Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Eid is a time for compassion

Chief Mufti says Islam teaches to care for all, regardless of religion

Dr Mustafa Haji, Grand Mufti of Bulgaria.
Photo: grandmufti.bg

People of the Muslim faith in Bulgaria are celebrating Eid. 'Kurban', an Arabic word meaning 'approaching', signifies the efforts of Muslims to approach the mercy of Allah through animal sacrifice," said Dr Mustafa Haji, Grand Mufti of Bulgaria, in his speech on the occasion.

"Eid Bayram marks the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage, as on this day the Hajjis are in Mecca. Muslims who are not on Hajj, but at home, celebrate Kurban Bayram by sacrificing animals. They give the meat to their near and dear ones as well as to the socially disadvantaged, showing that Islam commands Muslims to be mindful of the problems of all people. Irrespective of ethnicity and religion, all people in need are treated equally by Muslims. This year, the Muslim community has the opportunity to raise funds for Kurban animals both at home and abroad. So I thank all those who have responded to this campaign. Happy Eid!"


 Festive concerts dedicated to the most important Muslim holiday, which emphasises sacrifice for the common good, began in various Bulgarian villages on the evening of June 14. 
"While there is no call to sacrifice one's own life, it is essential to help all fellow human beings in disadvantaged circumstances," explained Shevkie Çakır from the Turkish section of Radio Bulgaria, adding that an important ritual of the festival is the sacrifice of a farm animal, which has a deep spiritual meaning linked to the story of the Prophet Ibrahim.

Prophet Ibrahim had no children for a long time and prayed to Allah saying: "I will give the most precious thing I have, but give me a child, an heir! And indeed, it was not long before his son Ismail was born. But time and years passed, and Allah appeared to him in a dream and told him that the time had come to repay him by sacrificing his beloved. The Prophet obeyed and decided to sacrifice his son. But at the moment of sacrifice, Allah sends him a ram and says to him: "This was the test for you, you have proved your love for me! And since then, Muslims have been slaughtering kurban," says Shevkie Çakır.


Like Ramadan, Kurban Bayram is about forgiveness. After the holiday prayer, men of all ages exchange greetings, with younger members respectfully kissing the hands of their elders. On returning home, each member of the family joins in, kissing the hands of their elders and exchanging holiday greetings.

Traditionally, the whole family gathers around the festive table. In recent years, family members living abroad make every effort to return home to be with their parents or children for this sacred occasion.


Children, undoubtedly the most jubilant, visit households throughout the village. In some Bulgarian villages, children of Turkish, Bulgarian and Roma descent alike take part in a cherished tradition, kissing the hands of their hosts, who in turn offer sweets and money.

Kurban Bayram lasts for four days.


Photos: grandmufti.bg, BNR - Kardzhali, BGNES
Translated and posted by Elizabeth Radkova


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Ventseslav Sabev

Ventseslav Sabev from Geneva: When we believe in God, we carry a message of peace

During a visit by the Radio Bulgaria team to the Bulgarian Orthodox Parish "Nativity of the Mother of God" in Geneva, we had the pleasure of meeting Ventseslav Sabev, the son of long-time church history professor at the Sofia Theological Seminary,..

published on 11/15/25 6:35 AM

115 years since the first airplane flight in Bulgaria

On November 15, 1910, Russian pilot Boris Maslenikov carried out the first airplane flight in Bulgaria. He took off in a Farman-type aircraft from an improvised airfield near Sofia. In the days that followed, several more demonstration flights were..

published on 11/15/25 6:45 AM

Attending the Plenary: The dedication and patriotism of the first MPs

On 16 April 1879, the deputies of the Constituent Assembly debated, approved and signed Bulgaria’s first constitution, the Tarnovo Constitution. This document established the legal basis for the establishment of the new Bulgarian state following the..

published on 11/10/25 5:56 PM