On September 12, Muslims from all over the world celebrated Feast of the Sacrifice Kurban Bayram (in Arabic - Eid al-Adha). The Ukrainian community of the capital is not an exception. In the morning, more than 2.5 thousand faithful gathered to pray at the mosque of the Kyiv Islamic Cultural Centre (st. Dehtiarivska, 25-a). Ordinary citizens, as well as government officials, representatives of the Mejlis of Crimean Tatar people, and members of Ukrainian public or other non-governmental organisations and national movements were among Muslims, who came to congratulate warmly each other on the holiday.
The followers of other religions also have attended the Islamic Cultural Centre to bring good wishes on the occasion of the feast. It clearly indicates that there are no any preconditions for interreligious confrontation in Ukraine.
Sheikh Said Ismagilov, the Mufti Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine "Ummah", noticed in his commentary to "Islam in Ukraine" that the feast begins with a prayer like all events in the life of the followers of Islam:
- Overall, the holiday Eid al-Adha is widely celebrated in Ukraine. Today we prayed for peace in Ukraine, for de-occupation of captured regions, for Donbas, for our brothers - Crimean Tatars and other Crimean Muslims suffering from the repression in the occupied peninsula. A large number of displaced persons came to pray today. Tomorrow we will hand out the meat of sacrificial animals, mainly to refugees and displaced residents from the occupied Crimea and Donbas region.
As Sheikh Said notices, this celebration in honor of the prominent event, described in the Scripture, should be inherent to all Abrahamic traditions: such as Judaism and Christianity.
- The rabbi came to our Feast today - I asked him how this biblical event was celebrated in the Jewish tradition, and he answered that they mentioned the Ibrahim's (Abraham’s) Sacrifice every morning during the prayer... So I think this holiday concerns not only Muslims, but it is a common tradition of all Abrahamic religions.
However, according to Sheikh Said Ismagilov, the essence of Kurban Bayram is not only Animal sacrifice, it also urges to be generous, sacrificial, loyal and grateful to Allah for the direct path - Islam.
- This is a feast when Muslims must do as many good deeds as can, spread joy, make gifts, especially to children.
The feast is celebrated for three to four days. During this time, men are performing the sacrifice, and women are preparing festive meals, inviting guests. Muslims also visit the cemetery where they pray for the souls of deceased relatives. On September 12, more than six thousand Muslims prayed in mosques of eight ICC.
