Congratulatory address of mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin on the occasion of 15th anniversary of Russian Islamic University:

At these days, Russian Islamic Institute (and now, University) in Kazan celebrates its 15th anniversary. In 1998, Chairman of Russia Muftis Council mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin approached the then president of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev with the initiative of establishing Islamic higher education institution for training imams and Muslim religious scholars in Kazan. Mintimer Shaimiev supported the initiative, and, as a result, Russian Islamic University was established by Russia Muftis Council, Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Tatarstan and Mardjani Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan. Today, mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin congratulated university principals and the academic community with the anniversary:

"From the bottom of my heart, let me congratulate university principals and specifically its rector Rafik Muhametshovich Muhametshin, students and the teaching staff with its 15th anniversary. During all these years, our university has nurtured and educated many young imams and religious scholars who nowadays serve our holy religion not only in Volga region, but in other parts of Russia as well.

Nowadays, Russian Islamic University has in many ways become the leader of the system of Islamic education, renown as a talent foundry, and its graduates are always in demand. This convinces us that the decision to establish an Islamic university in the capital of Tatarstan back in 1998 was a right and timely one.

We ask in our prayers that Russian Islamic University continues its steady progress, that it continues to contribute to the education of Russian Ummah, attract talented Muslim youth that will in due time become the core of our nation, our intellectual and spiritual stronghold. May Allah accept and reward the actions of ustads and professors of Russian Islamic University, assist its students to receive new knowledge and direct their efforts into strengthening our Ummah and the well-being of our home country".