On 28th of May,2021, the acting Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Executive Secretary of the Muslim International Forum Damir Mukhetdinov met with the Supreme Mufti of Uzbekistan Usmonkhon Alimov at the residence of the Muslim Board of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

At the beginning of the meeting, Damir Mukhetdinov conveyed the heartfelt greetings of the religious leader of Russian Muslims, the head of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation (RBM RF), Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, and thanked the Department of Muslims of Uzbekistan and personally the Supreme Mufti Usmonkhon Alimov for participating in the events and projects of the RBM RF. This includes participation in meetings of the Muslim International Forum, scientific and practical and international conferences.

The Russian religious leader noted that in the moments of the heaviest losses due to the coronavirus pandemic, co-religionists from Uzbekistan provided moral support to Russian Muslims. For example, in the days of parting with one of the major Russian Islamic figures of our time, a graduate of the madrasa Mir-Arab Umar-hazrat Idrisov, Mufti Usmonkhon Alimov expressed his condolences and all possible support to Mufti Gaynutdin in connection with this loss. In addition, the contribution of Alisher Usmanov, a native of Uzbekistan, to the development of Islamic culture and education, in particular, his participation as a patron in the implementation of publishing, infrastructure and other projects of Russian Muslims, was noted.

The religious relations of the Muslim peoples on the territory of modern Russia and Uzbekistan date back many centuries, which is the foundation for the development of relations between religious institutions at the present stage. Currently, the field for joint work is also the task of spiritual guidance and education of migrant workers arriving in Russia. This requires the training of clergy and personnel from among the natives of Uzbekistan themselves to work and take religious care of migrants from Uzbekistan.

In this regard, Doctor of Theology Damir Mukhetdinov presented to his counterpart the new fundamental work of Mufti Gaynutdin "Islam: doctrine, worship, morality, law"and reported on the preparation of the translation of this work into Uzbek.

He also presented the book series" Al-Islah wa-t - tajdid " - "Rebirth and Renewal", previously presented in Moscow and a number of Russian cities, as well as in Almaty. The religious figure spoke about the large-scale scientific and publishing work carried out by the Moscow Islamic Institute, established by the RBM RF and the St. Petersburg State University represented by the Center for Islamic Studies. The presidential program of training specialists with in-depth knowledge of the history and culture of Islam also plays a huge role in the successful implementation of the scientific tasks set.

One of the new research and publishing projects will be a new book series "Alims of Maverannahr", which will include the classic works of Central Asian scientists on falsaf, kalam, tasawwuf and fiqh. In this regard, Damir Mukhetdinov suggested that Mufti Usmonkhon Alimov create a joint working group to prepare books for publication.

During the meeting, Usmonkhon Alimov spoke about the large-scale activities of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, in particular, the creation of new theological and scientific centers in the cities of the republic with the support and under the auspices of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The Mufti expressed regret that the epidemiological situation does not allow for the full implementation of the previously planned cooperation plans. He thanked Mufti Gaynutdin for his religious service and activities carried out for the benefit of Islam and Muslims.

Mufti Usmonkhon Alimov announced the intention of the Ministry of Education of Uzbekistan to hold a conference of graduates of the higher Islamic madrasah Mir-Arab in Bukhara and the Tashkent Islamic Institute named after Imam al-Bukhari. Mir-Arab was for many years the only Islamic educational institution in the USSR. Its graduates are such famous religious and state figures as the chairman of the Central Religious Administration of Muslims of Russia Talgat Tajuddin, the chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, the head of the Department of Muslims of the Caucasus Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, the ex-Mufti of Kazakhstan Ratbek Nysanbayuly, the late Mufti of Uzbekistan Eshon Bobokhon, the late Mufti and President of the Chechen Republic Akhmad Kadyrov and many others.

The Department of Muslims of Uzbekistan pays great attention to the project of tourism development on numerous objects of religious and cultural heritage of the republic. The architectural and historical value of dozens and hundreds of monuments, their significance in the religious history of the Islamic civilization make Uzbekistan attractive for tourists from all over the world, including from Russia.

Damir Mukhetdinov invited Mufti Usmonkhon Alimov and the clergy of Uzbekistan to take part in the celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the official adoption of Islam by the peoples of Volga Bulgaria, and also said that in May 2022, a World Conference on Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue will be held in St. Petersburg, in the organization of which Russian Muslims also take part.

At the end of the meeting, the two sides exchanged gifts and books.