Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory message to Russian Muslims on Eid al-Adha, noting the dedication, courage and bravery of Muslim fighters during the special military operation (SMO). The telegram was published Wednesday on the Kremlin website.
"The Muslim community of Russia plays a great, constructive role in the life of the country, makes a significant contribution to strengthening interethnic and interreligious peace, to preserving family values and educating the younger generation," the head of state stressed. - "Today, basing themselves upon the historical, spiritual and patriotic traditions of their ancestors, Muslim fighters show selflessness, bravery and courage during the special military operation. Shoulder to shoulder with their comrades, they defend Russia."
Putin noted that the Eid al-Adha holiday, which marks the end of the pilgrimage to the holy places of Islam, has deep moral and spiritual meaning. Throughout the centuries it has been celebrated in doing good deeds and caring for others and serves to establish the ideals of kindness, mercy and justice in the society. The president wished the Russian Muslims health and success.
On Wednesday, Muslims celebrate one of Islam's two major holidays, Eid al-Adha, or Kurban Bayram, the Feast of Sacrifice, which marks the end of the Hajj rites, the pilgrimage to the holy places of Islam in Saudi Arabia.
The story of Eid al-Adha is related to the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who, as described in the Quran, had a dream in which the angel Jabrail appeared and told him that Allah commanded him to sacrifice his firstborn son Ismail. Ismail obeyed his father's will and followed him to his death. When Allah was convinced of the faithfulness of Ibrahim, who was willing to do his bidding, he mercifully allowed him to replace his son with a lamb. Since then, Eid al-Adha has been considered a symbol of human's closeness to the Creator and simultaneously a symbol of the rejection of pagan human sacrifices, and the main tradition of the holiday is the slaughter of sacrificial animals, most often sheep.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS