Eid al-Adha has since ancient times symbolized mercy, unity, care for others and compassion for those in need. In terms of mass and significance, it is not inferior to another important holiday all Muslims. Every year, Eid al-Adha is celebrated 10-11 days earlier than the previous year, since the Muslim calendar does not coincide with the Gregorian calendar. It is conducted from July 16, 622 BC. - the day when the prophet Muhammad and the first Muslims moved from Mecca to Medina.

This special day for all Muslims marks the end of the Hajj rite - the pilgrimage to Mecca as one of the five basic commandments of Islam. It is believed that every self-respecting Muslim should make it at least once in his life. But those Muslims who do not yet have the opportunity to go on a large-scale pilgrimage perform the necessary rituals where they find themselves on that day.

Eid al-Adha celebration traditionally starts early in the morning, around 07:00. a full ablution precedes, after which the Muslim puts on clean clothes. Eating before prayer is not recommended.

Sacrifice remains the main ritual of the holiday and a symbol of allegiance to Allah. This tradition is known not only from the Koran, but also from the Bible. In the Christian Scriptures, one can find an episode where Abraham speaks of the need to lay his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar. In Muslim culture, the protagonist of a similar plot was the prophet Ibrahim. In a dream, he sees the archangel Jabriel, and he conveys to him the command of Allah: you need to sacrifice Ismail, your only son (the prophet had no children until the age of 86, until his first son Ismail was born). Neither the son nor the father began to contradict the will of the Lord, since they were obedient Muslims. Ibrahim goes to the valley of Mina (now Mecca) to prepare for the ceremony. At this time, his son humbly awaits his fate. “My father, do what you are commanded; you will find me, if Allah wills, patient,” exclaims Ismail.

However, as soon as Ibrahim brought the knife over the neck of his obedient son, Allah decided that there was no need for this bloody sacrifice. He told Ibrahim that he had successfully passed the test. “Do not raise your hand against the boy and do nothing to him, for now I know that you are afraid of God and have not spared your son,” Allah said. The first-born of the prophet miraculously survived. Instead of a son, Allah ordered the prophet to slaughter a lamb and thereby made it clear that human sacrifices are not needed. Animal slaughter is enough.

In our time, a camel, a cow (bull), a buffalo, a goat (goat) can replace a ram as an object of sacrifice. It is believed that a person who makes a sacrifice, from the first drop of blood, all sins are forgiven. The rite involves many subtleties. For example, if a Muslim chose a goat or a sheep, then he must sacrifice them alone, and if he chose a camel or a cow, then only a group of seven people can perform the ceremony. Secondly, the animal must be suitable for age. So, a goat and a sheep (ram) must be no older than a year, a buffalo and a cow (ox) - two years old, and a camel is allowed to be sacrificed up to five years of age. Thirdly, the animal must be healthy, without serious illnesses for quality meat. Fourthly, for the slaughter, it is best to choose an animal with white wool than with black, since the prophet Muhammad is over two white rams. Before the slaughter, the victim must be thrown to the ground with his head towards Mecca.

It is believed that Muslims can make a sacrifice within three holidays. After the ram is slaughtered, dishes are prepared from its meat for a festive feast. Moreover, the meat is usually divided into three parts. One part is distributed to the poor and needy people, the second is treated to relatives, and the third remains in the house of the owner of the animal who sacrificed. The Koran categorically forbids giving meat and animal skins to anyone for money, as well as paying with them.

During the days of Eid al-Adha, Muslims are supposed to not work, visit relatives and friends (including those who have died in the cemetery), give alms, and exchange congratulations. Labor migrants who live in Russia are released from work on this day. Any good deeds every Muslim believer should be accompanied by a prayer of gratitude and requests to the Almighty for the forgiveness of sins.

“The word “Kurban” in Arabic means “approach”, “proximity”. By doing good deeds on the days of the holiday, we are approaching the mercy of Allah, ”explains the meaning of the word head of the direction of the dagwat of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Tatarstan Niyaz hazrat Sabirov.

By fasting and prayer

Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha on the 10th day of the month of Zul-Hijjah and celebrate for four days. At the same time, preparations for Eid al-Adha begin well in advance. So, 9 days before the holiday, it is advisable for every Muslim to start fasting. During fasting, as in, it is prescribed to refrain from food and water from dawn to dusk, bad words and deeds, and also to worship the Almighty more. The first days of the month of Zul-Hijjah (in 2017 it came on August 23) are especially valuable, since Allah increases the reward for good deeds.

The day preceding Eid al-Adha is called the day of Araf. In 2017, it falls on August 31st. Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia gather in the sacred valley of Arafat, where they perform the main ritual - standing on the mountain. It was in this valley, according to Islamic tradition, that Adam and Hava met.

“After Allah sent Adam and Havva to earth, they could not see each other for a long time. After numerous requests for forgiveness, the Almighty had mercy on them. Having met in the valley, they spent the whole day in prayer,” says Niyaz hazrat Sabirov.

Believers who are not on the Hajj on the day of Arafah observe a strict fast and pray to Allah. From the morning prayer of the day of Arafah, takbirs (words of exaltation of Allah) are added to the prayer, which must be said aloud by men, and by women to themselves after each prayer for 5 days (in 2017 from the morning of August 31 to the evening of September 4). Besides, in holidays in addition to the 5-fold prayer, you need to say additional prayers, nightly (namaz tahajjud) and more often say the words of remembrance of the Almighty (La ilaha illallah, Allahu akbar, Alhamdu lillah).

“Muslims need to spend the day of Arafah with benefit. For doing good deeds on this day, the reward increases many times over. One hadith says that when the prophet Muhammad was asked about fasting on the day of Araf, he said: “The sins of the one who fasts on this day will be washed away for the previous and subsequent years,” Niyaz hazrat quoted.

Believers read namaz in the mosque. Photo: AIF-Kazan / Ruslan Ishmukhametov

The night before Eid al-Adha should be spent in prayer. One should read the Qur'an, pray tahajjud, ask for forgiveness from Allah. It is believed that the prayer made before the holiday is accepted by the Almighty. The prophet has a saying: “The soul of the one who spends the nights of the holidays (Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Adha) will not die on the Day of Judgment, counting on a reward, in worship, when the hearts of many die.”

Closer to morning, men wash themselves, put on clean clothes and go to the mosque, saying takbirs along the way. Morning prayers are performed in the mosque, then the imam reads the Koran and a festive sermon. 30 minutes after sunrise, a festive prayer is performed. Only after it can you start the ritual of sacrifice.

Sacrifice Rules

A sacrifice can be made by every Muslim who has reached the age of majority, has a permanent place of residence (not necessarily for a traveler making the Hajj), has sound mind, and is wealthy.

You can sacrifice: a goat, a sheep or a ram at the age of one year (from one person). A bull or a cow from two years old (up to seven people). Camel from five years old (up to seven people).

The men divide the sacrificial animal into three parts. Photo: AIF-Kazan / Maria Zvereva

Women don't go to the mosque

On the day of Arafah, women clean the house, buy gifts and food for the table. They also spend the night in prayer, then they wash, change into fresh clothes and begin to prepare a festive table. At the same time, only men go to the mosque, women stay at home.

“On the day of the holiday it is customary to invite guests. In the morning, tables are laid in the houses, and after cutting the carcass of the animal, women begin to prepare dishes from sacrificial meat. Also in Eid al-Adha, you need to visit the sick, orphans, give affection and care to people. Family holidays are held on the territory of mosques, where treats are waiting for people. A great holiday for Muslims lasts 4 days: at this time you need to go to the cemetery, pray for the souls of the dead, visit your parents more often, ask their blessings,” says Niyaz Khazrat Sabirov.

Women stay at home and prepare food on holidays. Photo: AiF / Aliya Sharafutdinova

Questions and answers regarding the Feast of the Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Adha)

1. What is the best way to celebrate Eid al-Adha?

Answer: Eid al-Adha family holiday Therefore, after visiting the mosque, it is best to sacrifice an animal together with the family, distribute meat to those in need, visit relatives and friends, make gifts to each other.

2. What does the Feast of Sacrifice mean for believers?

Answer: Eid al-Adha commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) to sacrifice his son in order to fulfill the command of Allah.

3. What is its humanistic message?

Answer: Obedience to Allah. To commemorate this event, every Muslim remembers the readiness to fulfill the will of Allah, even if for this it would have to sacrifice his only son.

Also important is almsgiving on this day, material assistance to those in need and lightening their heavy burden.

4. What rituals and ceremonies do Muslims observe on this day?

Answer: The Feast of Sacrifice marks the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca. According to the madhhab of Abu Hanifa, participation in a collective holiday prayer is a wajib. It is sunnah on this day not to eat anything before prayer.

5. How many days does the Feast of Sacrifice last?

Answer: The Feast of Sacrifice lasts 3 days, which are called Tashrik.

6. What obligations are placed on believers on this day?

Answer: The fulfillment of any religious prescriptions, as well as the avoidance of sins, is obligatory for Muslims on any day, including holidays. On the Feast of Sacrifice, as well as the days of Tashriq, fasting is prohibited. According to the madhhab of Abu Hanifa, every Muslim who has a nisab must make a sacrifice.

7. Is the day before the holiday also significant from the point of view of Islam? What is recommended to do on the eve of the holiday?

Answer: The day before the Feast of Sacrifice is called the day of Arafat. On this day, pilgrims, being in the Arafat valley, ask Allah for the forgiveness of sins and turn to Allah with prayers for their loved ones and relatives. For Muslims who were unable to go on Hajj this year, it is Sunnah to fast on the day of Arafat. Also on this day it is important to pray, praise Allah, and it is advisable to spend the night before the holiday in worship.

8. When does the holiday prayer begin?

Answer: Eid prayer on this day begins half an hour after sunrise. On this day, the festive prayer is held in all mosques. A feature of this prayer is that the azan and kamat are not pronounced before it, and the takbir is repeatedly pronounced.

9. What is the position of sacrifice according to the madhhab of Abu Hanifa?

Answer: According to the madhhab of Abu Hanifa, every Muslim who has a nisab must make a sacrifice.

10. How to correctly express the intention to make a sacrifice?

Answer: The intention to sacrifice does not need to be said out loud. However, it is acceptable to speak the intention in any language. For example: "I intend to perform a sacrifice for the pleasure of Allah."

11. What animals are preferred for sacrifice, and what criteria should they meet?

Answer: Almighty Allah declared only livestock as sacrificial animals: “For each community We have established places of sacrifice so that they remember the name of Allah over the cattle with which He endowed them”(Sura Al-Hajj, 34).

12. Is there a time period in which it is necessary to make a sacrifice?

Answer: The time for sacrifice begins immediately after the end of the holiday prayer and lasts for three days after the holiday.

13. Is it possible to make a sacrifice later if a Muslim could not do it on the appointed days?

Answer: No. Sacrifice in Eid al-Adha is performed only on fixed days.

14. Is it enough to sacrifice one sheep per family?

Answer: Kurban is performed from every adult, reasonable person who has his own income, nisab.

15. What to do with the skin of sacrificial animals?

Answer: A Muslim who makes a sacrifice can use the skin of an animal, or donate it to those in need. It is forbidden to pay with the skin of sacrificial animals to the people who performed the slaughter.

16. Is the sacrifice valid if the slaughtered animal is pregnant? What to do with the fetus?

Answer: If a live fetus is extracted from a slaughtered pregnant female, then it will be in the same category as its mother (i.e. it will be considered a sacrificial animal, the same for its meat, skin, etc.) . If the fetus is dead, it should be buried.

17. When should the meat of the sacrificial animal be consumed?

Answer: Initially, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered to consume and distribute all the meat in three days, that is, not to leave it for long-term storage. However, he subsequently canceled this instruction: "I have been ordered to eat the meat within three days, but now you can eat it as you wish"(Ash-Shawkyani M. Neil al-avtar. T. 5. S. 136, hadith No. 2128.)

18. Into how many parts should the meat of the sacrificial animal be divided?

Answer: The meat of the sacrificial animal should be divided into three parts: one part must be donated to the needy, one part should be distributed to relatives, and one part should be left for yourself and your family.

19. Is it possible to breed animals for the purpose of selling them for kurban?

Answer: Yes, you can

20. Can each member of the family sacrifice an animal if they have their own income, or is one animal from the family sufficient?

Answer: From one family one animal is enough, regardless of the income of its members. But if it is possible to sacrifice several animals, the reward from Allah will be appropriate.

21. Can we distribute the meat of sacrificial animals and give gifts to those who do not fulfill their religious obligations?

Answer: Yes, of course. In this case, you will remind them of the importance of observing religious precepts and soften their hearts towards Islam.

22. I have heard that some Muslims fast for 10 days before the Feast of Sacrifice. It is allowed?

Answer: It is Sunnah to fast all the first 9 days of the month of Zul-Hijja, up to the Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayram). "The Messenger of Allah fasted 9 days of the month of Zul-Hijjah, on the day of Ashura and three days every month". (Abu Dawud)

23. What should young families do if, for example, due to lack of money, they cannot perform the sacrifice?

Answer: Sacrifice is obligatory for wealthy families who have nisab. If the family income does not reach nisab or there are debts, then the sacrifice is not obligatory.

September 12 began the main Muslim holiday - Eid al-Adha. Food is one of its most important components. Zarema Tagirova, a culinary blogger and connoisseur of Tatar cuisine, told about what dishes a gala dinner can’t do without and what is the daily routine of the celebrants.

"Feast of Sacrifice", or Eid al-Adha, is the most main holiday for Muslims. It begins 70 days after the end of the thirty-day fast in the month of Ramadan and coincides with the day the pilgrimage to Mecca ends.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated for three days, starting from sunrise, and before the holiday they keep 10 days of fasting - uraza. Believers wash their faces, put on clean clothes and visit the mosque for a festive morning prayer - prayer, with a sermon, and also visit cemeteries to honor the memory of deceased relatives. The final stage of the holiday is the sacrifice of any animal - a ram, goat, camel or bull, while the age of the ram should not be more than a year, and the bull or cow - no more than two years. The animal must be healthy and not have any physical defects, it is sacrificed in accordance with the canons: they read a prayer, and the meat is divided into three parts - one is given to needy and poor people or left in the mosque, the second part is used in cooking festive dishes, which are treated to relatives, friends and neighbors, and the third part remains in the owner's house. The meat should not be stored, it must be eaten at the end of Eid al-Adha, and the bones must be buried.

What is prepared for the holiday from sacrificial meat? On the first day - offal dishes: liver and heart. The second day begins with a bowl of soup cooked in a broth of lamb heads and drumsticks. Prepare stew, roast, complementing with rice, legumes and vegetables. On the third day, soups made from lamb bones, pilaf, shish kebab, lagman, manti, beshbarmak, chuchvara and many other traditional dishes appear on the tables of Muslims.

Special place for holiday table devoted to sweets, which are customary to decorate tables and present to children. In Eid al-Adha, pastries are usually prepared using almonds and raisins: these are all kinds of oriental cookies, pies and biscuits.

Dishes for the festive table

jiz byz

Jiz byz is a dish of shepherds, which they ate and eat on their long journeys through the pastures. Liver cannot be stored for a long time, which is why this dish is quickly prepared and eaten right there. Lamb offal is a storehouse of vitamins and flavors. The dish uses the whole liver, according to your taste - liver, heart, kidneys, lung, peritoneum, spleen and lamb eggs (for the male variation of jiz-byz). Jiz-byz is prepared in a saj (a concave steel or cast-iron frying pan with two handles on the sides. - Approx. ed.), or in a cauldron or wok.

Ingredients (for 4 persons):

• a set of lamb liver (liver, lung, heart, spleen) - 1 pc.;
• onion - 4-5 pcs.;
• vegetable oil / tail fat - 3-4 tbsp. spoons;
• garlic - 2-3 cloves;
• Bulgarian pepper - 2-3 pcs.;
• tomatoes - 3-4 pcs.;
• coriander - 1 tsp;
• ground black pepper and salt to taste.

Cooking method:

Peel the onion from the husk, wash. Finely chop and set aside for a while. Wash and chop bell peppers and tomatoes. Wash a set of lamb liver. Cut each component separately. Heart - remove ducts and blood clots. Coarsely chop the liver, removing the excess film. Lung and spleen are also cut not very finely.

In a cauldron, dissolve the oil with a clove of garlic. As soon as it turns brown, it must be removed from the oil. Fry the heart first for 1-2 minutes, then add the liver, then the lungs and spleen. Mix thoroughly and fry for a minute.

Finally, add onions, chopped tomatoes and peppers. They will give the dish taste, juice and softness. Simmer, stirring, 5 minutes. At the end of the dish you need to salt, pepper and add coriander. Sprinkle with coarsely chopped cilantro before serving.

Salad "Eastern"

Not the last place on the festive table is occupied by salads with liver and meat. Oriental salad is varied, and it can be prepared with both liver and boiled beef or lamb. All products must be chopped into straws.

Ingredients (for 4 persons):

• lamb liver or boiled beef - 200 g;
• tomatoes - 3-4 pcs.;
• pickled cucumber - 3-4 pcs.;
• Bulgarian pepper - 3-4 pcs.;
• red onion - 1 pc.;
• cilantro;
• vegetable oil - 2-3 tbsp. l.;
• soy sauce - 1/2 tsp;
• apple cider vinegar - 1/2 tsp;
• freshly ground pepper;
• sea ​​salt;
• sesame.

Cooking method:

Peel the lamb liver from the duct and films, cut into thin strips and fry for 1-2 minutes in a well-heated pan.

Wash all vegetables and pat dry. Chop the onion into half rings and set aside. Cut tomatoes, peppers and cucumber into thin strips.

In a bowl, combine soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, vegetable oil, salt and pepper. To mix everything. Check for the balance of acid - sweets.

Put vegetables and liver in a bowl and season with sauce. Put the salad on a plate, sprinkle with sesame seeds on top.

Shulyum

Shulum is a rich, hearty soup made from meat, coarsely chopped vegetables and herbs. As a rule, it is cooked on an open fire, and the choice of vegetables is determined by seasonality. Shanks, shoulder blades and other components of lamb, as well as beef, poultry and game are chosen from meat.

Ingredients (for 4-6 persons):

• lamb (shank) - 2 kg;
• onion - 2 pcs.;
• Bulgarian pepper - 10 pcs.;
• potatoes - 6-8 pcs.;
• tomatoes - 8-10 pcs.;
• parsley - 200 g;
• cilantro - 200 g;
• basil - 200 g;
• dill - 200 g;
• salt;
• peppercorns;
• freshly ground pepper;
• chilli.

Cooking method:

Cut lamb into pieces of 100-150 grams. Peel the onion. Pour cold water into the pan, put the meat and onions. The first 40 minutes should not be salted. After boiling, remove the foam, reduce heat and cook for 1 hour.

Peel potatoes and cut into large slices. Add to the broth after 40-45 minutes of cooking. Sweet pepper cut into strips. On tomatoes, cut the skin crosswise, pour boiling water over and peel. Cut into slices. After an hour of cooking meat, peppers and tomatoes are laid in the pan.

Finely chop all greens. 10 minutes before readiness, we begin to add it: first dill and parsley, then after a couple of minutes basil, and when the soup is ready - cilantro.

Shah pilaf

Pilaf is a dish that brings people, traditions and nations together at the same table. There are a great many variations of it, but one of the most prominent representatives of the festive pilaf is shah-pilaf, a dish of Azerbaijani cuisine. The name comes from his appearance, which resembles the crown of medieval eastern rulers.

A characteristic feature of Azerbaijani pilafs is gazmakh (this word cannot be translated into Russian - Note. ed.). This is a crust of pita bread, dough or noodles, as well as the bottom layer of rice that sticks to it. The essence of ghazmakh is that, while roasting, it prevents the burning of rice. A special round iron sheet is often placed under the cauldron, which prevents the pilaf from burning and contributes to an even distribution of temperature.

Ingredients (for 4-6 persons):

• long grain rice (preferably Basmati) - 200-300 grams;
• lamb (pulp) - 500-600 grams;
• ghee or fat tail fat;
• salt ;
• saffron - a pinch.

Gazmah:

• thin pita bread - 2-3 pieces;
• melted butter - 80 grams;
• sesame.

Shirin-ashgara:

• dried apricots - 80 grams;
• raisins (quiche-mish) - 80-90 grams;
• melted butter.

Zirvak:

• onion - 1 pc;
• medium carrot - 1 pc;
• mix for pilaf (barberry seeds, cumin, chili pepper, cumin)- 1 tsp

Cooking method:

Rice: Rinse the required amount of rice at least 3-4 hours before cooking pilaf. Pour in water, sprinkle salt on top and set aside. It is important to do this in advance, so it will cook faster. Pour saffron into a cup, pour boiling water over it, cover with a saucer, let stand for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Fill the largest pot with water (there should also be a lot of water, because rice swells when cooked) and put on a strong fire. Pour a lot of salt, a few tablespoons. As soon as the water in the pan begins to boil, pour into it the water in which the rice was soaked. As soon as everything boils again, add rice, stirring. When it is cooked, put it in a colander and let it cool.

Width of ashgar: Rinse dried fruits, put in a saucepan and pour water over them so that it covers them completely. Put on fire, extinguish. Once the water has evaporated, add the oil. Fry the ashgar over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, then let cool.

Zirvak: chop carrots and onions into strips. Put the mixture for pilaf in a dry cauldron and warm it up. Add oil or tail fat, melt a little, then fry the vegetables until golden brown.

Cut lamb into pieces, add parts to the cauldron, sealing them from all sides. Add some water and simmer with zirvak for 30 minutes.

Gazmag: cut thin pita bread into strips 1.5-2 cm wide.

Assembling the shah-pilaf: grease a cauldron or form with melted butter, sprinkle with sesame seeds and lay out the overlapped chopped pita bread around the entire perimeter. Its ends should hang over the walls of the cauldron. Grease again with melted butter. Then lay out a layer of rice, a layer of zirvak with lamb, a layer of ashgar and repeat everything again by analogy.

The final touch: add a little oil to the pre-soaked saffron and pour the pilaf over the entire surface. With those pieces of pita bread that hung from the cauldron, line the top of the pilaf, grease with melted butter and cover with a lid. Put the cauldron on fire or in a preheated oven to 180 degrees for 1 hour.

Before serving, turn the pilaf upside down, cut into pieces.

Cookies "Shaker-puri"

The culinary art of the East was created and is being created by women. In any family, regardless of wealth, the ability to cook is passed down from generation to generation. This is the essence of the life and traditions of peoples. The mother does not write down recipes: her daughters watch her for years as she conjures in the kitchen. All girls and women know the golden rule from childhood: "Your eye is the best scale."

Oriental cuisine is famous for its abundance of sweets and desserts. Many of them are based on spices, fruits and dried fruits, nuts. In Eid al-Adha, preference is given to desserts containing almonds. Cookies "Shaker-puri" are a delicacy that is met and treated to guests with tea, and it is also distributed to children.

Ingredients (for 6-10 persons):

• premium flour - 200 g;
• butter - 100 g;
• almond flour - 80 g;
• cinnamon - 1/2 tsp;
• egg - 1 pc.;
• yolk - 1 pc.;
• powdered sugar - 100 g;
• milk - 125 ml;
• vanilla sugar - 20 g;
• baking powder - 5 g.

Cooking method:

Beat room temperature butter until fluffy with vanilla sugar and powdered sugar. Add egg and yolks, milk. Mix everything thoroughly. Pour the sifted flour into the mass along with the baking powder and cinnamon. Replace dough.

Roll out the dough into a layer 1-1.5 cm thick, use a crescent-shaped mold to cut. Lay on a sheet covered with parchment, and put in the oven, preheated to 220 degrees, for 15-20 minutes.

Take out the finished cookies, grease with sugar syrup if desired and sprinkle with almond petals or sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve with tea.

Sacrifice (kurban) on the day of Eid al-Adha, as well as on the next three days at-tashriq, is wajib (mandatory) according to the madhhab of Imam Abu Hanif and sunnah (desirable), according to the school of Imam Ash-Shafiy.

Sacrifice during the days of the holiday is a highly rewarded good deed, to which our Prophet, peace be upon him, paid special attention. The following saying is narrated:

ضَحُّوا وَطَيِّبُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَسْتَقْبِلُ بِذَبِيحَتِهِ الْقِبْلَةَ إِلَّا كَانَ دَمُهَا وَفَرْثُهَا وَصُوفُهَا حَسَنَاتٍ فِي مِيزَانِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة

It means: “Perform Qurbani. And let every Muslim stand with his chest and face towards the Kaaba, and then the blood, organs and hair of this animal will be in the form of a reward on the Day of Judgment in his (this person's) favor. And this must be done sincerely from the heart.

It is also known that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, performed a sacrifice and slaughtered two rams.

Of all kinds of animals, only camels, cows (oxen), buffaloes, sheep or goats can be sacrificed (kurban). A camel and a cow can be sacrificed from one to seven people, and a sheep or a goat is allowed to be slaughtered for only one Muslim.

The sacrificial animal must meet the following age requirements: sheep or ram - not younger than one year old; goat, bull or cow - older than two years; camel - reached the full five years. Muhaddith Jabir narrated the saying of the Prophet Muhammad in the name of the Prophet "Muhammad" the letter "x" is pronounced as ح in Arabic peace be upon him, where it says:

لَا تَذْبَحُوا إِلَّا مُسِنَّةً إِلَّا أَنْ تَعْسُرَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاذْبَحُوا جَذَعَةً مِنَ الضَّأْنِ

It means: "Cut what is older in age, and if it is difficult, then cut a one-year-old ram."

The sacrificial animal must be healthy, without significant defects that would adversely affect the quantity and quality of meat. It is allowed to have a brand on the animal, or some other minor flaws that do not affect the quality of the meat, for example, a broken or torn off horn, a cut or pierced ear.

Disadvantages that make it impossible to sacrifice an animal: lameness, blindness, a disease that is visible from the outside, severe thinness, partially or completely cut off ear.

It is desirable that the animal be well-fed, large and beautiful.

It is necessary to observe the terms of the Qurbani. This period begins on the 10th day of the month of Dhul-Hijja after the time sufficient for reading two rak'ahs and two sermons has passed from the beginning of the Eid Namaz time, and continues until sunset on the 13th day of this month.

It is advisable to divide the meat of the sacrificial animal into three parts: distribute one to the poor, give the second to any Muslim you want: relatives, neighbors, friends, and the third - the Muslim keeps for himself.

Thus, the sacrifice made not only contributes to the spiritual purification of the donor, but also provides food for the poor part of the Muslim community for some time. However, it is not forbidden to keep all the meat for yourself.

In addition, the meat can be handed over to authentic Muslims involved in the distribution of sacrifices. It is important to note that the meat and skin of kurban cannot be paid off to anyone, nor can it be sold, but it can be given to the one who cut it like sadaka.

And also we must not forget about the good attitude towards the animal when making a sacrifice. It is necessary to make kurban with a sharp sharpened knife so as not to torment the animal. In the event that a person does not know how to cut himself, then it is advisable to entrust this to someone who has experience and skills in performing kurban.

It is advisable to direct your victim towards the qibla and say the words:

«باسم الله، الله أكبر» ("Bismillah. Allahu Akbar")

and also say:

«اللهم تقبّل مني» ("Allahumma takkabal minni" (O Allah, accept my sacrifice)

Dear fellow believers, study your religion and let your sacrifices be accepted! Happy days of the great holiday!

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It is common knowledge among Muslims that fasting in the month of Ramadan is a great observance and duty of the believers. Allah Almighty endowed this month with special honor. And the definition of the beginning of the month of Ramadan is one of the important religious rituals, which must be paid due attention.

The beginning of the lunar month in the Muslim calendar is determined solely by observing the new moon, therefore, it is impossible to know in advance the onset of the month, and the calculations are used only approximately for pre-training. The lunar month has 29 or 30 days.

The method of determining the beginning of the month of Ramadan was taught by the Prophet Muhammad himself in the name of the Prophet "Muhammad" the letter "x" is pronounced as ح in Arabic, peace be upon him, which is still used by Muslims all over the world to this day.

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:

«صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا عِدَّةَ شَعْبَانَ ثَلاثِينَ يَوْماً»

رَوَاهُ البُخَارِي وَمُسْلِم وَغَيْرُهُمَا

This means: “Fast when you see the young month (Ramadan), and if you could not see it, then calculate the end of the month of Shaban on the 30th day, and stop it (Fasting) when you see the young month of Shawwal.”

You can find out whether a new month has begun in the evening after sunset on the 29th of the current month by observing the new moon: if a young moon has appeared in the sky, this means that a new calendar month has come, and if it has not appeared, then the next day will be the 30th day of the current month. And, since there is no 31st day in the lunar calendar, accordingly, the 30th will be the last day of the month. In all lunar calendars, compiled for the whole year, the dates of the beginning of the months and Muslim holidays indicated approximately. It will not be right to rely solely on calendars.

From the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and to this day, Muslims follow this rule, passing on knowledge to each other. Everyone who has lived in Muslim countries and seen the traditions and customs of Muslims knows how to correctly determine the beginning and end of the month. For example, the way Muslims gather in open places where it is more convenient to make nightly observations. After the Muslims see the new moon, they shoot cannons or make a big fire on the top of the mountain, thereby announcing the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan or the onset of the feast of breaking the fast.

These beautiful customs have deep roots that go back to the time when the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, lived, spreading knowledge throughout the earth.

Moreover, the scientists of four madhhabs spoke about this, who confirmed that the determination of the first day of the month of Ramadan is made by observing the new moon after sunset on the 29th day of the month of Shaban. And they are not taken as a basis, and are not the basis for this, the calculations of astronomers and astrologers.

Imam An-Nawawi said in his book Al-Majmoo':

وَمَنْ قَالَ بِحِسَابِ الْمَنَازِلِ فَقَوْلُهُ مَرْدُودٌ بِقَوْلِهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الصَّحِيحَيْنِ

This means: "He who relies on calculation in determining the position of the moon, then his calculations are rejected and not taken into account . As the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:

إنَّا أُمَّةٌ أُمِّيَّةٌ لاَ نَحْسِبُ وَلاَ نَكْتُبُ، الشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا، صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْفَأَكْمِلُوا عِدَّةَ شَعْبَانَ ثَلاثِين يَوْماً

This means: “We are a people who do not live by calculations and calculations, assumptions and conjectures. We don't write or count. A month can be both such (that is, 29 days) and such (that is, 30 days). Start fasting when you see the new moon (Ramadan) and end your Fast when you see the new moon (Shawwala). And if the sky was closed, then add the 30th day to the month of Shaban.

This Hadith was transmitted by Imams Al-Bukhariy, Muslim and others.

Anyone who has seen the new month of Ramadan must fast. The one who did not see it himself, but learned about it from a reliable Muslim, is obliged to observe the Fast of Ramadan. Abu-Dawud said that the son of ‘Umar (II Caliph), may Allah bless them, told the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, that he saw the young month of Ramadan, after which the Prophet himself observed the Fast and ordered other believers to observe it.

If the beginning of the Fast in any locality is confirmed, then all residents of the given locality, as well as neighboring ones located in the same time zone, must observe it (i.e. the sun rises and sets at the same time in their territories) , according to the mazhab of Imam Ash-Shafi'y. According to the mazhab of Imam Abu Hanifa, fasting is required for all believers located anywhere in the world who have learned about the beginning of the month of Ramadan, regardless of distance. According to this opinion, the inhabitants of the east are obliged to observe the Fast of Ramadan, even if they were informed about its beginning by the inhabitants of the west, and vice versa.

Allah has prescribed for us the observance of His Laws handed down to the last Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, after which there will be no new law of God until the Day of Judgment. And these Laws are suitable for all ages, times and epochs, they do not become obsolete until the very End of the World. And with the help of Allah, we will steadfastly observe the teachings of the last Prophet, peace be upon him. Therefore, we remind you that it is unacceptable to distort the Shari'ah and make any changes to it, and the one who does this under the pretext of civilization and technological progress, as if saying that there is a flaw in the Laws of God and he came to correct it, or as if someone after the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, receives the Revelation, which in both cases is absurd and fundamentally contrary to the teachings of Islam.
The true followers of the Prophet, peace be upon him, know, believe and acknowledge that he is truthful in everything that he erects and that he conveys from Allah, and do not ignore what he taught. At the same time, we should know that Islam is not against all-round development and scientific progress, but only prohibits distortions of Shari'ah.

Therefore, according to the above, whether a new month has begun, you can find out in the evening after sunset on the 29th of the current month of Shaban, watching the new moon. On the website of the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Crimea - the Taurida Muftiate, Muslims found the observation that the 1st day of the month of Shaban (the month preceding the month of Ramadan) corresponds to April 6, 2019, respectively On the 29th of the month of Shaban corresponds to May 4, 2019, there will be an observation of the new moon at the beginning of the month of Ramadan.

If Muslims, by observation on the evening of May 4, 2019, see the young month, then the 1st day of the month of Ramadan 2019 is May 5, 2019, and if they do not see it, then May 5, 2019 is considered to be the 30th day of the month of Shaban and, accordingly, then May 6, 2019 - 1 day of the month of Ramadan 2018.

So, the 1st day of the month of Ramadan (Oraza) 2019 or May 5 or May 6, and it depends on observing the new moon. To know exactly about the results of observing the beginning of the month of Ramadan 2019, follow the evening of May 4, 2019 for updating the website of the Taurida Muftiate, where it will be announced according to the observation when the month of Ramadan 2019 began.



Pilgrimage is a purposeful visit to the Ka'ba, that House, about which the Almighty spoke in the Kor'an (Sura “Ali ‘Imran”, Ayats 96-97) meaning:

“Indeed, the first House that was built by Adam for people is the one that is in Mecca. He was raised up to the worlds as a blessing and a guide to salvation. There are clear signs in it: there is the maqam of Ibrahim this name is pronounced in Arabic as إبراهيم(Abraham) - the place where the Prophet Ibrahim stood. Whoever enters this mosque will be safe.”

The pilgrimage must be performed once in a lifetime by every reasonable (non-crazy), adult and free from slavery Muslim, if he has the financial ability to do so.

The history of this ritual goes back to antiquity. When Allah ordered the Prophet Ibrahim to call people to perform the Hajj, the messenger asked: “How to call so that everyone can hear?” In response, Ibrahim was given a Revelation that the Lord Himself would allow the call of the Prophet to be heard. It is known that all the Prophets after Ibrahim performed the Pilgrimage.

When the Prophet Ibrahim announced that Allah commanded to make the Pilgrimage, those souls who were destined to make the Pilgrimage from that time until the End of the World heard his appeal. And the souls who were not destined to make the pilgrimage did not hear the call that day.

In the Ayats of Sura Al-Hajj, it is said that pilgrimage is one of the five Pillars of Islam. We find the same in the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad in the name of the Prophet "Muhammad" the letter "x" is pronounced as ح in Arabic, peace be upon him, meaning:

“Islam is based on five Pillars:

1. Recognition and Belief that there is no deity except Allah and Muh ammad - His Prophet and Messenger
2. Performing five prayers
3. Annual allocation of funds by wealthy Muslims as Zakat
4. Making the Pilgrimage (Hajj) to the Holy House (Ka'ba)
5. Fasting in the month of Ramadan.

The pilgrimage ritual differs from the other main pillars of Islam in that the Hajj is a special kind of rite, characterized by the unity of time and place of its performance. It is performed only at a certain time and in a certain place, which are mentioned in the Qur'an.

The benefit of Hajj for people is cleansing from sins. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said the signifier:

“Whoever performed the Hajj without breaking her sexual intercourse, and did not commit major sins, was cleansed of sins and became pure, like a newborn.”



Evidence for the Existence of God

Praise be to Allah in the name of God in Arabic "Allah", the letter "x" is pronounced like ه in Arabic who created us to be intelligent. Theologians of Islam have said that the mind is a tool that helps to distinguish between useful and harmful, enabling us to recognize good and evil, and, of course, all this on the basis of knowledge obtained in accordance with Shariah. After all, relying on the knowledge of Sharia, we can judge what is good for us and what is harmful. Indeed, Allah in the name of God in Arabic "Allah", the letter "x" is pronounced like ه in Arabic The Almighty commanded us to use the gifted mind, so we should not neglect this blessing, but should use it for our own benefit.

Observing the surrounding world, reflecting on how it appeared and works, a person is able to come to the realization that:

- undoubtedly, there is a Creator who created this whole world,

— and the Creator of this world is not like His creations.

We are convinced without a doubt that the existence of the Universe is proof of the existence of its Creator. After all, our mind does not perceive the existence of an action without an agent, just as it cannot be written without a writer or a building without a builder. Moreover, our mind cannot recognize the existence of this entire world without its Creator.

One has only to look around, and numerous creatures of our Lord will appear before our eyes. All surrounding objects, air, sun, sky, clouds, the grandiose space of the Universe, as well as our actions, thoughts, feelings, and even time itself, are all creations of Allah. There is great use in contemplating how amazing the world. How delightful is the change of day and night, how the moon moves, how beautiful the vault of heaven and stars, how the sun rises at sunrise, sets at sunset, how the winds rage ... And despite the fact that we admire the structure of this universe, the harmony of alternating events, the beauty of nature and in the many blessings that we can receive, we do not in any way ascribe Divinity to any or any of these creatures.

Some people mistakenly attribute divinity to nature and falsely claim that nature created something by giving existence after non-existence. In fact, nature has no will, no choice, no knowledge, respectively, it cannot create and determine the possibility of its existence or non-existence for every being. In Russian, as you know, the word "nature" has two most commonly used meanings. One of them is “the world around us”, the other is “the qualities inherent in objects”.

For example, the nature of fire is burning, burning, heat, light, etc. The nature of water is fluidity, a liquid state. The nature of ice is cold, hardness, brittleness. And it is obvious that the qualities of this or that body do not exist before the appearance of the body itself, to which this quality is inherent. For example, the coldness and brittleness of ice exist from the moment of the appearance of ice, and without ice there is no fragility and other qualities inherent in it. Nature exists from the moment when something to which it is inherent appears. The nature of fire exists from the moment of the appearance of fire, just as the nature of water exists from the moment of the appearance of water itself. It cannot be the Creator for what appeared to be something that once did not exist at all!

If we are talking about nature as an environment around us, then it should be understood that it also has its own qualities, and is part of this world. And a part of this world is not capable of being a creator for the whole world. Obviously, nature is not the Creator of the universe.

Likewise, common sense rejects the false belief that this world supposedly created itself. After all, it is absurd for something to be both creator and created at the same time. Those. based on this false judgment, the universe should have already existed in order to give life to something, but at the same time did not exist in order to be created and appeared, and this is contrary to common sense.

Prophet Muhammad in the name of the Prophet "Muhammad" the letter "x" is pronounced as ح in Arabic, peace and blessings be upon him, said meaning: "Allah was Eternal, and there was nothing but Him",

those. there was no light, no darkness, no water, no air, no earth, no heaven, no Al-Kursiyyah, no Al-'Arsh, no people, no Jinn, no Angels, no time, no place, no up, down, and other directions... There was absolutely nothing created, but Allah was Eternal without beginning. And if He were not Eternal without beginning, He would be created, and created cannot be God. Allah existed forever before the creation of the universe and there was no such thing as "in the universe" or "outside the universe" in relation to Him. Indeed, Allah is the Creator of an image, a place, directions, and He has no image, no location, no direction.

Prophet Muhammad in the name of the Prophet "Muhammad" the letter "x" is pronounced as ح in Arabic, peace and blessings be upon him, said signifying: "The Lord cannot be comprehended by reason." And also Ibn ‘Abbas, the cousin of the Prophet, said the meaning: “Meditate on the creatures of Allah and refrain from thinking about His Essence.” That is, knowledge about Allah is not achieved through imagination, ideas and illusions. While careful observation and thoughtful study of the created allows you to learn about the Power and Greatness of their Creator, to conclude that the Creator is above all the qualities created and is not like His creations.

In order to know about Allah and believe in Him, one should not try to imagine Him, because the imaginary needs the One Who created this image and appearance for it. Allah is the Creator of everything, and He is not imaginable by the mind. Thoughts, images, reflections - all this is created. All the images and imaginations that arise in the heart of a person, whether he saw them or not, are created.

It is impossible to reach in the imagination of the One Who does not have an image, form or appearance. As Imam ‘Ali said, meaning: “He who created the image, Himself does not have it.” It is also said in the Quran this word must be read in Arabic as - الْقُـرْآن meaning: "God cannot be reached in illusions." We need to follow the Sharia and not illusions, as the Sharia confirms that Allah is not comprehended by the imagination, because He is not created and He does not have an image.

It is also said in the Quran this word must be read in Arabic as - الْقُـرْآن meaning: "There is nothing like Him." And the great scholar, known as Zun-Nun Al-Misriy, said the signifier: "Whatever you imagine, Allah is not like it." In other words, Allah is unlike anything we can imagine. Because everything we imagine is created. We, created, once non-existent, need to recognize our weakness in that it is impossible to comprehend by imagination the Essence of the One Who is not created and does not have the beginning of His existence. And in following this path for a person there is salvation from falling into mistakes, in which those who left the mind and blindly followed the imagination “drowned”.

Allah commanded us to think about His creations so that we know that the Creator is not like them. Also, reflections on the created are necessary because they strengthen faith in the existence of Allah, His Omnipotence and Omniscience. Allah has given us great blessings in this world. Indeed, Allah is the Almighty Creator of everything, and there are no limits to His Omnipotence. Indeed, Allah is not a body (not an object) and not the quality of bodies, He has no boundaries. No one can resist Him, and there is no equal or like Him.