Muslim Calendar for year 2012

Muslim calendar for 2012
Date and Event	Description of Event
Saturday 4 February Milad un Nabi (Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad)	The birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. This event falls on 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal of the Islamic lunar calendar. Shia Muslims celebrate this event five days later. Some Muslims do not approve of celebrating the birthday, and regard doing so as a religious innovation.
Thursday 9 February Milad un Nabi (Shia)	Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Sunni Muslims celebrate this 5 days earlier. Some Muslims do not approve of celebrating the birthday, and regard doing so as a religious innovation.
Friday 20 July Ramadan (start)	Ramadan is the Muslim month of fasting.
Sunday 19 August Eid-Ul-Fitr	The end of Ramadan when Muslims celebrate the end of fasting and thank Allah for His help with their month-long act of self-control.
Friday 26 October Eid-Ul-Adha	Festival of Sacrifice marking the day after Arafat. The Day of Arafat is the most important day in the Hajj ritual. This is a four day holiday
Thursday 15 November Al-Hijira	Islamic New Year. Marks the migration of the Prophet Mohammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina
Saturday 24 November Ashura	Islamic holy day observed on the 10th of the Islamic month of Muharram. Shi'ite Muslims regard it as a major festival marking the martyrdom of the Prophet's grandson, Hussein.