November 7, 2024, Moscow
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful! Assalamuallaikum varahmatullahi wa barakatuh!
Your Excellencies, Muftis and Hazrats, regional representatives and guests!
Let me once again congratulate you on the National Unity Day, wish you health, success and the mercy of the Almighty.
I would like to begin my speech with a pleasant mission: it is our deep pleasure to congratulate Mufti of the Republic of Bashkortostan Ainur Hazrat Birgalin on his unanimous re-election for a new term. The Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Bashkortostan unites more than 950 parishes, more than 700 shakirds are studying in two madrasas of the Republic of Bashkortostan. This is a large amount of work. We wish Ainur Hazrat the help of the Almighty in fulfilment of service to the Ummah and high ideals of faith.
We sincerely congratulate Honourable Mufti of St. Petersburg and the North-West Region of Russia, First Deputy Head of the the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia Ravil Hazrat Pancheev on his 60th birthday. Honoured Ravil Hazrat does a great deal of work with believers, as well as to strengthen the international image of Russia. He is a reliable partner in strengthening traditional Islam. May Allah be pleased with him! Today he and Mufti of Tatarstan Kamil Hazrat Samigullin could not join us due to their participation in the UN International Conference on Ecology in Baku. Their participation in the representative forum is an important event.
Today we, by the grace of the Almighty, have gathered in Moscow to hold our extended meeting of the Presidium of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia, which is taking place in the temporary administrative building of the future Islamic complex with the Moscow Central Cathedral Mosque named after the first Mufti of the Russian State Muhamedjan Hazrat Khusainov in the Interreligious Spiritual Cultural and Educational Centre in the territory of New Moscow.
It is deeply symbolic to hold our meeting these days on the land plot of the projected Interreligious Centre, the construction of which is supported personally by the President of Russia V.V. Putin. Today, in difficult times for our Motherland, the Muslims of the country consider it to be their primary duty to strengthen the unity and cohesion of the Russian society.
The famous Western politician Allen Dulles wrote a plan for the destruction of our country back in 1946, highlighting nationalism as the main instrument for the destruction of the USSR. We clearly see continuing attempts of enemies of our power by various ways of cognitive informational and psychological influence to quarrel people and religions.
Our task is to unite as much as possible, not giving our enemies even the slightest chance to realise their anti-Russian plans. Taking it into account, we call on the Muslims of Russia not to give in to provocations from the outside and not to hold uncoordinated public actions, to take a balanced, “cold-headed” approach to the information and provocations with which the Internet and the media are filled with today.
Our multinational country has always been famous for its mutual understanding and respect for different religions, cultures and traditions. It is important today to preserve this dialogue and mutual respect within the country, despite all that is happening far beyond its borders. Recently, however, we have observed trends that cause much of our concern.
We, Muslims, the indigenous inhabitants of Russia, representing more than sixty ethnic groups, have ancestrally lived here, on this land. We have no other homeland but Russia! We know and cherish our customs, traditions and faith. We are proud of our Russian civil identity, we recognise ourselves as an organic part of Russian society. Nevertheless, sometimes we have to hear words of dislike because of migrants and their sometimes inappropriate and terrible behaviour - this is unfair, unpleasant, and wrong.
We should not be considered as guests who have temporarily arrived in the country and judged by their actions and deeds, which do not share and thus have nothing to do with our original heritage and the true spirit of the Muslim people of Russia. One should not transfer negative attitudes towards migrants - extremists and offenders - to good Russian Muslims, native inhabitants of Russia, and thus form negative stereotypes of the perception of Islam and Russian Muslims.
The President of Russia V.V. Putin on April 2, 2024 at a meeting of the enlarged board of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs noted the need for a deep cardinal renewal of approaches to migration policy. «First of all, it is necessary to ensure the interests and security of the state and society, to save, preserve inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony, our cultural, linguistic identity, everything that is the strength of Russia. The principle that only those who respect our traditions, language, culture and history can come to live and work in Russia - this principle should be decisive. We, the Muslims of Russia, are in solidarity with the timely and important words of the head of our state and support the position expressed by him.
A few words about another problem. During the years of Islamic revival in Russia, thousands of mosques destroyed in the atheistic past have been built. For a Muslim, a mosque is a kind of educational spiritual centre for studying and understanding Islam, strengthening Islamic solidarity and patriotic unity of society. I would like to remind that after Friday namaz in mosques prayers are offered for the welfare of the country and the leader of the state.
Our mosques are the Houses of Allah, sacred and revered places of worship that have existed in Russia for over a thousand years, long before the topic of migration came up, and will remain, Inshallah, after it. We gather in our mosques for prayer, enlightenment, education, strengthening in faith. Moreover, mosques are not only places of worship, but also unique manifestations of architecture that beautify our country and testify to the richness of spiritual diversity.
We believe that the issue of mosques, the allocation of land and the problem of their construction should not become a platform for tensions and Islamophobia. In general, any form of manifestation of Islamophobia, interreligious discord and conflict is inherently alien to Russia.
It should be noted that attempts to sow discord between Muslims and Christians in our country are fruitless and futile. In September of this year, in an interview with the Turkish “Anadolu” Agency, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia rightly emphasised: «Take a closer look at Russia's experience. We can have anything, but we do not have one thing - inter-religious discord. There has never been any! Orthodox and Muslims are brothers - truly, not by diplomatic etiquette... Russia is an example of almost perfect relations between Orthodoxy and Islam. That is why everything is so strong in our country from the point of view of national solidarity. We have no reason to enmity with Muslims, they have no reason to enmity with us». We, Muslims, are in solidarity with the expressed words of His Holiness and today, more than ever, we all should be united and firm in our desire for peace, dialogue and good-neighbourliness.
I would like to emphasise that Islam in Russia is first and foremost a religion and not a tool of politics. We must clearly and precisely define that our spiritual heritage is based on the principles of faith, mercy and justice, which do not depend on political conjuncture and do not pursue political goals. Demagogues and adventurers are out of our way.
Islam in Russia is a religion that is deeply rooted in the history of our country, and it has always played an important role in shaping the cultural and spiritual image of our people. It is a religion whose values have been reflected in the hearts of tens of millions of people in our country, inspiring them to works of mercy and good neighbourliness, protection of the Fatherland, creation and peaceful coexistence. When we speak of Islam, we speak of a faith that unites us, teaches us love for our neighbours and respect for the diversity of opinions and traditions. It is a religion that calls for the search for truth, inner peace and the pursuit of self-improvement, and opposes confrontation, xenophobia, violence and extremism.
Russia has been and remains a stronghold of traditional spiritual and moral values on which human civilisation is built. Our choice is shared by the majority of people in the world, including millions of citizens of Western countries, as demonstrated by the recent BRICS meeting in Kazan. I would like to emphasise the role of the Head of the Russian State Vladimir Putin in supporting our traditions and values and the respectful and trusting attitude of all traditional religions of Russia towards each other. The President of Russia stressed that «Russia's strength lies in the free development of all people, in the diversity and harmony of cultures, languages, traditions; in mutual respect and dialogue among Orthodox Christians, Muslims, followers of Judaism and Buddhism.
Preserving and strengthening the established interreligious dialogue and traditions of ethno-confessional relations in Russia is an imperative of our common activity.
The high moral ideals of Russia's traditional religions strengthen the cohesion of society and its unity. This good relationship between religions has a favourable effect on the situation in the country and makes an important contribution to its stability.
It is a historical fact that Russia has emerged as a civilisational State, as the world's largest multi-ethnic and multi-religious State, thanks to the unifying role of the Russian people and other people, which preserves Russia's unique unity and diversity.
This is also facilitated by the implementation of the Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values, approved by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin No. 809 of 9 December 2009. Due to this document, the activities of the authorities, religious organizations and the public in this area are reaching a new qualitative level of dialogue, mutual understanding, cooperation and responsibility, requiring common solidarity, new ideas, approaches and practices.
For Muslim organisations, activities to preserve spiritual and moral values are a priority. The reference point for the spheres of application of our efforts is point 10 of the Fundamentals which stipulates that the state policy for the preservation and strengthening of traditional values is implemented in the fields of education and upbringing, youth work, culture, science, inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations, mass media and mass communications, and international cooperation.
In this connection, I note that the daily activities of Muslim organisations, work with believers in parishes, Islamic education and enlightenment, and all forms of social service of Islam are aimed at strengthening the basic spiritual and moral foundations of the life of society and the State.
In modern conditions, the issues of education are topical, and they occupy a significant place in the activities of regional spiritual administrations of Muslims.
I would like to note that the revival of Islam is going on fully on the basis of its historically established system of religious education and domestic theology with the support of the state.
We, Muslims of Russia, with the name of our President V.V. Putin, associate the solution of the issues of formation of an integral system of modern religious Islamic education and development of the national theological school and we are moving in this direction.
It is highly important for the Muslim people of Russia not to break away from tradition, to unite our efforts in the revival and development of national theology, the study of traditional Islamic spiritual values and their implementation
in the educational process, in scientific research, in educational practice
and in the processes of formation of the civic identity of Russian Muslims.
With the activities of the Council for Islamic Education and the formation of the Bulgarian Scientific-Educational Cluster, the activation of our activities in the Scientific-Educational Theological Association, we link our hopes for increasing the effectiveness of educational activities and theological research, updating the educational and methodological base, success in the training of Islamic personnel. These issues are in the centre of attention of regional Spiritual Administration of Muslims.
Today Russia is going through a difficult time, and in this difficult period the Muslims of the country not only in word but also in deed support our Fatherland both on the front line of Special Military Operation and in the rear, demonstrating the cohesion and unity of the people of Russia. Today we are fighting for life, identity and independence, if you want, I can name it Autocracy, for the right to be and remain a sovereign Russia.
The Armed Forces of Russia are worthily fulfilling their mission to protect Russia's national interests, showing patriotism and military valour, loyalty to the Fatherland, oath and duty.
The spiritual and moral potential of Islam is aimed at fostering high ideals, helping to ensure that the spiritual basis of military service in modern Russia is based on values such as patriotism and citizenship, military duty and honour, courage and heroism, faith in God and sacrifice.
It is important to note that the spiritual and moral potential of Islam is aimed not only at strengthening the historical tradition of military service to the nation and Fatherland, but also at the spiritual, moral, psychological and social rehabilitation of soldiers and at providing assistance to their families.
Since the first days of the Special Military Operation, the structures of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia have been working hard and continuously to provide spiritual and humanitarian assistance to servicemen and their families. The data is reflected in the handout. The Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia structures regularly collect humanitarian aid and then send the cargo to the zone of the Special Military Operation. Parishioners collect funds to buy everything necessary: cars, quadrocopters, thermal imagers, night vision devices, camouflage nets, electric generators, potbellies, petrol saws, sets of keys for repairing tanks, shovels, axes, warm clothes, hygiene products, medicines, food and much more. In addition to collecting money for the funds, Muslim organisations sent several vehicles to servicemen.
Humanitarian aid is also provided to the inhabitants of the new territories. In addition to humanitarian aid, spiritual support is also provided to the fighters and their families: regular prayers (duaa) are organised for the mobilised and their families, letters of support are sent from schoolchildren, and brochures with short prayers for the mobilised are published. All these efforts emphasise the unity of the people and the common concern of the Muslims of Russia for the defenders of our Fatherland.
Honourable Hazrats!
Recently a lot of work has been done to reconstruct the building of the Islamic Institute named after Muhamedjan Khusainov in Moscow, to design an Islamic complex with the Moscow Central Cathedral Mosque named after Muhamedjan Khusainov. Muhamedzhan Khusainov in the Interreligious Spiritual Cultural and Educational Centre in the territory of New Moscow (Kommunarka). The foundation stone of mosques and blessings were laid in (Yekaterinburg, Primorye, Surgut, Irkutsk region). Mosques are being built in the regions (...Volzhskoye in the Volgograd region, Chuvashia, Irkutsk and Omsk regions). Beautiful in their architecture complexes are being completed in Makhachkala and Simferopol. Work is underway to build madrasah for the entire Siberian region in Novosibirsk, and work in this direction is also underway in Lugansk.
The Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia continues comprehensive work to strengthen the communities of the new subjects of the Russian Federation
and I would like in this regard to thank the deputy head of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia Denis Hazrat Mustafin, supervising from the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia this issue, and Mufti of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) Muhammad Hazrat Gambarov, Mufti of the Moscow region, supervising from the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia work on cooperation with the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation Daud Hazrat Mukhutdinov.
Imam of Kursk region Isa Salimsultanov deserves high words of gratitude for his feats of saving the lives of civilians of Kursk under enemy fire. And of course, all regional Spiritual Administrations of Muslims without exception deserve words of gratitude for their great contribution to the victory of good over evil. Your contribution to the common cause is simply invaluable!
In the Lugansk People's Republic, work is underway to revive Islamic education. There, solemn events were held to establish a future school and madrassah for new subjects, which will be named after Hero of Russia Nurmagomed Gadzhimagomedov, who gave his life in the Special Military Operation. The establishment of the madrasah became possible due to the efforts of the Presidium of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia, the project was unanimously supported by the Muslim clergy and blessed by the hero's father, Engels Magomedovich Gadzhimagomedov. The new educational institution will serve as a coordination and methodological centre for Muslim organisations in the new subjects of the Russian Federation.
Another large-scale International Religious Summit was held in St. Petersburg through the efforts of the authorities of the Leningrad Region, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of St. Petersburg and the North-Western region of Russia, which brought together guests from more than 40 countries. Important educational forums were held in Tomsk, Omsk, Volzhsk and in Ufa.
The Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia declared solidarity with the Palestinian people, condemned the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip. We took with deep pain the news of the tragic events in Lebanon, caused by the Israeli strike and the explosions of household appliances on ordinary citizens, which resulted in human casualties. As part of public diplomacy, we strongly express our Islamic solidarity, the need to end Israeli aggression and bring peace to the Middle East.
In the framework of public diplomacy, the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia has been active in international affairs, establishing and strengthening ties and cooperation with co-religionists in a number of foreign countries. In order not to overload the agenda, I will name events and facts only for the last two months.
Thus, on 27 August, a diplomatic reception was held in Moscow with the participation of representatives of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia. Prominent Russian diplomats, orientalists and public figures congratulated Indonesian friends and colleagues on Independence Day.
On 12 September in the capital of Tatarstan, the head of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia held a meeting with the Deputy Secretary General of the World Islamic League and the Ulema Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdul-Rahman bin Abdullah Al-Zeid. This high level meeting took place within the framework of the visit of the delegation of the World Islamic League, which arrived in Kazan at the invitation of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia and the Public Chamber of the Republic of Tatarstan to participate in the international roundtable ‘BRICS Public for Sovereign Development».
On 19 September, Tehran hosted the opening of the 38th International Conference of Islamic Unity, which is held under the motto «Islamic Cooperation to Crystallise Common Values with a Focus on Palestine». The forum was held with the participation of more than three hundred famous religious and public figures from East and West Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia and America. Together with the head of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia, the Mufti of the Volgograd region, Bata Kifah Mohammad, took part in this major international religious forum.
On 20 September this year, the head of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia held a meeting with Ayatollah Hamid Shahriyari, Secretary General of the World Assembly for the Rapprochement of Islamic Madhhabs.
On 24 September 2024 in Moscow with the participation of representatives of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia there was held a solemn reception dedicated to the 94th anniversary of the National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
On 21 October 2024, a delegation of Muslim scientists from the Republic of Iraq, headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Association of the Council of Alim Al-Ribat Al-Muhammadi, member of the Supreme Council of the Suni Waqf of Iraq, Doctor of Shariah Sciences, Sheikh Muhammad Jassem Al-Nuri, visited a residence of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia.
We recently received an invitation from the UN to participate in an international conference. The Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia has a special consultative status in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and a lot of analytical work is being done in this direction. These days we have guests from 9 countries with us at the events, I would like to especially welcome the delegations from Ethiopia and Senegal. I express my sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for supporting our activities.
As a religious figure, I would like to emphasise that the international activities of religious Islamic organisations, reflecting the aspirations and hopes of millions of believers, strengthen the social base, the basis of modern state diplomacy and instruments of «soft power» in the international arena.
In March this year, a warm meeting was held with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. An open, kind dialogue took place with an understanding of common values, such as love for the Fatherland, patriotism and fidelity to traditions. The historically good relations between Orthodox and Muslims were noted. As a result of the meeting, the importance of unity and interreligious harmony in the country was emphasised, which serves as a guarantee of peace and harmony between nations.
An annual expert report on the observance of Muslim rights in the Russian Federation for 2024 is being prepared. Active expert and analytical work is in progress to monitor the situation with the rights of believers. The report contains recommendations to various structures for further improvement of work in the area of freedom of conscience and religion. This document makes a certain contribution to the further development of the human rights movement in the country.
The Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia is working on a number of important social projects, such as: IslamInform information and educational project, under which the “IslamInform” information agency was created, a concept was developed and a unified information portal on Islam in Russia - «Muslims of Russia» - was created. Projects are being implemented jointly with the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia to prevent the spread of terrorist and extremist ideology in penal colonies.
We note the “Ostabike” Festival of Islamic Art, within the framework of which creative and educational events are planned that contribute to the visualisation, preservation and promotion of traditional family values: art symposiums for artists to create works on the themes of family and childhood; lectures and open master classes on motherhood and upbringing themes in Islam; exhibitions in Moscow, Kazan, Chelyabinsk, Cheboksary and Irkutsk.
The “Ansar” All-Russian youth forums, the “Iman” All-Russian children's and youth gathering, training seminars for spiritual leaders and imams in the federal districts of Ufa, Volgograd, Moscow, Kemerovo and other projects have a positive resonance.
Today, work in the information field is extremely important. It is necessary to strengthen work in the media for all structures of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia, finding new forms of delivering accurate and correct information. This is a really important issue that requires our attention. This is a real front!
Strengthening interaction between the regions in the media, entering the federal information agenda of regional Spiritual Administrations of Muslims will be an important step for the appearance of accurate information in the information space. It is important to focus on working with young people, involving them in our projects.
As noted earlier, it is necessary to pay attention to manifestations of migrantophobia (which affects the indigenous inhabitants of Russia), active calls against the construction of mosques, public complaints and appeals, without giving in to emotions and provocations. We strive to solve problems arising in the regions of Russia in accordance with the law in a calm tone and in the format of dialogue. Emotions cannot solve them; we need balanced work. Sometimes we see that the heads of religious organisations themselves need to bring their documents into compliance. It is necessary to strengthen educational work in the regions, to work more with the public and the population, to form positive content about the activities of Islamic organisations, to increase our information presence in the Internet space and social networks.
At present, the Muslim community of Russia, as an integral part of society, is experiencing tremendous pressure from the constantly emerging challenges of the modern world, many of which have not been answered yet. In this regard, the secular institutions of the state and religious organisations have a serious burden and responsibility to address emerging issues that may simultaneously affect several spheres of people's lives, including cultural, religious and national.
The main problem in this case is the inability of Muslim structures and the state to give a single unified answer, due to the multinationality and multi-religiousness of the Russian people, thus leaving a field for the ideological activities of foreign ideological centres. In this regard, we initiated the creation of a collegial structure - the Council on Fatwas with the involvement of the best scholars. We spoke about this issue at the St. Petersburg Legal Forum and at the religious summit. Almighty Allah has commanded: «Ask the people of knowledge if you yourselves do not know» (an-Nahl 16:43). Muhammad ibn Sirin (may Allah have mercy on him), said, «Verily this knowledge is religion, so see from whom you adopt religion for yourselves.» And as the proverb says: «The mill is judged not by the stone building but by the quality of flour»!
Also, in order to increase the effectiveness of this structure, it is planned to create a theological Expert Council from among religious figures who have, in addition to theological knowledge, a high level of secular education and experience in state-confessional relations, which will be engaged in public monitoring, collection and analysis of information on current issues and the results of the adopted fatwas. The creation of a single body on fatwas will ensure spiritual and ideological unity of the Muslim community of the Russian Federation on major and significant issues on the public agenda, which will significantly increase the stability of ethno-religious relations in society.
Dear friends!
At the end of my speech, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the leadership of the Foundation for the Support of Islamic Culture, Science and Education for their support of our initiatives and assistance in the implementation of important projects and tasks for the country.
I also express my gratitude to the heads of the regions and federal structures of power, who always kindly and with a kind open heart and understanding come to the aid and provide all possible support to the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia and its structures. And our prayers for Allah's pleasure for all our brothers and sisters involved in the development of Islam, imams and muezzins, teachers, benefactors, parish councils, muhtasibs and muftis.
I am convinced that relying on the Holy Quran and following the precepts of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), relying on the understanding of co-religionist in cooperation with the authorities, we will be able to overcome all difficulties, become stronger and more united in defence of the interests and ideals of our Motherland, in preserving the original cultural and spiritual and moral foundations of our life and the sustainable future of Russia.
The report is over.
Thank you for your attention.
