Russians understand Islam better

By Vestnik Kavkaza

“In Ingushetia we continue working on purifying the faith of those who misinterpret Islam or want to interpret it in a different way or fall under influence of enemies of Islam,” Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Head of Ingushetia, stated at a meeting with the Chairman of the Spiritual Authority of Muslims of the European part of Russia, Ravil Gainutdin, in Moscow at the residence of the Council of Muftis of Russia.

According to Yevkurov, “prevention and calm constant patient work with young people who are through to be diverged will lead to good results. Today there are two main religions in the republic – Islam and Orthodox Christianity. Both mosques and churches are being constructed. Our residents – either Muslims or Christians – celebrate religious holidays together. They are not isolated from each other, they visit each other’s homes, they help each other and celebrate holidays joyfully. Allah made us live in peace and consent.”

At the moment a spiritual center for Muslims is being built in Magas, and soon a church will be constructed there. Yevkurov expressed gratitude to Gainutdin who “works a lot to boost a number of mosques in Russian regions.” According to Yevkurov, Muslims should behave in such a way that residents of Central Russia do not prevent construction of mosques. “There is only one way out – an example of our, Muslim, pure behavior in places where we live. No bribes, no promises will be effective. Only appropriate behavior can attract a person of another religion.”

Gainutdin says that “today not only Muslim nations, but also the Russians and other ethnic groups began to be interested in Islam and traditions of Muslim peoples. We can see understanding by non-Muslim nations and respectful attitude to our culture and our religion. It seems there will always be people who do not accept a foreign culture, thinking that they have their religion and culture and that’s enough. But we live in one country. We have different religions, different cultures, but we are children of one Motherland. We live together, we should live in peace and consent. Allah said: “We made you from a man and a woman, made you tribes and nations for you to know each other.” We should know each other. Today our common citizens see communication, a dialogue, cooperation between our spiritual leaders, religious activists, religious organizations. Our religions cooperate, and this is a basis for future peace and consent between our nations.”