site.btaGrand Mufti Mustafa Hadzhi: Ramazan Bayram Celebrated as Culmination of Sharing

After a month of mutual assistance and sharing, Ramazan Bayram is celebrated on Sunday, Grand Mufti Mustafa Hadzhi told BTA’s Yuzlem Tefikova. 

He noted that Ramazan Bayram, which lasts for three days, represents the culmination of this spirit of sharing.

“On Bayram day, everyone shares a meal and celebrates together,” Hadzhi said. “In many places, young people gather in the town square to have fun, joined by others who are not Muslim. They have lived together all their lives, so they celebrate together. This is a point of pride.”

Hadzhi explained that during Ramadan, Muslims not only refrained from eating during the day and sleeping at night but also worked to assist those in need. “Saying goodbye to this month is difficult,” he said, “but the spiritual strength we have gained will sustain us until the next Ramadan.”

He further noted that Ramazan Bayram begins with a special prayer in the mosque, which cannot be performed individually.

“After the prayer, Muslims congratulate each other on having performed the ibadet [worship], and their obligations to Allah have reached Bayram,” the Grand Mufti said.

“On this day, everyone tries to do good, make someone happy, bring joy to another person’s heart, and—very importantly—visit close relatives, especially parents if they are alive. If not, they visit their graves and pray for them,” he added.

Hadzhi also expressed his wish for peace in the world, especially in Bulgaria. 

“Islam derives from the Arabic word salam, which means peace. Peace concerns every human being, and in the Quran, Allah says, ‘Whoever saves one human life, it is as if he has saved all humanity. Whoever kills one person, it is as if he has killed all humanity.’ Hence, peace is the most important thing, and I hope conflicts in places like Palestine and Ukraine will be resolved soon so that people everywhere can live peacefully. I also hope everyone can live calmly in their homeland,” he said.

“We in Bulgaria are an oasis among all the problems in the world, and I pray to the Almighty that we continue living in harmony without disturbing this mutual understanding,” Hadzhi noted.

“There is room for everyone under the sun,” he concluded, “but each person must strive to be kind to others. When all uphold their duties, rights for everyone are naturally secured.”