Putin quotes Koran at opening of Russia’s largest mosque in Europe
The Cathedral Mosque, the largest not only in Russia, but also in Europe, was opened in Moscow. At the same time, the mosque will be able to accept 10 thousand believers and will become not just a decoration, but also a center for the dissemination of the true values of Islam.Vladimir Putin spoke about this in the presence of heads of state and spiritual leaders.
Seven-headed and golden - 12 kilograms of gold leaf were spent on the shining heads. The marble-air Moscow Cathedral Mosque grows on an impeccable cast of the blue sky, but the real splendor begins behind the heavy carved doors.
The frozen waterfall of light, repeating the shape of the dome, is born from the crystal threads of three and a half thousand lamps, casting light from 320 chandeliers and the main one, weighing one and a half tons under the painted dome, on gilded frames made of brass and bronze. The unprecedented beauty of the Cathedral Mosque is striking - with a marble mihrab, skillful hand-stained glass windows, front doors and soft rich carpets that line the prayer hall.
Putin came to the ceremony with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian National Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas.
"I am sure that the Cathedral Mosque will become for Muslims of Moscow, and all of Russia, the most important spiritual center, a source of enlightenment, the spread of humanistic ideas, true, authentic values of Islam, will carry knowledge and spirituality. It will help to unite the efforts not only of Muslims, but also of people of other faiths in the name of good common deeds. The Quran says: "Strive to get ahead of each other in good deeds," Vladimir Putin said.
"This is a historic event that contributes to the strengthening of peace, the development of good-neighborly and mutually beneficial relations of countries, peoples and cultures. Russia is the heir and glorious successor of all cultures and religions of the Eurasian space. The Moscow Cathedral Mosque is a symbol of our faith, our unity," said Ravil Gainutdin, Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia.
Spiritual leaders and representatives of Islamic states from the Middle East, Central Asia, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Uzbekistan and other countries came to Moscow - guests from all over the world. Ambassador of Qatar, leaders of Russian regions, Mayor of Moscow Sobyanin, famous General Gareev, Director of the Hermitage Piotrovsky, Leader of Liberal Democrats Zhirinovsky. Addressing the audience, Putin spoke about the growing threats of religious extremism and thanked Muslim leaders for their courageous and fearless work to counter attempts to recruit citizens of our country by representatives of ISIS (banned in the Russian Federation).
"We see what is happening in the Middle East, as has already been mentioned here. There, terrorists from the so-called "Islamic State", compromising the great world religion, compromising Islam, sow hatred, kill people, including clergymen. Barbaric destruction of monuments of world culture. Their ideology is built on lies, on the frank perversion of Islam. They are trying to recruit adepts in our country as well. Muslim leaders of Russia, courageously and fearlessly using their authority, oppose extremist propaganda. I want to express my great respect to these people. They really do their job heroically and suffer losses. But I have no doubt that in the future they will educate believers on the principles of humanism, mercy and justice," Putin said.
Putin once again reminded of the importance of domestic Islamic theology in our country and the education of Muslim youth on traditional Islamic values.
"The state will continue to help recreate the domestic Muslim theological school, its system of religious education. As you know, I supported the proposal of the leadership of Tatarstan and the leading spiritual administrations of Muslims to establish the Bulgarian Islamic Academy. Thus, the ancient spiritual and scientific center of Russian Muslims will be revived. And of course, Muslim cultural and scientific and educational centers should be expanded. Their goal is to unite Muslims, to convey to them the spiritual, cultural, moral code that is inherent in traditional Islam in Russia," the Russian president emphasized.
The new mosque, where Putin, following the Muslim tradition, entered his shoes, will become just such a theological, educational and training scientific center.
Faith is the foundation of solidarity. And spiritual shrines are symbols of unification, regardless of ethnicity and confessional affiliation.
"I am confident that this mosque will become the center from which the spirit of mutual peaceful coexistence of religions and peoples will come," said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
What happens when the century-old spirit of coexistence is violated can be seen in the example of the awakened Middle East, which today is produced by crises that make Europe shudder.
"The solution to the refugee problem is not to close the borders for them and leave them to die on the high seas, the solution to the problem is only to make their countries safe again for the lives of these people," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
Security and stability are impossible without dialogue. Russia, where Islam is the religion of many indigenous peoples, has experience of such dialogue and is ready to become a platform for interethnic and interstate communication. The construction of the mosque is also a symbol of dialogue. It was built by the whole world.
"We are proud to be a part of this great country, Russia. That we can make our contribution to strengthen the statehood of our great Motherland," said the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov.
"This is a very important event for Muslims, an important event for Russia, for representatives of all religions. It's about opening a mosque, the house of Allah, the house of the Almighty. The kindest words should be heard here," said Ramazan Abdulatipov, head of the Republic of Dagestan.
"In the capital, such a beautiful mosque appeared on the site of that old mosque, 20 times the area. People who preach Islam can come here to pray, visit," said Rustam Minnikhanov, Head of the Republic of Tatarstan.
Thousands of believers will gather here again tomorrow. Kurban Bayram is one of the main Islamic holidays. The renovated mosque will become the center of celebrations for the first time after the end of the ten-year reconstruction.
The majestic Cathedral Mosque with a golden dome, exquisite oriental carvings on white marble, minarets aimed at the sky has become a real decoration of the capital, part of its unique architectural appearance and one of the high spiritual symbols of the country in every sense.