Twenty-five children solemnly made hatim in the village of Chepintsi

Public recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an by 13 girls and 12 boys at the age between 7 and 14 years gathered over 4000 people on 21^st of August, 2016 in the mosque of the village of Chepintsi, Municipality of Rudozem. The hatim-celebration for the children who made their first entire reading of the Holy Qur’an was organized by the parents of the children and the Muslim Board of Trustees of the village of Chepintsi. The event was attended by guests from Smolyan region and from the country as well as from neighboring Greece. Official guests of the event were the Regional Mufti of Smolyan Nedzhmi Dabov along with the Administration of the Regional Mufti’s Office, the Management of the Course for hafizes in the town of Madan, the mayors of the municipalities of Rudozem and Madan, Rumen Pehlivanov and Fahri Molaysenov, imams, Muslim Boards of Trustees and public figures from the region. During the program prepared by the teachers Ismet Mollov, Sevdi Karaahmed, Asan Metevski and Riza Kaylitski the young Muslims easily recited by heart verses from the Qur’an, traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and poems related to the religion with which they recalled for the attendees the Islamic virtues and values. The program ended with a dua (supplication) for prosperity made by the teachers and the children.

In his welcoming speech the Regional Mufti of Smolyan greeted the teachers for their efforts and patience which they showed during the Qur’an courses as well as for the preparation of the program; he greeted the parents for the demonstrated responsibility in upbringing their children according to the Islamic values and the children for their diligence which they showed during the Qur’an courses and urged them to continue with self-confidence and conviction the way of religious education and upbringing. The Mufti also invited the children along with their parents to think about the specialization of the children in the religious field by continuing their training in the Course for hafizes in the town of Madan or in the religious school on Momchilgrad. The Mayor of the Municipality of Rudozem advised the children and their parents to continue with this deed which they have started, because this is something good which leads them to the right way and highlighted that such events turn into celebrations for the Muslim community. The children were given gifts on behalf of the regional Mufti of Smolyan, from the Mayor of the Municipality of Rudozem and from the Mayor and the Muslim Board of Trustees of the village of Chepintsi, from businessmen and from the attendees of the event. The celebration ended with a lunch for all guests and participants prepared by the parents of the children.