05.02.2021
International Day of Human Fraternity 4 February
On 4th February, the world community for the first time in history celebrated the International Day of Human Fraternity – the date established by the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly 21st of December 2020.
The text of the resolution emphasizes "the importance of awareness of different cultures and religions or beliefs and education in a spirit of tolerance that ensures that society recognizes and respects religious and cultural diversity, including in matters of religious expression". These guidelines, according to the resolution, are of particular importance in the context of the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), which require unity, solidarity and increased multilateral cooperation.
The Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation (RBM RF), sharing the values of dialogue, pluralism and mutual respect declared by the UN, at the end of last year made a significant contribution to the development of interreligious and intercultural dialogue to strengthen peace and social stability at the global and regional levels.
The proclamation of the International Day of Human Fraternity was made possible, among other things, in the context of another UN General Assembly declaration of 17th of December, 2012, in which 2013-2023 was declared the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures. However, the choice of the date of 4th of February is not random. On this day, two years ago in Abu Dhabi, a historic meeting was held between Pope Francis and the great Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmad al-Tayyib, which resulted in the signing of the document "Human brotherhood for world Peace and living together".
Even earlier − in 2007, the most authoritative Muslim leaders of the world, including the religious leader of Russian Muslims, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, signed an open letter "A common word between us and you", addressed to Pope Benedict XVI and the heads of other Christian churches of various denominations.
The ideas set out in the document "Human Brotherhood for World Peace and Living Together" were developed in the encyclical "Fratelli tutti" ("All Brothers"), published on 4th of October, 2020 by Pope Francis, dedicated to universal brotherhood and social friendship, as well as the culture of meeting as a fundamental condition for their achievement.
Russian Muslim leaders have actively engaged in the given discourse of religious and civilizational interaction thanks to the efforts of the RBM RF and the Muslim International Forum. Interreligious dialogue and the building of strong bridges between cultures, peoples and civilizations has been a fundamental principle of Religious Board since establishment in 1994. It is enough to note that it was Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin who initiated the creation of the Interreligious Council of Russia, sending a message with a corresponding appeal to Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.
Founded in 2004 with the blessing of Mufti Gaynutdin, the Muslim International Forum is also one of its priorities for the formation of a platform for dialogue between religious figures of various religious traditions.
An important contribution of Russian Muslims to the development of stable friendly and respectful relations between representatives of the two world religions – Christianity and Islam – was the first translation of the encyclical of Pope Francis "All Brothers", initiated by the Muslim International Forum and prepared by the Publishing House "Medina", the publication of which was symbolically timed to coincide with the Christian holiday of Eid al-Milyad (the Birth of Isa ibn Maryam).
The first Deputy Chairman of the RBM RF, the executive secretary of the Muslim International Forum, Dr. Damir Mukhetdinov, points out in the preface to the translation that the document of the Roman Catholic Church can help a Muslim better understand his own religion, free himself from prejudices against others and against himself.
4th of February - a symbolic date-will annually mark all efforts to strengthen religious, cultural and civilizational relationships around the world, which are being applied today and will be applied in the future.
The text of the resolution emphasizes "the importance of awareness of different cultures and religions or beliefs and education in a spirit of tolerance that ensures that society recognizes and respects religious and cultural diversity, including in matters of religious expression". These guidelines, according to the resolution, are of particular importance in the context of the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), which require unity, solidarity and increased multilateral cooperation.
The Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation (RBM RF), sharing the values of dialogue, pluralism and mutual respect declared by the UN, at the end of last year made a significant contribution to the development of interreligious and intercultural dialogue to strengthen peace and social stability at the global and regional levels.
The proclamation of the International Day of Human Fraternity was made possible, among other things, in the context of another UN General Assembly declaration of 17th of December, 2012, in which 2013-2023 was declared the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures. However, the choice of the date of 4th of February is not random. On this day, two years ago in Abu Dhabi, a historic meeting was held between Pope Francis and the great Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmad al-Tayyib, which resulted in the signing of the document "Human brotherhood for world Peace and living together".
Even earlier − in 2007, the most authoritative Muslim leaders of the world, including the religious leader of Russian Muslims, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, signed an open letter "A common word between us and you", addressed to Pope Benedict XVI and the heads of other Christian churches of various denominations.
The ideas set out in the document "Human Brotherhood for World Peace and Living Together" were developed in the encyclical "Fratelli tutti" ("All Brothers"), published on 4th of October, 2020 by Pope Francis, dedicated to universal brotherhood and social friendship, as well as the culture of meeting as a fundamental condition for their achievement.
Russian Muslim leaders have actively engaged in the given discourse of religious and civilizational interaction thanks to the efforts of the RBM RF and the Muslim International Forum. Interreligious dialogue and the building of strong bridges between cultures, peoples and civilizations has been a fundamental principle of Religious Board since establishment in 1994. It is enough to note that it was Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin who initiated the creation of the Interreligious Council of Russia, sending a message with a corresponding appeal to Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.
Founded in 2004 with the blessing of Mufti Gaynutdin, the Muslim International Forum is also one of its priorities for the formation of a platform for dialogue between religious figures of various religious traditions.
An important contribution of Russian Muslims to the development of stable friendly and respectful relations between representatives of the two world religions – Christianity and Islam – was the first translation of the encyclical of Pope Francis "All Brothers", initiated by the Muslim International Forum and prepared by the Publishing House "Medina", the publication of which was symbolically timed to coincide with the Christian holiday of Eid al-Milyad (the Birth of Isa ibn Maryam).
The first Deputy Chairman of the RBM RF, the executive secretary of the Muslim International Forum, Dr. Damir Mukhetdinov, points out in the preface to the translation that the document of the Roman Catholic Church can help a Muslim better understand his own religion, free himself from prejudices against others and against himself.
4th of February - a symbolic date-will annually mark all efforts to strengthen religious, cultural and civilizational relationships around the world, which are being applied today and will be applied in the future.