By Vestnik Kavkaza
The problem of prevention of radicalization of young people is urgent for several constituents of the Federation today. Dagestan has treated the problem unusually, deciding that the invitation of major Muslim scholars to the republic could be an effective means of reaching dialogue between representatives of various branches of Islam.
Vyacheslav Polosin, the deputy Director of the Foundation of Support of Islamic Culture, Science and Education, says that this year due to the efforts of Ali Muhiddin al-Karadaghi, Secretary General of the International Union for Muslim Scholars, official muftis, representatives of the Sufi branch of Islam and those who are called Salaphites sat down to talk in Dagestan for the first time. “Of course these are moderate Salaphites, not those who take arms and kill people, but those who follow Salaphite traditions in their faith,” Polosin specified.
In November 2012 Karadaghi visited Dagestan, when he issued a fatwa that Dagestan was a territory of Islam and peace. “The fatwa and his answers to our questions impressed the whole of Dagestan. The number of Dagestani users visiting his website increased several times over. Moreover, the Ministry of Information of Dagestan created the karadaghi.ru website in Russian, where published materials are posted,” Polosin said.
The influence of Saudi scholars is growing for young Muslims who don’t trust the opinions of official muftiats. “Recently Dr Karadaghi visited Nalchik; and he issued a fatwa that it was a territory of peace there as well. From this point of view, the attraction of foreign scholars is necessary; so that some deceivers who have never been to Russia and have no idea what is going on here don’t issue fake fatwas on Russia. His visit is correct – a prominent scholar comes, learns about the situation, considers the situation together with muftis and the Council of Ulemas, and helps with his knowledge to make a right decision.”
Explaining the necessity of such activities, Polosin stated: “Islam is a religion of knowledge. It has no sacred hierarchy; everything is based on scholars’ conclusions. It is important that the conclusions are approved by the Koran and the Sunnah. Even speaking about forbidding murders, theft, it needs evidence – it is written in the Koran, in the Sunnah. Scholars bring this to the knowledge of young people.”
