Muslims of Russia are indignant with a new crime: an imam of one of the city’s mosques was assassinated in Makhachkala.

On Saturday evening, eve of the sacred Night of Predestination, Laylat al-Qadr, in the holy month of Ramadan, imam Ilyas Ilyasov was attacked near house #76 on Hizroev street.

The killers were waiting for him in his yard and started shooting as he was sitting in his car.

Ilyas Ilyasov was a sheikh of Naqshbandi tariqah (Sufi order). In his former days, he worked as an advisor of the head of government of Dagestan on religious affairs and as deputy chairman of committee on religion.

According to media reports, he had more than 500 murids (religious followers).

Russia Muftis Council calls upon all believers to remember commandments of our blessed religion and do not let fratricide happen.

We grief for all those whose earthy way has come to an end. Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return. May Allah cast upon the late imam His Mercy, may He forgive him and grant him rightful place in the Hereafter.