Head of Russia Muftis Council mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin met with the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Qairat Abdirazaquly Mami who is currently heading a parliamentary delegation of Kazakh Republic in Russia.

The spiritual leader of Russia’s Muslims greeted the high guests with a traditional Muslim greeting—as-salamu alaikum wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuhu—and expressed his pleasure in seeing the guests in Moscow. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Chairman of Federation Council of Russian Federation Ilyas Magomed-Salamovich Umakhanov—mufti congratulated him with recently received high government award, 4th class Order of Merit to the Fatherland—as well as deputies of Qairat Mami, Kazakhstani ambassador Galim Izbasarovich Orazbakov, RMC deputy heads Damir hazrat Gizatullin, Rushan hazrat Abbyasov, Damir hazrat Muhetdinov.

“It is with great pleasure and satisfaction that we recall our interesting and productive meetings in the hospitable cities of Kazakhstan, which we had an occasion to participate in at the invitation of Kazakh side. We remember those interesting meetings with our brothers,” said Ravil hazrat, especially noting that Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, has become a place of meeting between the leaders of world and traditional religions.

“This high-level event of great significance and weight takes part on the ancient land of Kazakhstan’s young capital by the initiative of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and its high level of effort is achieved by the competence of its secretariat, which brought to the meeting table representatives of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto faith, Hinduism and influential international organizations.

Mufti noted that the Palace of Peace and Accord, which was specially constructed to host the first Congress of World and Traditional Religions, has become a point of attraction for all constructive forces, the importance of which cannot be overrated.

This regularly held event has become a unique part of interfaith dialogue in the world, enabling productive conversation between countries and nations. The role of Kazakhstan and its President Nazarbayev in the cause of strengthening peace on earth has been recognized by the world community.

Mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin has once again conveyed his gratitude to president Nursultan Nazarbayev for Kazakhstan’s significant help in reconstruction of Moscow Jum’ah mosque—Kazakhstan presented Moscow Muslims with granite worth several million rubles for the decoration of the mosque. He also thanked nation’s leadership for paying attention to the followers of other creeds: for example, the building of Synod of Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan was constructed at government expense.

“This is the practical example of a dialogue between religions, cultures, civilizations,” said mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin.

According to the Head of Russia Muftis Council, such a dialogue can not just promote spirituality, but also help overcome a series of protracted economic crises, for spirituality, religion and faith can become a barrier against the spread of false values, acquisitiveness and greed, overcome the danger of degenerative alteration of world order, which may lead to the clash of civilizations. Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Qairat Abdirazaquly Mami awarded Ravil hazrat with the medal of Shapaghat (mercy), one of the highest state awards of Kazakhstan. The presidential decree for awarding world-known and respected Russian Muslim leader was signed in February of this year.

By the order of RMC Chairman, Mr Mami was awarded with medal “For Spiritual Unity” with the following wording: “for significant contribution to the cause of spreading cultural and spiritual traditions of Islam, promotion of unity between Turkic peoples and within the whole world community in the name of maintaining global peace and accord; for establishing high-level dialogue and international cooperation between civilizations of different creeds”. In his acknowledgements, Mr Mami stressed that he is doing his work as Secretary-General of the Congress of World and Traditional Religions on the order of President Nazarbayev, but he is doing it with all his heart and sincere niyyah of serving the Ummah.

Chairman of Russia Muftis Council mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin offered a supplication to Almighty Allah, asking Him to grant success to the efforts and initiatives of leaderships of Russia and brotherly Kazakhstan, and calling for His mercy upon the peoples of our countries and all people of good will.