📅 holiday

Martyrdom of Imam Reza

Thursday, August 13, 2026

— days to go

The Islamic Republic of Iran commemorates the Martyrdom of Imam Reza as a public holiday on 29 and 30 Safar, according to the Islamic Calendar. The date varies on the Gregorian Calendar. In 2026, Martyrdom of Imam Reza falls on Thursday 13 August. The holiday will be on Tuesday 3 August in 2027. In Shia Islam, such as is predominantly practiced in Iran, Ali Al-Ridha, often called “Imam Reza”, is considered the eighth Imam. Imam Reza was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and was the heir of his father. He was very influential in the Abbasid Empire, which corresponds to Persia and modern Iran. At first, he was appointed to be the next Caliph, but the sitting Abbasid Caliph became wary of the great popularity of Imam Reza and decided to murder him instead. After becoming Imam in A.D. 799, Reza was killed in A.D. 818. Shiites generally say that he was poisoned to death by the Caliph. As Imam Reza is buried in Iran in the large city of Masshad, it’s easy for millions of people to stream to his burial shrine every year. The crowds are especially keen to visit on or around Martyrdom of Imam Reza Day. Imam Reza is highly esteemed in Iran as a martyr and one who should have been caliph. His martyrdom day is a time of intense national mourning.

History

The Islamic Republic of Iran commemorates the Martyrdom of Imam Reza as a public holiday on 29 and 30 Safar, according to the Islamic Calendar. Imam Reza was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and was the heir of his father. At first, he was appointed to be the next Caliph, but the sitting Abbasid Caliph became wary of the great popularity of Imam Reza and decided to murder him instead. As Imam Reza is buried in Iran in the large city of Masshad, it’s easy for millions of people to stream to h

How It's Celebrated

The Islamic Republic of Iran commemorates the Martyrdom of Imam Reza as a public holiday on 29 and 30 Safar, according to the Islamic Calendar. The holiday will be on Tuesday 3 August in 2027

Other Years

2026 Thu

13 Aug

2027 Tue

3 Aug

2028 Sat

22 Jul

2025 Mon

25 Aug

2024 Wed

4 Sep

Countries

🇮🇷 IR

View all →

🌍 observance Jan 23

National Handwriting

In 3300, BC. Invention of Writing. Writing systems were first invented in ancient Sumer (now southern Iraq) and quickly spread, becoming a cornerstone of human communication and record keeping

📅 holiday Feb 10

Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck

The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is a holiday unique to Malta because it was on Malta that the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked around the year A.D. 60. In 2027, Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck falls on Wednesday 10 February. The holiday will be on Thursday 10 February in 2028. The feast is kept on February 10th each year, and as Paul is the patron saint of Malta, it is a much-anticipated event. Out of dozens of “saint days” on the church calendar in Malta, the Feast of Saint Paul is one of only a handful that have the status of a national holiday. The account of Paul’s shipwreck and three-month, wintertime stay on Malta is found in the Bible’s Acts 27:27 through 28:11. He was being taken to Rome as a prisoner to eventually stand trial before Caesar. God let him know in advance he would be shipwrecked but would spare the lives of all on board, which promise was later kept and in answer to Paul’s prayers for their lives. The Bible says the storm was in the Adriatic Sea, though Malta borders the Ionian Sea, because in ancient times, the Adriatic’s boundaries were considered to extend much farther south. The ship broke up on the rocks near the shores of Malta, and all swam ashore. The local population greeted them, but thought he might be a murderer whom the “goddess of justice” had finally caught up with after he was bitten by a poisonous snake. After he lived, however, they supposed him to be, perhaps, a god. Paul, however, soon showed them it was God’s power at work in a mere man by healing the governor of the island, Publius, and many others who were sick or disabled among the island’s population. No doubt, Paul preached the Gospel to them as well, and when he left Malta, the inhabitants gave him all necessary supplies out of gratitude. The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is kept at the “Parish Church of Saint Paul Shipwrecked” in Malta’s capital city of Valletta. It is also a day of processions and family get-togethers. Three things to do should you visit Malta, though hopefully not be shipwrecked there, on February 10th are:

🌍 observance Feb 11

Islamic Revolution Day

In 1979, Overthrow of. Pahlavi Dynasty. The Pahlavi dynasty was overthrown, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, ending 2,500 years of continuous monarchy in Iran

IRUS

📅 holiday Feb 23

Defender of the Fatherland Day

Defender of the Fatherland Day is a public holiday in RU.