On March 19, 2025, one of the largest fast-breaking evenings in Russia, the 13th Republican Iftar, was held at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center in the Republic of Tatarstan. This year, the grand event brought together 13 thousand people at a hospitable table – believers from all corners of the republic. The evening meal was shared by leaders of various levels, participants of the special military operation (SMO), famous religious, public, cultural, and government figures.
The conceptual content of the Republican Iftar was significant. The event was held within the framework of the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland declared in the Russian Federation and also under the banner of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The program was dedicated to the theme of love for the Motherland and support for the participants of the SMO and their families, implying a universal expression of tribute to the memory of the heroes of the Great Victory.
Guests of the Republican Iftar began arriving long before sunset. In the lobby of Kazan Expo, they were greeted by a large-scale exhibition, “Courage Will Remain for Centuries…” about the contribution of Muslims to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Its visitors could learn about the history of the exploits and personal belongings of such brave warriors as Mikhail Devyatayev, Maguba Syrtlanova, and many others. An exhibition was also organized in support of the SMO participants. Within the framework of which the guests of the event had the opportunity to experience to a small extent the front-line life of valiant servicemen thanks to the exhibits presented: field stoves, army dry rations, elements of uniform and camouflage, as well as drones. Exciting photos from the front line were fully reflected in the captions under them: “Spiritual conversation under the roar of shells” or “Front-line priests and hazrats raise the fighting spirit of soldiers.”
In addition, the participants could see the exhibition of the achievements of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Republic of Tatarstan. A real gem of the exhibition was a signal copy of the handwritten Quran. Its writing was solemnly launched as part of the celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the adoption of Islam by Volga Bulgaria. Today, the work has been completed, and the unique edition is being prepared for printing. The value of the Kazan handwritten Quran was explained by the world-famous theologian, head of the Commission for the Preparation of the Quran of the Dubai International Prize of the Holy Quran, Sheikh Mamun ar-Ravi: “The uniqueness of this mushaf is that it is written based on 11 sources. This mushaf will become a standard, and other mushafs will be written from it.”
One of the pavilions of the exhibition area was equipped for collective prayer. In total, 21,000 square meters of carpet were used to equip the prayer room and the hall for breaking the fast. The stage program included sermons from famous Tatar hazrats on the merits of the month of Ramadan and love for the Motherland, as well as Muslim chants: munajats.
The special guest was the Supreme Mufti, Chairman of the Central Religious Board of Muslims of Russia, Talgat Tadzhuddin. The sermon of Sheikh-ul-Islam noticeably encouraged those fasting. No less inspiring were the vagazes from the Chief Qazi of the Republic of Tatarstan Jalil hazrat Fazlyev, and other special participants - front-line imams: Ildar Shamsutdinov, Muhammad Khairulaev, and Ruslan Agmalov. The military personnel were introduced by Mansur hazrat Dzhalaletdin.
At exactly 17:56 the adhan was sounded, and the Muslims, following the Mufti of Tatarstan Kamil hazrat Samigullin, and also together with the Rais of Tatarstan, Chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia - Islamic World” Rustam Minnikhanov and other high-ranking guests, performed akhsham -namaz (sunset prayer). Immediately after the prayer, 13 thousand believers collectively read a prayer for the active and deceased participants of the SMO and for the well-being of the Motherland.
800 volunteers, aged 16 to 70, were involved in the iftar. Their involvement began several days before the iftar. In addition to regulating the flow of people during the event, the volunteers washed fruits, vegetables, and dried fruits in advance, set the tables, seated the Iftar participants, and cleaned the pavilions after the iftar was over.
“I want to thank the organizers, Radik (Abdrakhmanov, co-owner of the national tourist complex “Tugan Avylym” - editor's note), volunteers. As our Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever does not thank people, does not thank the Almighty,” Kamil Hazrat shared with journalists. The Mufti also noted that this year more people came to the Republican Iftar than planned.
“We should be happy: people have more desire. Next year we will think things over and sum up the results,” Kamil Hazrat noted.
The 13th Republican Iftar was organized by RBM of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Directorate of the “Ak Bars Arena” stadium, the “Tugan Avylym” national tourist complex, and the “Kazan Expo” IEC.