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Islam
Executive summary
The term “Islam” here is broad; available sources in this packet mainly address the Islamic (Hijri) calendar—its lunar basis, the 12 months, and 2025 dates such as Ramadan, Eid and Hajj—rather than theology or history [1] [2]. Sources agree the Hijri year is 354 or 355 days, months begin with a new moon (sighting or calculation), and that 2025 spans parts of 1446–1447 AH [3] [2].
1. What the provided reporting focuses on: the Hijri calendar, not doctrine
Most links returned by your query cover calendars and holidays, not core beliefs, practices, or history of Islam; sites such as Islamic Relief UK and Sara International Travel frame Islam in terms of the Hijri calendar and festival dates for 2025 rather than theological exposition [1] [2]. If you intended another angle—history, jurisprudence, demographics—available sources do not mention those topics in this set.
2. How the Islamic (Hijri) calendar works—clear consensus
The Hijri calendar is lunar, made of 12 months that total 354 or 355 days; each month is 29 or 30 days long and typically begins when the new moon is sighted [3] [1]. Because it’s shorter than the Gregorian year, Islamic dates move earlier by about 10–11 days each Gregorian year, which is why festivals like Ramadan and Hajj shift annually [2] [3].
3. 2025 specifics and sources’ emphases
Multiple calendar providers list 2025 Islamic dates and emphasize that 2025 falls across two Hijri years—1446 AH and 1447 AH—and provide printable calendars and festival lists to help planning [4] [2] [5]. Commercial and non‑profit sites (CalendarLabs, IslamicFinder, Sara International Travel) highlight Ramadan, Eid al‑Fitr, Hajj and Eid al‑Adha as the principal observances to watch in 2025 [6] [4] [7].
4. Moon sighting versus astronomical calculation—two approaches noted
Reporting flags two different practices: traditional moon‑sighting (visibility ends the month) and calculated schemes such as Saudi Arabia’s Umm al‑Qura calendar used for official planning [5] [1]. Islamic Relief UK explicitly notes Umm al‑Qura is based on astronomical calculation, while other providers stress local moon sighting as the determinant [1] [5]. That difference explains why dates sometimes vary by country or community.
5. What festivals mean in practice—ritual and social roles
Sources describe Ramadan as a month of fasting and reflection, Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha as the two major global holidays, and Hajj as the major pilgrimage and one of the Five Pillars of Islam—practical descriptions appear across CalendarLabs, Wikipedia and travel resources [6] [8] [7]. For example, Eid al‑Adha commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice and is associated with sacrificial practices and distribution to the poor [7] [8].
6. Variations and why calendars disagree—agenda and readers’ needs
Different providers serve different audiences: religious charities and community groups (Islamic Relief, Nisa Foundation) emphasize community observance and planning [1] [9], travel agencies highlight Hajj/Umrah timing for customers [7], and calendar sites prioritize printable schedules [6] [4]. Each has an implicit agenda—service provision, fundraising, or commerce—so cross‑checking dates across local mosques and official national calendars remains necessary [1] [7].
7. Limits of this packet and where reporting is silent
This set of sources does not provide primary theology, historical origins of Islam beyond a brief note on the Hijrah as the Hijri epoch, nor demographic, legal or sectarian detail; those topics are not found in current reporting here [3] [2]. If you want doctrinal summaries, biographies of the Prophet, Sunni–Shia distinctions, or contemporary political analysis, those are not covered by the sources above.
8. Practical takeaway for readers seeking accurate dates
For planning travel, community events, or observances in 2025, consult both a reputable calendar provider (IslamicFinder, CalendarLabs, Sara International Travel) and local religious authorities because official state calendars (e.g., Saudi Umm al‑Qura) or local moon sighting committees may set the final dates—the packet specifically notes Umm al‑Qura as a calculation‑based official calendar and the moon‑sighting practice used elsewhere [1] [5].
If you want, I can now pull together a consolidated 2025 Hijri dates list (Ramadan, Eid, Hajj) from these calendar pages and note where variation is most likely to occur.