Deputy Chairman of the Russian Muftis Council and the Religious Board of Muslims of Russia Damir Mukhetdinov said that he presented the first Russian doctoral dissertation in Islamic theology.
"This is the first defense of the doctoral dissertation in Islamic theology in Russian history after the theology was approved by VAK as a direction, it was about five years ago. And before me, no one applied for a PhD or doctoral dissertation in theology," Mukhetdinov told RIA Novosti.
He noted that, unlike Orthodox Christians, Muslims do not have their own dissertation council on theology, it is possible to conduct such a defense only at Moscow State University and St. Petersburg State University, because according to the rules of these universities, "it is possible to collect dissertation councils for the candidate with the invitation of leading experts in the subject".
The theme of Mukhetdinov's thesis is "Islamic Renewal Movement of the end of XX - beginning of XXI century: ideas and perspectives". Mikhail Piotrovsky, General Director of the State Hermitage Museum and Dean of the Eastern Faculty of St. Petersburg State University, became the chairman of the dissertation council.
Theology was recognized as a scientific discipline by the decision of the Higher Attestation Commission (VAK) in 2015.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Sergey Bobylev / TASS