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The sounds of the Qur’an reverberated off the marble pillars in Alberta’s legislature rotunda Wednesday night as part of Eid al-Adha celebrations.

Turning out for one of the most sacred holidays in the Muslim world, dozens of members of Edmonton’s Muslim community not only celebrated their faith, but were celebrated for their impact on the province.

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An estimated 150,000 Muslims call Alberta home.

The festival of Eid al-Adha coincides with the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca — one of the five pillars of faith for Muslims worldwide — and celebrates the concepts of sacrifice and devotion, and is honoured in homes and mosques all over the world with a large feast.

“We as Albertans are all familiar with long journeys,” house Speaker Robert Wanner told the crowd of about 100 people.

“Many of us have ancestral routes that take us back to some other place, some other place in this great world we all share. In one way or another, we all continue to be on a journey and we’ve all made sacrifices to arrive where we are today.

“As we celebrate this great feast this evening, let us be reminded that it is each of our own journeys that have brought us here together and the sacrifices we have made for one another and will continue to make for one another is what makes us a truly wonderful city, province and country.”

His thoughts were echoed by Human Services Minister Irfan Sabir, who said Eid al-Adha was not just about devotion to faith, but was “about kindness and generosity that builds community.

“We often think of sacrifice as giving something up, but sacrifice can also be a reminder that there is more to life than needs and desires,” he said.

“Here in Alberta, we are united by the freedom to enjoy, to worship in our own way and that’s what makes this province and this country great.”