A monument to Muslims who died in WWII was opened in the city of Kolomna in Moscow region.

The event was attended by the first deputy chairman of Russia Muftis Council and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation, head of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Moscow Oblast, member of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation Rushan hazrat Abbyasov.

"The Holy Qur'an says: 'Think not of those, who are slain in the way of Allah, as dead. Nay, they are living. With their Lord they have provision' (3:169). We will never forget the deeds of our heroes. In the dreadful years of war, our people showed their unity and it is through that unity and their faith in Almighty God that they became victorious. Already in 1941, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims addressed the believers, calling upon them to defend their Motherland, and declaring the war against Nazi Germany to be holy war (jihad)," said head of the Muslims of Moscow region.

The obelisk that was made and set up on donations lists 180 Muslims from the city of Kolomna who participated in WWII. The speakers included head of Kolomna municipal district Andrei Vaulin, deputy chairman of Kolomna urban district Dmitrii Redkin, chairman of the Muslim community of Kolomna and Kolomna district Idris Hakimov and representatives of community and national organizations.

After the unveiling of the obelisk, religious leaders recited suras from the Holy Qur'an for the Muslims who sacrificed their lives defending their native land. After the event was concluded, Rushan hazrat Abbyasov presented the guests and the local Muslim community with the book devoted to the 70th anniversary of the Victory, "Patriotic activities of the Spiritual Administrations of Muslims in the years of Great Patriotic War".

RMC press service and SAMMO