The 20^th anniversary of the Training course for hafizes in the town of Madan was marked with an official celebration

Exactly 20 years after the establishment of the first and only in our country training center for hafizes in the mining town of Madan, a spectacular festive program was held on the occasion. It took place on July 7 (Sunday) 2019 at the central mosque of the town.

The celebration was attended by a number of highly respected official guests from the country and abroad. Among them were the Grand Mufti of the Muslims in the republic of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi, the Chairman of the Supreme Muslim Council (SMC) Vedat Ahmed, the Deputy Grand Mufti Birali Myumyun, representatives of the Embassy of the republic of Turkey and of the General Turkish Consulate in the city of Plovdiv. There also participated regional muftis from the country, directors and teachers from the religious schools in Bulgaria, prominent public figures and intellectuals.

The festive event on the occasion of the 20^th anniversary of the Training course for hafizes – Madan was also attended by a number of guests from abroad. Among them were the Director of “Media and Culture” Department at the International Organization for the Holy Quran and the Sunnah Dr. Abdulaziz Kasim, the Director of the Foundation for Qur’an Memorizing in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a main organizer of the Bosnian national competitions for hafizes Dr. Jamal Muslih, as well as the Director of the Training School for Hafizes – Tirana (Albania) Urim Rexhepi.

The festive program was opened with recitation of a part of the Holy Qur’an by Metin Olucak – guest-imam from the Republic of Turkey at Regional Mufti’s Office –Kardzhali.

“It is a pleasure for me to host this anniversary celebration. It would be pride for every mufti’s office to have at its territory a training course with such a history. Today we celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the establishment of the Training course for hafizes – town of Madan – a long period of time full with patience, difficulties and lots of efforts, in order to see today the successfully graduated hafizes – the “product” of all those long-standing efforts.” – said in his address to all guests the host of the program and Regional Mufti of Smolyan Nedzhmi Dabov. He greeted the management of the training course for hafizes – Madan as well as all people who contributed to its development and wished them many successes in the future.

The festive program on the 20^th anniversary of the training course for hafizes included also performances of religious songs (ilyahi) from the present students in the training course for hafizes and from “Vest” band. The guests had the opportunity to listen recitations of the Holy Qur’an by representatives of all different generations of the graduates of the training school for Qur’an memorization in Madan

Within the celebrating there was announced the change in the official name of the school for hafizes. With a Decision No.1188 of the Supreme Muslim Council from May 7, 2019, the training center already is named after the person who established it – the late Hafiz Murad Hadzhi. The new plate was presented personally by the Grand Mufti Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi who told about the life and the significant work of Hafiz Murad, who left behind this bright trace.

Besides to its founder, the training course for hafizes in Madan exists already 20 years thanks to many other people. Within the Sunday festive event in the town there were awarded some of the people who had given significant contribution to the existence and the works of the Training course for Hafizes “Hafiz Murad Hadzhi” – including the Muslim Board of Trustees – the town of madan, Sabiha Usheva, the Mayor of Municipality of Madan Fahri Molaysenov, hafiz Bayram Ushev – teacher in the training course, and of course – hafiz Shefket Hadzhi – one of the founders of the training center, its director and present teacher in it.

After the end of the program the official guests of the celebration, the former and the present students of Training Course for Hafizes “Hafiz Murah Hadzhi” gathered for a group photo. Then all guests of the celebration were invited to share a common lunch, provided by the organizers.

The Training Course for Hafizes “Hafiz Murad Hadzhi” is the only of its kind training center for Qur’an memorization, which was officially established in 1999 and began its activities on July 1, the same year. Founder of the training course and the first teacher in it is hafiz Murad Hadzhi from the mining town, who passed away in November 2018, shortly before the anniversary of his endeavor. Although he is no longer among us his deed will be continued and will not be forgotten over the years. During its history of twenty years the Training Course for Hafizes “Hafiz Murad Hadzhi” trained nearly 300 students and 45 of them successfully completed their training in Qur’an memorization and will be “guardians” of the Holy Qur’an to the last day of their life.

Author: L. Chausheva