The meeting of Chief Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin at the head of the delegation of the RBM of the Russian Federation with the President of the United Arab Emirates Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan took place today in Abu Dhabi.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairmen of the RBM of the Russian Federation Damir Mukhetdinov, Rushan Abbyasov and Ildar Galeev. From the UAE side - members of the UAE President's family, ministers, political and public figures.

The spiritual leader of Russian Muslims greeted the national leader of the Emirates on behalf of the Muslim clergy and the 25 million Russian Ummah. He expressed the joy of Russian Muslims over the active rapprochement and partnership between the UAE and the Russian Federation. Mufti Gainutdin praised Abu Dhabi's peacekeeping efforts under the auspices of President Al Nahyan, including in humanitarian issues of prisoner exchange. 

‘The BRICS interstate association, in which the Russian Federation and the United Arab Emirates play an active role, is important today not only in terms of the national interests of the member countries, but also in the global sense for the protection of the interests of all mankind, especially that part of it which is committed to traditional spiritual and moral values,’ the Head of the Russian Duma stressed.

In this context, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin paid special attention to the joint work of the RBM of the Russian Federation with the Muhammad bin Zaynutdin Humanitarian University. Muhammad bin Zayd Humanitarian University and personally the rector of the university Dr Khalifa Mubarak Al-Zahiri. In particular, the Mufti mentioned the events jointly implemented in Kazan last July: the meeting of leaders of religious Muslim organisations of the BRICS countries, which resulted in the adoption of a significant resolution, as well as the BRICS Holy Quran Award and the theatrical spiritual performance ‘Values of the Quran’. The head of the RBM of the Russian Federation added that these events were highly appreciated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Administration of the President of Russia.

President Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, welcoming the spiritual leader of Russian Muslims, noted the mutual understanding and trust between him and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. He thanked Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin for his labours for the benefit of Russian Muslims.

The parties praised the joint scientific, educational, cultural and enlightenment projects being implemented in the Russian RBM together with partners from the UAE.

During the meeting, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin praised the work of UAE Ambassador to Moscow Dr Muhammad Ahmed Al Jaber, calling him an outstanding professional and friend of Russia.

The spiritual leader of Russian Muslims presented the UAE President with a facsimile edition of a manuscript copy of the Quran of the 2nd century AH known as the Quran of Uthman, the original of which is kept at the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts.