the east bank of the Tigris in the Saladin Governorate, north of Baghdad. The modern city of Samarra was founded in 836 by the Abbasid caliph al-Mu'tasim as a new administrative capital and mi ...

at the age of forty. On the 10th of Rajab, Imam Muhammad al-Jawad, the ninth Shia Imam, was born in Medina in the year 195 AH. The 13th, 14th, and 15th days of Rajab are designated as

the White Days The White Days or Ayyām al-Bīḍ () are specific days of each Islamic month; they are holy days according to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. These days are the 13th, 14th and 15th of every month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims believe that ''th ...

Rajab Rajab () is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of the classical Arabic verb ''rajaba'' is "to respect", which could also mean "be awe or be in fear", of which Rajab is a derivative. This month is regarded as one ...

. These days are associated with various virtuous actions, prayers, and Azkar(remembrance of God), and it is recommended that individuals perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat) during this period. The 13th of Rajab commemorates the anniversary of the birth of the first Imam, Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was born in the year 30 of the Year of the Elephant in the sacred house of Allah. The 15th of Rajab is significant as it marks the anniversary of the death of Imam Ali's daughter, Zainab, in the year 63 AH, according to Shia narratives. The 25th of Rajab marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of the seventh Shia Imam,

Musa al-Kadhim Musa al-Kazim (; 745–799) was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the seventh imam in Twelver Shia Islam. Musa is often known by the title al-Kazim (), apparently a reference to his patience and gentle disposition. He was born ...

. He was poisoned and died in the year 183 AH in Baghdad. The 27th day of Rajab is known as the Feast of the Rebirth. According to Shia narratives, this day commemorates the event when God sent the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad.

Sha'ban

The month of births is a significant period in the Shia calendar, during which festivities and commemorations are held to honor the occasions of various Shia births: * The 3rd of Sha'ban marks the birth of the third Imam, Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, in the fourth year of the Hijra. * The 4th of Sha'ban marks the birth of Abu al-Fadl, also known as Al-Abbas ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was born in the 28th year of the Hijra. * The 5th of Sha'ban marks the birth of Imam Ali Zayn al-Abidin, the fourth Shia Imam, who was born in Medina in the year 38 AH. * The 11th of Sha'ban marks the birth of Ali ibn al-Hussein al-Akbar, who was born in the 33rd year of the Hijra. * The 15th of Sha'ban, known as

Gargee'an Gargee'an (), sometimes spelled as Gerga'oon (Arabic: قرقاعون), is a semiannual celebration, observed primarily in Eastern Arabia. It takes place on the 13th, 14th or 15th night of the Islamic month of Ramadan. It is celebrated by children a ...

, marks the birth of Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Mahdi, the twelfth and final Shia Imam, in the year 555 AD. On this day and its preceding night, it is reported that fasting and prayers are recommended.

Ramadan

The 10th day of Ramadan marks the passing of

Khadija bint Khuwaylid Khadija bint Khuwaylid (November 619) was the first wife of Muhammad. Born into an aristocratic clan of the Quraysh, she was an affluent merchant in her own right and was known to have a noble personality within her tribe. In his early 20s, she e ...

, the wife of

. The 15th of Ramadan, known as

, marks the birth of Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba, the son-in-law of Muhammad, who was born in the third year of the Hijrah. The 19th night of Ramadan is regarded as the first night of al-Qadr, marking the commencement of the nightly revelation of divine decrees. This night is also significant as it commemorates the wounding of Amir al-Mu'minin Ali ibn Abi Talib by Ibn Muljam in the year 40 AH. The 21st day of Ramadan is recognized as the second night of the Night of Qadr. This date also commemorates the martyrdom of Ali ibn Abi Talib in the year 40 AH. The 23rd of Ramadan marks the third night of Qadr, which is the night of the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad according to their narrative.

Shawwal

The 1st of Shawwal marks the day of Eid al-Fitr, an Islamic holiday celebrated by Muslims that occurs immediately following the fasting month of Ramadan. On this day, fasting is prohibited. The 8th of Shawwal marks the anniversary of the demolition of the shrines of the Imams in Baqe'a by the Wahhabis in the year 1344 AH. The 25th of Shawwal marks the martyrdom of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, the leader of the Shia sect, who died in 148 AH. He was poisoned during the reign of the Abbasid Caliph al-Mansur al-Duwaniqi.

Dhu al-Qadah

Imam Reza Shrine in his birthday anniversary 07

The 1st of Dhu al-Qa'dah marks the birth of Fatima al-Masumah, the daughter of Imam al-Kadhim, in the year 173 AH. The 11th of Dhu al-Qa'dah marks the birth of Imam al-Ridha, the eighth Shia Imam, who was born in Medina in the year 148 AH. The 25th of Dhu al-Qa'dah, according to Shia narrations, is the day on which the earth was destroyed, and God stretched it out from under the

Kaaba The Kaaba (), also spelled Kaba, Kabah or Kabah, sometimes referred to as al-Kaba al-Musharrafa (), is a stone building at the center of Islam's most important mosque and Holiest sites in Islam, holiest site, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Sa ...

over the water. The 30th of Dhu al-Qa'dah marks the passing of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad, who died at the age of 25 due to poisoning by Caliph al-Mu'tasim. Eid al-Ghadeer in Fatima Masumeh Shrine- Iran 2016 by tasnimnews

Eid al-Ghadeer in Fatima Masumeh Shrine- Iran 2016 by tasnimnews

Dhu al-Hijjah

The 1st of Dhu al-Hijjah marks the anniversary of the marriage of Imam Ali to Fatima Zahra, which took place in the first year of the Hijrah. The 7th of Dhu al-Hijjah marks the martyrdom of Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir, which occurred in the year 114 AH. The 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah is a day of the Hajj, during which pilgrims gather at

Mount Arafat Mount Arafat (, or ) is a granodiorite hill about southeast of Mecca, in the Makkah Province, province of the same name in Saudi Arabia. It is approximately in height, with its highest point sitting at an elevation of . The Prophet Muhammad, ...

. Standing on Arafat is regarded as the most important pillar of the

Hajj Hajj (; ; also spelled Hadj, Haj or Haji) is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for capable Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetim ...

. For those unable to undertake the pilgrimage, it is recommended to visit Hussein ibn Ali on this day, which is also observed as a day of fasting and prayer. The 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah marks the conclusion of the Hajj pilgrimage and is commonly known as

Eid al-Adha Eid al-Adha () is the second of the two main festivals in Islam alongside Eid al-Fitr. It falls on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar. Celebrations and observances are generally carried forward to the ...

. The 15th of Dhu al-Hijjah marks the birth of Imam Ali al-Hadi, who was born in the year 212 AH in

Medina Medina, officially al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (, ), also known as Taybah () and known in pre-Islamic times as Yathrib (), is the capital of Medina Province (Saudi Arabia), Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ...

. The 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah, known as Eid al-Ghadir, is a festival in the Shia tradition, also referred to as Eid al-Wilayah and Eid al-Kamal al-Din, translating to the Feast of the Completion of Religion and the Completion of Grace. This day commemorates the event in the tenth year of the Hijrah when, while returning to Medina from the

farewell pilgrimage The Farewell Pilgrimage () refers to the one Hajj pilgrimage that Muhammad performed in the Islamic year 10 AH, following the Conquest of Mecca. Muslims believe that verse 22:27 of the Quran brought about the intent to perform Hajj in Muhammad tha ...

ordered a stop at a location called Ghadir Kham, where he delivered important commandments to the Muslims.Mohamed Yousry, Eid al-Ghadir: The story of the most important holiday for Imamite Shiites
Raseef22, 07.09.2017
Archived
June 30, 2018 at the

References

{{reflist Shia days of remembrance Twelver Shi'ism