The Spiritual leader of Muslims of Russia Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin congratulated veterans, all Russians, all people of goodwill on Victory Day:
«Dear and deeply respected veterans of the Great Patriotic war!
Dear compatriots, citizens of the Commonwealth of the Independent States, my brothers and sisters!
We are celebrating the most important holiday of the peoples of the former unified state of the Soviet Union - the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic war.
From the bottom of my heart, I congratulate you all on this significant date, a long-awaited holiday! On behalf of the 25 million Ummah of Russian Muslims, on behalf of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation and the Russian Muftis Council, on behalf of all our clergy, I wish our beloved veterans health, prosperity, joy and kindness. Victory Day cannot be canceled or postponed, it is in our hearts, in every family.
On this festive day, I wish all those who honor the memory of Great Victory peace, security, and prosperity!»
«...On May 9, 1945, the Soviet Union, at the cost of millions of lives of soldiers and civilians, destroyed the aggressor, who treacherously attacked peaceful towns and villages, in his lair. On May 9, 1945, all of humanity won a victory over the misanthropic ideology of fascism and over the formidable Nazi war machine, which had never known defeat before!
The price of this Victory was huge! The war entered literally every home and took lives, took carefree childhood, blooming youth, venerable old age, trampled plans, destroyed what was created by hard work. The enemy destroyed our cities, killed and captured, tortured and humiliated, tried to deprive people of the future.
The aggressor failed to break the spirit of our grandfathers. He could not shake our faith – our faith in truth, in justice, with the help of Allah! The enemy also failed to divide our peoples and destroy our unity. Our ancestors overcame the enemy with the strength of spirit, sincere and pure faith, and unity of the liberators. Our great country and all its peoples have given the world an unprecedented example of citizenship, Patriotic enthusiasm, unity and fraternity!
We keep this feat, this sacrifice and fervent love for our Fatherland in our hearts and are obliged to pass it on to succeeding generations....»
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message of congratulations to Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, in which, in particular, he noted: «On this sacred day, which is special for every family and for our entire country, we are keenly aware of the eternal connection of times and generations. And we will always remember what an exorbitant price the Victory was won. We will be proud of the feat of heroes who saved the Fatherland, crushed Nazism, and preserved their inner strength and dignity. Their deeds and actions, their firm adherence to unshakable moral and spiritual ideals, serve as an example for all times.»
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Sergey Bobylev / TASS