In the blessed days of Rabi al-Awwal, Muslims around the world celebrate Mawlid an-Nabi. Celebrations devoted to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) take place almost in every Russian city. Mawlid event in Moscow was organized by Russia Muftis Council and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Moscow.

On January 26, an event of great scope devoted to Mawlid an-Nabi started in Moscow's largest Crocus City Hall. Many famous Russian and foreign singers performed Muslim religious songs, while the audience also witnessed many surprises.

This year, a cultural and educational programme was arranged in the lobby of the concert hall. There was an arts exhibition organized by Mardjani Foundation; a Muslim fair, all revenue from which will be transferred to charity; an interactive programme for kids, and Muslim Fashion Corner project aimed at supporting designers of Islamic apparel.

Besides that, guests of the event were offered a presentation of the major events organized by Russia Muftis Council—such as Moscow International Qur'an Reciting Competition and international exhibition Moscow Halal Expo.

The programme of the festival, which carried symbolical name "Prophets and Integrity of the World", was devoted to the rich history of cultural and religious relations between the three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The event traditionally started with the recitation of ayahs from the Holy Qur'an.

On behalf of the organizers of the event (Russia Muftis Council and the Spiritual Administration of Muftis of Moscow), RMC Chairman and spiritual leader of Russian Muslims mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. He noted that the celebrations devoted to the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are organized in all regions of the country, both on large grounds and in common believers' homes. He also stressed the main topic of these celebrations—making hearts of all believers beat in unison—and added that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) instructed his followers to maintain good brotherly relations with followers of other Abrahamic faiths: Christians and Jews.

Muslim singers Saida Muhametzyanova (Tatastan, Russia), Turdakun Niyazaliev (Kyrgzystan), Artur Khulagov (Ingushetia, Russia), Khalid Belrhouzi (France), Ömer Faruk Güney (Turkey) and Ayrat Safin (Moscow, Russia) performed their songs for the audience for the whole duration of the event. The special guest of Moscow Mawlid was Canadian singer and composer Dawud Warnsby.

Honourary guests included co-charman of Russia Muftis Council, Head of the Spiritual Administration of Saratov Oblast Muqaddas hazrat Bibarsov, Head of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Tatarstan mufti Kamil Samigullin, ambassadors of Arab and Muslim countries, government officials and religious figures representing Christianity and Judaism.

In the end of the evening, three 'umrah (lesser hajj) tickets were raffled among the guests of Mawlid.

RMC press service