Rabi ul Awal Celebration by Russian Muslims
Dr. Syed Mehboob
Economic and Political Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
Islam is the religion of peace, and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was sent as a blessing for all mankind. According to Michael H. Hart. Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was the most influential personality in the world since history has been recorded. There are 57 Muslim countries in the world. Approximately 12% of Muslims live in Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population in the world; 31% live in South Asia; 21% live in the middle east North Africa; 15% live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sizeable Muslim communities are present in the Americas, China, Europe, and other parts of the world. Islam is the world’s fastest-growing major religious group and is projected to be the world’s largest religion by the end of the 21st century. There are about 2.00 billion Muslims in the world.
There are significant numbers of Muslims in Russia. Islam is the second largest religion in Russia and accounts for about 10% of its total population. Russia has the largest Muslim population in Europe. According to the US Department of State in 2017, Muslims in Russia were about 14 million, or roughly 10 % of its population. The Grand Mufti of Russia, Sheikh Rawil Gaynetdin, estimated the Muslim population in Russia at 25 million in 2018. Recognized under the law and by Russian traditional religions, Islam is part of Russian historical heritage and is subsidized by the Russian government. President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin called Islam an “Integral part of the Russian code”.
Islam in Russia by Region
Region % of Muslims
Adygea 24.6
Altai Krai 1.00
Altai Republic 6.20
Amur Oblast 0.63
Arkhangets Oblast 14.62
Basm Kortostan 58.62
Belgorod Oblast 0.62
Chechnya 95.00
Dagestan 98.00
Ingushetia 96.00
Kabarachini Balkaria 55.40
Karachay Cherkessia 64.20
North Ossetia 32.00
Currently, there are four mosques in Moscow. Around 8,000 prayer centers have been established for Muslims all over the country.
Muslims across Russia celebrate Mawlid (the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad) with large religious gatherings. Lectures. Prayers and festive meals at major mosques and Islamic centers. Special programmes are held in major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as in historically Muslim majority regions like Dagestan and Tatarstan. Events feature Quran recitation, speeches about Prophet Muhammad's ( Peace be upon him) life, nasheeds ( religious chants) , and community meets.
The Cathedral Mosque of the Russian capital gathers Muslims of various nationalities to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad ( Peace be upon him). The programme of the Mawlid festival included lectures on the history of Islam , as well as family values. Mufti of Moscow Ildar Alyautdinov is a key figure among Islamic scholars in Moscow. There were about two thousand people gathered. Among them were children who came from Dagestan, and they recited nasheeds. Youth were interested in knowing about marriage from an Islamic point of view and how couples can build harmonious relationships and how to survive crises between husband and wife.
Both Shia and Sunni Muslim factions expressed their unity in celebration of Rabi ul Awal. Besides Moscow, other Russian cities also witnessed this celebration. In the Moscow Islamic Center, the Grand Mufti of Russian Muslim, Sheikh Kefah Muhammad, said that Muslims should follow the Holy Quran and the teachings of the beloved Prophet Muhammad ( Peace be upon him) to neutralize the conspiracies of the arrogant US and the criminal Zionists. Islamic countries should not fall into arrogance and Zionism, and he called on Islamic governments not to allow their lands to be used against other Muslim countries.
Chairman of Russia Muftis Council, Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation, spiritual leader of the country's Muslims addressed the imams of the mosques, asking them and their congregations to pray in mosques for peace and concord:
Dear brothers and sisters!
Crocus City Hall will host a unique festive event devoted to the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This event is our answer to the ignorant people who primitivize the figure of the Prophet (peace be upon him). We are sure that our cultural and educational event along with a million-strong meeting in Grozny will become a fitting reply to the tactless caricatures and will let us remove the blinkers of ignorance and familiarize people with the true multifaceted historical portrait of the Prophet (peace be upon him) whose virtues were kindness, humanism, mercifulness, compassion and peacefulness.
Our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) instructed us to be just and merciful: "And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend", says the Holy Qur'an.
Rabi ul Awwal is an interesting annual cultural and educational event. It is a tribute to the bright memory of one of the greatest prophets and enlighteners in human history and a sign of gratitude for the rich spiritual heritage,
The event’s programme included a charitable fair and a music concert calling for peace and accord among people. The interrelationship between three religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam – was the concert’s main theme. The organizers believe that an inspiring Mawlid al-Nabi programme disclosed the essence of world unity contained in the Abrahamic religions and their prophets: Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.
The Russian Mufti Council believes that integrity and recognition of unity in diversity are among the main human values in the contemporary world, whose urgency and importance cannot be doubted. A Revival of Generosity action is also timed to coincide with Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday. Visitors to some Moscow restaurants will be able to taste desserts marked with special cards for free.. The Russian Mufti Council also accepted applications for participation in the 9th All-Russian poetic contest devoted to the life of Prophet Muhammad . The authors of the best works got get a monetary prize.
The first celebrations of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (570-632) took place only 300 years after the arrival of Islam. The first mentioning of the holiday dates back to the 12th century. The religious authorities refused to recognize the holiday for a long time because they thought that it had appeared under the influence of Christian Christmas. The date was fixed as “an approved novelty” much later.
Mawlid -Nabi is marked by prayers and religious readings. On this day, people traditionally invite guests and treat them with food; read the Hadith (a narrative record of the sayings and customs of Muhammad) and give alms to the poor.
Muslims is Russia now enjoying religious freedom in Russia and playing vital role for the progress, prosperity and integrity of the Russian Federation.
|