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On Friday, October 26, 2012, Muslim communities of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kharkov, Odessa, Vinnitsa, Zaporozhiye, Kiev and other Ukrainian cities will be celebrating Kurban-Bayram.

One of the greatest Muslim festivals, Id Al-Adha (Kurban-Bayram), begins for Muslims across the world in the morning, 10 Zul-Hija by the Muslim lunar calendar, and continues three days. Id Al-Adha is the culmination of Hajj (pilgrimage to Mekkah), as the pilgrims perform the ritual of offering sacrifice in the valley of Mina, in commemoration of sacrifice offering by Ibrahim (Abraham). This event is mentioned in the Bible and the Koran.

Apart from pilgrims, sacrifice offering must be performed by each and every Muslim who is financially capable to do this. Most common sacrifice animals are cows, sheep or goats. The ritual is performed after the festival prayer or in the two days following the festival. 

The Most High commands the faithful: “For every community We have ordained certain rites that they may commemorate the name of God by reading it over the cattle We have given them for sacrifice. Your God is one God, so be obedient to Him” (Koran, 22:34).

Meat of sacrifice animals are traditionally divided into three parts: one is to be left for own consumption, the second one is distributed as a charity among Muslims, and the third one is given to relatives and neighbors, including non-Muslims. A good tradition is to use the third part of Kurban for cooking a festival meal, plov (rice with meat and spices), shashlyk, manty, for neighbors, friends, relatives and everyone else who may come to visit Muslims in festival days.  

The meaning of sacrifice offering ritual is mainly religious, as each Muslim is obliged to offer sacrifice on legally earned money and share it with poor and deprived ones, and to arrange festive meals for his guests. It is an act of generosity and a sacrifice with hope for God’s forgiveness. As said in the Koran: “When they have fallen (slaughtered) on their sides, eat of (their meat) and feed those who are content with little, and those who supplicate… It is not their meat or blood that reaches God: It is the fealty of your heart that reaches Him” (Koran, 22:36–37).

The Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Ummah” and the All-Ukrainian Association of Public Organizations “Alraind” congratulate all Muslims with the sacrifice offering festival, Kurban-Bayram. We wish you prosperity, mercy and pleasure of the Most High. For more detailed information, please, contact 063-383 87 70 (Grigory).

Donetsk, 2, Berestovskaya str., phone: 093-754 76 90 (Rustam)

Kharkov, 2, Baykalsky lane, phone: 063-458 69 81 (Eugeny)

Odesss, 17-A, Molodyozhny avenue, phone: 063-995 10 09 (Аdam)

Lugansk, 28-Ж, Pavlovskaya str., phone: 093-567 92 69 (Muhammad)

Vinnitsa, 63, M.Koshka str., phone: 093-575 20 40 (Dyya)

Zaporozhiye, phone: 097-780 13 61 (Bilal)

Simferopol, 7-A, Makrousova str., phone: 066-314 34 88 (Muslim) 

The Religious Administration of Crimea announced about celebration on October, 25, by Turkish calendar.