Rustam Minnikhanov: Problems of preserving the language, traditions can be solved only through religion
July 20, 2018
Shigabutdin Mardjani wrote: “There are no three things in Islam – the national folk language, national dress and folk customs, but all of them contribute to preservation of the Muslim religion.” The President of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, who took part in the plenary session of the All-Russian Forum of Religious Figures, also highlighted these moments in his speech. According to him, the problems of preserving the language and traditions can be solved only through religion, with the help of mosques.
– The ninth time we are working in this format. Today, Islam in Russia is on the rise. If we take the last 30 years, much has been done. There are 4,000 mosques operating in the country, only 1,500 mosques in Tatarstan. Tatars are the second most numerous people in Russia. Tatar Muslim religious figures make a big contribution, – Rustam Minnikhanov noted in his speech.
The President also touched upon the issue of many families’ disintegration. As he said, now half of families break up within five years. Families that are created must rely on the canons of Islam. Then the marriages will be stronger, – Rustam Minnikhanov is sure.
He wished the forum participants fruitful work, and also called for unity. “Then we will be strong,” he said.
We remind that the IX All-Russian Forum of Tatar religious figures “National identity and religion” started yesterday. This year the Forum is dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Shigabutdin Mardjani. The forum is attended by 1076 delegates from 69 regions of Russia and 28 foreign countries. Yesterday, Tatar Muslim leaders managed to discuss urgent issues within the framework of 4 sections. Today, at the Korston center, the participants sum up the results of this work, exchange experience and try to outline the directions for further work.
The Mufti of Tatarstan Kamil khazrat Samigullin marked that the forum of Tatar religious figures, which has been held since 2010, turned into a platform that unites representatives of the Islamic religion of all Russia on which the pressing problems of the Muslim world are being discussed.
– The Tatar religious school is one of the oldest and most experienced schools not only in Russia, but throughout the Islamic world. Russian President Vladimir Putin also stressed this during our last meeting. He noted that Islam has its own deep history, “Kamil Samigullin said.
He also recalled the words by Shigabutdin Mardjani and stressed that only preserving the language, clothing and traditions, it will be possible to preserve the religion. And religion, in turn, will help preserve these three components.
According to Kamil Samigullin, every person in his place – be he an imam, an athlete, a businessman, or a taxi driver should popularize Islam and the Tatar culture.
– Every person should develop his religion every day, his customs. If we want to survive as a nation, and not disappear after 200 years, as Gaiaz Iskhaqi wrote, we have no other way. The Tatar language can only be preserved by the Tatar people, nobody needs us except us, “the mufti stressed.
Participants of the forum summed up the work of the sections within the framework of the plenary session. Within their framework, the broadest agenda was discussed – from the study of the heritage of religious Islamic leaders to the development of tourist routes connected with Muslim sites. A lot of attention is also paid to the preservation of the family institution, the upbringing of the younger generation.
Tomorrow guests from 69 regions will take part in a solemn ceremony dedicated to the adoption of the Volga Bulgaria of Islam as the official religion in the ancient city of Bolgar.
