Ravil Gainutdin thinks Russia’s role in Islamic world is important

By Vestnik Kavkaza

Last Sunday the 6th Mejilis-Forum of the Spiritual Directorate of the Muslims of European Russia (SDMER) took place in Moscow. More than 100 delegates participated in it. Ravil Gainutdin, a Mufti Sheikh who has been the leader of the SDMER for 20 years said: “We live in a multinational, multireligious society. We, the Muslims of Russia, are native citizens of our homeland. Together with other people we spread peace, stability and consent in our society. We understand the Russian President’s words that we should respect the traditions of our people, develop brotherhood and friendship between the people of Russia.”

Religious activists discussed the results of the Directorate’s work in the last 5 years, reelected the chairman, and defined the priority directions of development for future years. An important issue discussed at the forum was renaming the organization as the Spiritual Directorate of the Muslims of Russia. In his speech Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin stressed the important role of Russia in the Islamic world.

Gainutdin cited Vladimir Putin in his speech: “Russia has always been the most consistent, faithful, and firm protector of Islam, which is a religion of peace” – these are the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Even though he said it 9 years ago, they were confirmed by real deeds later. For example, we remember the key role of Russia in preventing international intervention in Syria, longstanding efforts on settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli crisis, and so on. “Russia is not interested in crushing the Islamic world, on the contrary, it conducts a consistent, firm course on improvement of unity,” the President said in 2013. Yes, probably our country has come to this through the difficult lessons of the Soviet-Afghan war, but today Russia is not the first enemy, but the first friend of Islam and supporters of the interests of the Muslim world in the international arena, whatever our colleagues from the Gulf countries say.”

Gainutdin voiced the main problems which the umma is facing today. These are construction of new mosques and illegal banning of Islamic literature. The delegates of the forum are deeply concerned about the events in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The Mufti of North Ossetia, Hadjimurat Gatsalov, thinks the forum is a historic event: “There are so many muftis and imams, behind whom millions of faithful people stand. I think it is a milestone event. A forum is always a milestone in the history of not only the Spiritual Directorate, but in the history of Muslims. Muslims are an active part of society. Muslims pray to Allah to preserve peace, calmness and stability in our homeland, in our Russia. We want it.”