01.12.2015
10 Muslim International Forum. Results and Prospects
The 10th Muslim International Forum took place in Moscow on December 10–12 2014. It was entitled ‘Mission of religion and responsibility of its followers in the face of the challenges of modernity’. The event gathered more than 500 participants from 20 countries. The main outcome of the 10th forum was a decision to establish an ‘Muslim International Forum’ as a permanent international organization.
The Forum was organized by ten authoritative bodies. Among them are the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, the International Union of Muslim Scholars, the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey, International University ‘Al-Mustafa’ and others.
The 10th Muslim International Forum ‘Mission of Religion and responsibility of its followers in the face of the challenges of modernity’ opened with a keynote by the Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin. The key speakers of the 10th MIF were Secretary General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars Dr. Ali Muhyealdin Al-Quradaghi; President of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey Dr. Mehmet Görmez; President of ‘al-Mustafa’ International University, member of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution of Iran ayatollah Ali-Reza Arafi; Secretary General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Responsible for Rahbar (Supreme Leader of Iran) Affairs Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri; member of the Secretaries’ Council of the World Union of Muslim Ulemas, member of the founding board of the World Islamic League Muhammad Sadik Muhammad Yusuf; Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vitaly Naumkin and Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the St. Petersburg State University Mikhail Piotrovsky.
The 10th Muslim International Forum welcomed in Moscow prominent religious leaders of the Eurasian space from Indonesia to Finland. Among them were the deputy chairman of the Muslim community of China, Vice President of the Beijing Islamic Association Liu Kejie, the Mufti of Mongolia Baterbek Hadis, the Chairman of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan mufti Maksatbek Toktomushev, the First Deputy Chairman of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Kazakhstan Serikbay Oraz, the Chairman of the Muslim religious association in Belarus Mufti Abu Bekir Shabanovich, the Mufti of Estonia Ildar Muhamedshin, the Mufti of the Sunni Muslim religious center of Lithuania Romas Jakubauskas, the Imam of the Muslim Tatars’ community of Finland Ramil Belyaev and others.
The participation of the head of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Crimea Mufti Emirali Ablayev in the 10th MIF was particularly significant. This was his first official visit to Moscow after the Crimea’s rejoining with Russia.
As part of the 10th MIF a number of plenary sessions were organized: ‘Spiritual and Moral Values of the Abrahamic Religions as a Guarantee of Peacekeeping and Concord’, ‘Eurasian Integration and the Islamic World: Responsibility and Potential of Muslims’, ‘Cooperation of Government and Religious Associations in the Name of Sustainable Social Development’. The first day of the forum was concluded by the Joint Declaration of the 10th MIF.
An important outcome of the 10th MIF was a proposal formulated on December 10 by foreign participants on the foundation of a permanent organization of the same name which secretariat would be placed in Moscow. The secretariat will organize a constituent assembly of the new international body. It was unanimously agreed to appoint the first deputy of the chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation Damir Muhetdinov executive secretary of the MIF responsible for the abovementioned task. The study of the future legal framework of the organization, interaction with its future members, development of a website as well as other official periodicals have already begun under his command.
The head of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin awarded the highest award of Russian Muslims Al-Fahr Order to the Secretary General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhyealdin Al-Quradaghi and a member of the Secretary Council of IUMS Muhammad Sadik Muhammad Yusuf.
The second day of the 10th MIF was dedicated to the 7th International Scientific and Theological Conference ‘The role and significance of the Islamic Theological Legacy as a Consolidating Factor in the Eurasian Moral Space’. On the same day, the following events were organized: a round table with the chancellors of the cis Islamic higher schools purposing skill sharing and joint implementation of secondary vocational training programs and a theoretical and practical seminar with the chancellors of Russian Islamic Higher schools, which gathered prominent figures of Islamic science, culture and education from the post-Soviet space.
There was also a discussion and adoption of the final resolution of the 10th Muslim International Forum ‘Mission
of religion and responsibility of its followers in the face of the challenges of modernity’ and awarding Al-Fahr Order to the Minister of Religious Affairs of Turkey professor Mehmet Görmez.
The concluding day of the 10th MIF (December 12 is a public holiday – the Constitution Day – in Russia) was marked by the ceremony of the installation of a crescent onto the small minaret of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque.
On the same day, the following conferences took place: 10th all-Russia scientific and educational conference Faizkhanov readings entitled ‘Reforms of Muslim Education in Eurasia. From Husain Faizkhanov to Ismail Gasprinski: Historical Ex-perience and Today’s Topicality’ and the all-Russia Scientific and Educational Conference Bigiyev Readings entitled ‘Positive Experience of Socialization and Integration of Russian and Foreign Islamic Schools’ graduates into Muslim Society’, as well as the presentation of Islamic publications and scientific theological literature.
The Forum was organized by ten authoritative bodies. Among them are the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, the International Union of Muslim Scholars, the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey, International University ‘Al-Mustafa’ and others.
The 10th Muslim International Forum ‘Mission of Religion and responsibility of its followers in the face of the challenges of modernity’ opened with a keynote by the Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin. The key speakers of the 10th MIF were Secretary General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars Dr. Ali Muhyealdin Al-Quradaghi; President of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey Dr. Mehmet Görmez; President of ‘al-Mustafa’ International University, member of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution of Iran ayatollah Ali-Reza Arafi; Secretary General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Responsible for Rahbar (Supreme Leader of Iran) Affairs Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri; member of the Secretaries’ Council of the World Union of Muslim Ulemas, member of the founding board of the World Islamic League Muhammad Sadik Muhammad Yusuf; Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vitaly Naumkin and Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the St. Petersburg State University Mikhail Piotrovsky.
The 10th Muslim International Forum welcomed in Moscow prominent religious leaders of the Eurasian space from Indonesia to Finland. Among them were the deputy chairman of the Muslim community of China, Vice President of the Beijing Islamic Association Liu Kejie, the Mufti of Mongolia Baterbek Hadis, the Chairman of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan mufti Maksatbek Toktomushev, the First Deputy Chairman of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Kazakhstan Serikbay Oraz, the Chairman of the Muslim religious association in Belarus Mufti Abu Bekir Shabanovich, the Mufti of Estonia Ildar Muhamedshin, the Mufti of the Sunni Muslim religious center of Lithuania Romas Jakubauskas, the Imam of the Muslim Tatars’ community of Finland Ramil Belyaev and others.
The participation of the head of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Crimea Mufti Emirali Ablayev in the 10th MIF was particularly significant. This was his first official visit to Moscow after the Crimea’s rejoining with Russia.
As part of the 10th MIF a number of plenary sessions were organized: ‘Spiritual and Moral Values of the Abrahamic Religions as a Guarantee of Peacekeeping and Concord’, ‘Eurasian Integration and the Islamic World: Responsibility and Potential of Muslims’, ‘Cooperation of Government and Religious Associations in the Name of Sustainable Social Development’. The first day of the forum was concluded by the Joint Declaration of the 10th MIF.
An important outcome of the 10th MIF was a proposal formulated on December 10 by foreign participants on the foundation of a permanent organization of the same name which secretariat would be placed in Moscow. The secretariat will organize a constituent assembly of the new international body. It was unanimously agreed to appoint the first deputy of the chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation Damir Muhetdinov executive secretary of the MIF responsible for the abovementioned task. The study of the future legal framework of the organization, interaction with its future members, development of a website as well as other official periodicals have already begun under his command.
The head of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin awarded the highest award of Russian Muslims Al-Fahr Order to the Secretary General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhyealdin Al-Quradaghi and a member of the Secretary Council of IUMS Muhammad Sadik Muhammad Yusuf.
The second day of the 10th MIF was dedicated to the 7th International Scientific and Theological Conference ‘The role and significance of the Islamic Theological Legacy as a Consolidating Factor in the Eurasian Moral Space’. On the same day, the following events were organized: a round table with the chancellors of the cis Islamic higher schools purposing skill sharing and joint implementation of secondary vocational training programs and a theoretical and practical seminar with the chancellors of Russian Islamic Higher schools, which gathered prominent figures of Islamic science, culture and education from the post-Soviet space.
There was also a discussion and adoption of the final resolution of the 10th Muslim International Forum ‘Mission
of religion and responsibility of its followers in the face of the challenges of modernity’ and awarding Al-Fahr Order to the Minister of Religious Affairs of Turkey professor Mehmet Görmez.
The concluding day of the 10th MIF (December 12 is a public holiday – the Constitution Day – in Russia) was marked by the ceremony of the installation of a crescent onto the small minaret of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque.
On the same day, the following conferences took place: 10th all-Russia scientific and educational conference Faizkhanov readings entitled ‘Reforms of Muslim Education in Eurasia. From Husain Faizkhanov to Ismail Gasprinski: Historical Ex-perience and Today’s Topicality’ and the all-Russia Scientific and Educational Conference Bigiyev Readings entitled ‘Positive Experience of Socialization and Integration of Russian and Foreign Islamic Schools’ graduates into Muslim Society’, as well as the presentation of Islamic publications and scientific theological literature.