On Sunday, June 25, Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid al-Fitr - a religious holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. By tradition, Grand Mufti of Russia Ravil Gaynutdin is to address Muslim believers from the Cathedral Mosque in Moscow.
Traditionally the holiday is celebrated three calendar days. Since the lunar Islamic calendar and the traditional Gregorian calendar do not coincide, it falls on different dates every year.
In Russia, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims throughout the country. It is officially a non-working day in the republics of Adygea, Bashkortostan, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Tatarstan, Chechnya and Crimea, TASS reports.
In Moscow, the main events of Eid al-Fitr celebration was held in the Cathedral Mosque at the Prospekt Mira street in the north of the capital. The eid sermon and divine service was held from 07:00 to 08:00 Moscow time. Grand Mufti of Russia Ravil Gaynutdin is to address Muslim believers.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin greeted Russian Muslim believers on Eid al-Fitr, the Kremlin’s press service said on Sunday.
"Eid al-Fitr is one of main religious holidays, which Muslim believers across the world have been celebrating for centuries. It marks end of the holy month of Ramadan, and bears a deep moral sense, represents the joy of renewal, aspiration for self-improvement, readiness for doing the good, for helping those in need," the telegram reads.
The president stressed the Russian Muslims care for the rich spiritual and historic heritage of the ancestors, "respect the precepts and customs of their fathers and grandfathers and teach the younger generations."
Putin said about the respectful active participation of Muslim organizations in the social, cultural life of the country, in implementation of the needed charity, educational, patriotic initiatives. "And of course I would like to point to their role in support of the civil peace and accord, in development of friendship among people," the president said.
Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev also congratulated Russian Muslims on the Eid al-Fitr holiday. His telegram was published on the government’s website.
"I congratulate you with end of the holy month of Ramadan and on the holiday of Eid al-Fitr - a main holiday in Islam, which is a symbol of rebirth and spiritual renewal, justice and mercy," the prime minister said in the telegram addressed to leaders of the Spiritual Administrations of the Muslims of Russia.
The prime minister stressed, the Muslim community - ummah - does a lot for keeping the traditions and customs, for development of cooperation between Russia and the Islamic world. "We respect is especially for the input in fighting extremism and xenophobia, for the efforts aimed at supporting peace and accord in this country with many ethnic groups and confessions," Medvedev said.
The prime minister added, new madrasas, Islamic universities and institutes, mosques open in Russia’s different regions due to the active educational activities of the ummah.
