In 2025, Russia and the entire world bow their heads in gratitude before the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, paid for with the blood and heroism of millions. Among those who stood up to defend the Motherland and all of humanity from the fascist plague were the Muslims of the Soviet Union - the faithful sons of their country. Their spiritual leader, Mufti Gabdrakhman Rasulev, with his fiery call for sacred struggle, inspired thousands of believers to heroism, proving that faith and patriotism are one.
In the darkest days of the war, when the fate of the country hung in the balance, the Central Religious Board of Muslims, under the leadership of Mufti Gabdrakhman Rasuleva became a shining banner of resistance to the occupiers. In May 1942, a historic "Appeal" was heard in Ufa, calling on believers to wage holy jihad against nazism. Not just a call - it was an alarm that thundered from the minbars of all the mosques in the country.
The "Appeal" was also published in the newspaper "Trud" (May, 1942). "The Great Allah says in the Quran: "Fight those who fight against you, but do not transgress the limits, for Allah does not love those who transgress the limits" - with this sacred verse began the religious justification of the battle for Soviet Muslims. They went into battle not only for their land - they fought for justice and for the future of all mankind.
Despite years of Soviet persecution of religion, the war showed that the spiritual foundation of the people cannot be broken. Muslim communities raised funds for tank columns and air squadrons, mothers sent their sons to the front, and in the trenches even those who had previously rejected the faith whispered prayers. Such is the power of true faith – it unites in times of trial.
During the war, Gabdrakhman Hazrat participated in the establishment of the Buinaksk Religious Board in Dagestan. After the war, despite the strict restrictions and difficulties with registering mosques, he supported the communities: he issued certificates (shahadatnama) to the clergy. By 1950, almost a thousand such certificates had been issued.
Thanks to his efforts, the hajj from the USSR was resumed in 1945: Gabdrakhman Hazrat led the first group of pilgrims, and after returning, he shared his impressions and distributed zamzam water to the believers. International recognition of his activities came in 1947, when the mufti's biography was included in the American directory "Who's Who in Religion". At the same time, he published a brochure "The Religion of Islam".
In 1948, after a 22-year break, the IV Congress of Muslims was held, where the centralized organization was renamed the Religious Board of Muslims of the European Part of the USSR and Siberia. Gabdrakhman Hazrat fought for the abolition of bans on religious rites and revived the institutions of faith at the state level, not least thanks to his personal authority.
If local authorities crossed the line, Gabdrakhman Hazrat sought protection of Muslim interests in Moscow. For example, when they began to prohibit saying takbir and making sacrifices on the holiday of Eid al-Adha, the mufti met with the Chairman of the Council for Religious Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the USSR Ivan Polyansky in August 1949 and obtained an explanation of the legality of these rituals.
Gabdrakhman Hazrat passed away on the night of July 5-6, 1950 and was buried in the courtyard of the Ufa Mosque.
Today, when the ugly shadows of the past try to distort the truth about the war, we must remember: Victory was forged by the unity of all the peoples of the USSR. Muslims fought shoulder to shoulder with the Orthodox, Jews, Buddhists and representatives of other faiths, as well as with atheists - because we have one Motherland. The determination of Gabdrakhman Rasulev and millions of Soviet Muslims are not just a page of history. This is an eternal lesson in courage, faith, and devotion to your nation.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: CRBM RF