On Friday the Chairman of the Russian Muftis Council and the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Russia, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin met the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iraq, Ismail Mohsen Shafeeq.
The meeting was related to the end of the Ambassador’s diplomatic mission in Russia. Dr Ali Murtadha Al-Bayati (Second Secretary of the Embassy of Iraq), Damir hazrat Muhetdinov (first deputy Mufti), Ildar hazrat Galeyev (head of the International department) and Ildar hazrat Nurimanov (head of the SBMRF Administration) also attended the meeting.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin thanked the Ambassador for participating in the events organized by the RMC and the SBMRF, noting that this participation was the most active. “We could often see you with your family and colleagues, which means you participation was not formal but friendly and sincere”, — said the Mufti. He also mentioned the winners of the Qur’an Reciting Competition from Iraq. This April Khaled Abdul Vahhab Al-Mulla, chairman of the Academic Society of Iraq, took part in the Bigiyev readings.

The parties also discussed problems in the Middle East along with the situation in Iraq and Syria.

The leader of Russian Muslims appraised highly the diplomatic mission of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iraq, Ismail Mohsen Shafeeq, emphasizing that the connection with Russian Muslims started long time ago, when the population of the Volga Bulgaria converted to Islam as a result of a mission organized over a thousand years ago by the Baghdad Caliphate. The diplomatic party of Susan ar-Rassi, whose secretary was the author of the famous notes Ibn Fadlan, found out that Bulgars were not pagans and they were familiar with basic Islamic rites. However, The Muslims of the Volga Bulgaria were interested in economical and  political connections with the authorities of the Abbasid Caliphate. They wanted to be a part of the Islamic world, and Iraq led the way.
The head of Russian Muslims thanked the Ambassador for his personal contribution in taking the cooperation with Iraqi Muslims to a new level.

Mufti informed the guest that imam muhtasib Rashid hazrat Bultacheyev, head of the SBM of the Ryazan region, took part in the 9th session of the Supreme Council of the World Assembly for Islamic Revival, which took place on 22-23 October 2016 in Baghdad and was entitled “Islamic revival will not stop. Iraq: together for unity and against accusations in infidelity and terrorism”.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin informed the guest about the Muslim Forum, which will take place this December in Paris and also about the dialogue observed throughout all events arranged by our organizations.

In his turn, the Ambassador appraised highly the events organized by the Russian Muftis Council and the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Russia, and added that the ambassadors of Arab countries sincerely respect Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin. He said: “We can see what enormous efforts are made by him and his team in order to convey the ideas of tolerance and humanistic nature if Islam to the Russian society and the whole world”.
The Ambassador officially invited the head of Russian Muslims to Iraq and emphasized that the visit of such a reputable guest can help to overcome  the lack of unity among Muslims in Iraq and in the whole region.

The parties expressed the hope that cooperation and relations between them would become stronger.