For a second consecutive year the Supreme Muslim Council presented the “Hodzhazade Mehmed MuhiyddinEfendi” Awards

For a second consecutive year the Supreme Muslim Council presented the “Hodzhazade Mehmed MuhiyddinEfendi” Awards

For a second consecutive year the Supreme Muslim Council (SMC) presented the prestigious awards “Hodzhazade Mehmed Muhiyddin Efendi” for significant contribution to the development of the Muslim Denomination in Bulgaria. The official awarding ceremony took place on December 8, 2018 (Saturday) from 18:00 o’clock in the Concert Hall of the Central Military Club in Sofia.

The event was attended by a number of official guests, among whom were representatives of the Muslim Denomination and of different religious communities in our country, ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions, politicians and others. Guests of honor having the privilege to present by one of this year’s awards on the name of Hodzhazade Mehmed Muhiyddin Efendi, were the SMC Chairman Vedat Ahmed, the Grand Mufti of the Muslims in the Republic of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi, the former grand muftis of our country Fikri Salih and Selim Mehmed as well as the Regional Mufti of Aytos Selyahattin Muharrem.

On the occasion of the official event greeting addresses were sent by the Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, by the Minister of Interior Mladen Marinov and by the Mayor of Sofia Yordanka Fandakova.

This year the five recognized for achievements and significant contribution for the development of the Muslim Denomination and the Muslim community in Bulgaria are the 92-year-old hodzha (teacher) from the region of Ruse Halil Yavash, Dr. Ismail Dzhambazov, lawyer Metin Dzhambazov from the city of Shumen, the student Emine Shamatareva from the village of Valkosel (Municipality of Satovcha) and Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, who received this year’s moral, honorary award for overall contribution.

After the opening of the program with reading of parts from the Holy Qur’an the SMC Chairman delivered a welcoming address to all guests. He presented the idea, the essence and the history of the annual awards “Hozhazade Mehmed Muhiyddin Efendi” which were presented for a first time in 2017.

The personality and the life of the first Grand Mufti of Bulgaria Hodzhazade Mehmed Muhiyddin Efendi were presented in a short video during the official evening. In his welcoming address Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi described him with the words:

“Hodzhazade Mehmed Muhiyddin Efendi – a man who managed to show that he can be at the same time a Muslim and a citizen of a non-Muslim country. He proved that Islam is religion which can be professed always and everywhere.”

In his address to the guests the Grand Mufti Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi also said:

“The fact that the awards are presented both to Muslims and non-Muslims shows that we are called to follow the conditions in which we live, to “open” our religion to be “transparent” in our deeds and to treat with respect absolutely all people. Because we all are created by Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.

The five nominees this year received their awards on the name of Hodzhazade Mehmed Muhiyddin Efendi from the guests of honor at the event. During the official ceremony for each of the nominees was played a short video presenting their personalities and merits for the development of the Muslim community in Bulgaria and the institution of the Muslim Denomination.

The solemn atmosphere of the evening was maintained by the participation of the guest-performer of religious Sufi music Dr. Abbas Yahya, who is teaching religious music at the Faculty on Theology at the Trakya University – Edirne, Turkey.

The ceremony was closed with gratitude and best wishes to all atendees for whom there was prepared also a treat at the end of the evening.

Author:
L.Chausheva