Ambassadors of Arab and Muslims countries in Moscow arrived to the residency of Russia Muftis Council to take part in events dedicated to Quds Day – International day of solidarity with the people of Palestine – and Friday prayer.

Greeting his high guests, leader of Russia's Muslims mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin stressed the importance of unity and solidarity withing the Ummah. “We, Muslims of Russia, along with Muslims of the whole world, pray to Almighty Allah, asking him to grant peace the people of Palestine and let them implement their lawful right of creating an independent state, and that all Mideast problems be solved peacefully, by way of negotiations,” he said. The event has brought together extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Iraq Mr Ismail Shafiq Muhsin, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Palestine Mr Faed Mustafa, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Iran Mr Reza Sajjadi, charge d'affaires ad interim of the embassy of Saudi Arabia Yahya al-Yamani, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Morocco Abdelqader Lesheheb, Mr Abozar Ibrahimi Torkaman – head of Iranian cultural embassy in Moscow, Mr Muazam Ali, Mufti of Istanbul Rahmi Yaran, third secretary if the embassy of Pakistan, Mr Ahmad Bheytan – diplomat of Syrian embassy, Mr Louay Abdulaziz, Mr Bheytan's deputy, member of the support staff of Syrian embassy, Hujjatul-Islam wa al-muslimeen Said Muhsin Sadat Qiyawi – professor of Tehran University and Seminary and scholar, Mr Shafakhi – Qur'anic reciter fr om Iran, Mr Chinari – advisor of Irani ambassador, Muhammad Mamoon – second secretary of Egyptian embassy, Mohammad Tawfik – senior specialist of Moroccan embassy, Sabri Demir – advisor of the Mufti of Turkey, Fahri Saglik – advisor of Turkish embassy on religious affairs.

During the Friday sermon, mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin explained the meaning of Quds day to the congregation and gave the floor to the high guests who expressed their solidarity with the Palestinians and took part in collective prayer.

Al-Quds is the Arabic name of Jerusalem, the holy city of Abrahamic faiths: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. International Quds day is celebrated by Muslims of the whole world on last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. It was introduced by founder and leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Khomeini in 1978 as a sign of solidarity with Palestinian people.

Quds day is Important not only for Palestinians but for the whole world, for Jerusalem, as the Arabs put it, is “the home of the three heavenly religions. Over the last few years, Quds day has spread far beyond the borders of Iran, and now unites not just Muslims of different madhabs, but all people of different faiths and beliefs who promote the cause of free Palestine.

Muslims are most concerned about the situation around Masjid al-Aqsa on Temple Mount. This mosque is the third holiest place of Islam after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid an-Nabi in Medina. According to the Muslim tradition, this place is related to Isra (Prophet Muhammad's miraculous journey from Mecca to Jerusalem) and Mi'raj (ascension to the sky).

This place is important for Muslims because it is wh ere Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) ascended to heaven, and because it was their first qiblah (direction of prayer). On the place of today's al-Aqsa, Prophet Muhammad prayed together with all the prophets of Islam sent before him.

Calls were sounded for uniting all reasonable people to let Jerusalem remain the holy city of all religions.

And may the day when muazzins announce the independence of Al-Quds has been restored come closer!