Supreme Muslim Council gave the “Hodzhazade Mehmed Muhyiddin Efendi” awards

On December 8, from 18:00 o’clock in the Central Military Club in Sofia took place the “Hodzhazade Mehmed Muhyiddin Efendi” annual awarding ceremony.

The award is established in the name of the first Grand Mufti – Hodzhazade Mehmed Muhyiddin effendi, who took up his appointment on December 8, 1910. He was the person who contributed to the establishment of the institution of Grand Mufti’s Office.

The ceremony was attended by the SMC Chairman Vedat S. Ahmed, the Grand Mufti of the Muslims in the Republic of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi, the Deputy Grand Mufti Murad Pingov, the Deputy Grand Mufti Birali Birali, members of the religious council, SMC members, former grand muftis, representatives of diplomatic missions in Bulgaria and representatives of other religions.

In his welcoming address the SMC Chairman Vedat Ahmed said: “Today is a historical memorable day for the Muslims in Bulgaria! On this day 107 years ago took place the first elections for a grand mufti which marked the beginning of Grand Mufti’s Office. Since then this institution represents our numerous Muslim community living for centuries on these lands. The foundations that are put by the first Grand Mufti Hodzhazade Mehmed Muhyiddin effendi in the difficult periods from 1910 to 1915 were so strong and stable that even the winds of communism and the storms of atheism did not manage to break them down”.

That is why, shared Vedat S. Ahmed, the Supreme Muslim Council decided toperpetuate the name and the memory of the first grand mufti by establishing in his name the first annual award of the Muslim Denomination.

And the Grand Mufti Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi said: “Before us there were richer, wiser and more educated people, but only those who had used the wealth, the wisdom and the science in service of the society are remembered and continue to live in the hearts of the people. The people who are going to be awarded this evening are among those promoters of good deeds who have understood that good will save mankind.” 

The first annual awards “Hodzhazade Mehmed Muhyiddin effendi” were given to the 92 years old Mehmed Hamid from the village of Ribnovo, Blagoevgrad region for his contribution to the preservation andpassing on the Muslim identity to the young Muslim generation in Bulgaria; to Musa Durlu for his example as a parent who takes care of the upbringing and education of his five children who are students in the religious School inMomchilgrad; to Pavel Stoyanov, who with his company “Karmela 2000” Ltd first in Bulgaria certified his production with “Halal” certificate of the Muslim Denomination and promoted the halal products among the Muslims in Bulgaria; to Erdinch Syuleyman for his innovative initiatives in the field of  the religious education which he applies in the village of Benkovski, Kadzhali region, and in other villages in the region.

And the fourth President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev received a honorary award for his efforts in uniting the society and the institutional respect to the Muslim Denomination and the good attitude towards the Muslim community in the country.

Yuzlem Tefikova