In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful!

Dear Muslim, let me heartily congratulate you with the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan - the month of fasting and piety, the month of great accomplishments of the past and future. For Muslims the main post starts on 20^th of July - the post of the month of Ramadan, the month of zealous worship of God. We have been waiting for Ramadan during the year, as we bid farewell to the outgoing month of fasting, and this is only due to the great status of the month, with its holiness and blessing. Ramadan - the month "in which the Qur'an was revealed as a guide for people and as a direct explanation of the way" (Quran, 2:182).

During the lunar month, Muslims from morning sunrise to sunset, abstain from eating and drinking. However, this abstinence - only the external aspect of fasting. The main thing in Ramadan is that it is time that we dedicate the time to deeper understand God and His Word.

A sincere performance of the duties before God let us to fully feel and be grateful for the gifts that hidden by Him in worship. Fasting reminds us of the existence of the poor and needy, and encourages us to charity. These days every believer has a chance to become more noble and generous, to get rid of the accumulated sins and end up even closer to the Almighty Allah. Do not miss this opportunity, a once a year, do your best to fast and create additional nightly prayers, look for the Al-Qadr night and seek the pleasure of Allah. In this quest you eventually will find yourmself.

Mercy and peace - the main features of our blessed religion. Living in a large and global world, we, Russian Muslims, remember and adhere to the pillars of our faith. The most important thing for us, the Muslims - is to keep yourself on the path of truth and faith, on the path indicated by God.

In our society, the belief that the actions of individuals and groups can not be attributed to the religion, its teachings gradually begins to dominate, there is growing awareness that Islam doesn’t give rise to extremism, which is fundamentally  not in line with our doctrine, contrary to the precepts of the Holy Quran. A common effort to confront the terrible scourge of terrorism and extremism and those phenomena in the society that bred terrorism and extremism and those who, in turn, generate them need to be taken.

To the fight against xenophobia and manifestations of national intolerance the efforts of the leadership of our country are dedicated. Only a constructive dialogue can help overcome some manifestations of xenophobia and ethnic hatred, dictated by social and economic problems.

Muslims in Russia at all times confirm the commitment of ethnic and religious tolerance, which for centuries was the basis of relations between the peoples of Russia, representatives of different nationalities and faiths.

Historically the rooted tradition of neighborly co-existence of followers of different religions and cultures, and now allows us to find common solutions in dialogue of faiths and in the dialogue of nations.

We ask Allah that the wars and bloodshed never fell upon the heads of the Russians, that for the Muslims of Russia a new era was a period of further revival of spirituality, culture and traditions, as people without spiritual roots of the past remain without the past and have no future.

Our Fast is dedicated to the spiritual purification, comprehension of the world's ways, the elevation of thought and feeling, and most importantly, to strengthen our faith.

The Eid ul-Fitr - a holiday of completion of the holy month of Ramadan, we have this year on August 19 - a day of general joy, a happy time to gain sincerity and harmony, constant desire and efforts for mercy. We pray to the Almighty for His mercy to all who are on the straight path!

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, the Creator and the Creator of all things. Peace and mercy of God be upon our Prophet and Messenger Muhammad, his family and companions. May Allah bless Muhammad's Ummah until the Day of Judgment! May Allah through your good deeds in the month of Ramadan protect you and your family, and to cleanse from sins and be pleased with you.

Ramadan Kareem!

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin