The opening ceremony of new buildings of the Russian Islamic University of the Central Religious Board of Muslims of Russia in Ufa was held within the framework of the ⅩⅣ International scientific conference "Ideals and Values of Abrahamic Traditions: Unity of Messages - Dialogue and Cooperation" in Ufa.
Farit Mukhametshin, Deputy Chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia - Islamic World" and Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, was the guest of honor at the event. He stressed that Bashkortostan in terms of religions is a model of a multi-confessional Russia, Muslim science and education.
"Graduates of the Russian Islamic University serve in many regions of the country. The Religious Board established in Bashkortostan has done a lot for the development of Muslim culture and education throughout its history. Islam in Bashkortostan is noted for its particular peacefulness and tolerance and lack of fanaticism. We are strengthening our friendship with the Muslim world. Bashkortostan is considered one of the leading places in the sphere of spiritual education of the younger generation, and Muslim leaders contribute to it," Mukhametshin emphasized.
The solemn opening ceremony was also attended by Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan Radiy Khabirov. "Our country is a home for millions of Muslims, an inseparable part of the Islamic world. The official center of Islam in Russia has been functioning here, in Bashkortostan, for over two centuries. Our revered Supreme Mufti, Sheikh-ul-Islam Talgat Hazrat Tadzhuddin, has been a recognized spiritual leader for over four decades. For all of us he is a true patriot and wise instructor <...> The new buildings of the Russian Islamic University will continue the best traditions of Ufa's famous madrassa Galiya. Many prominent figures and spiritual leaders studied there. Such as Bashkortostan's first Mufti Mansur Khalikov and Karim Khakimov, the first plenipotentiary representative of Soviet Russia in the Arab countries. The Russian Islamic University is one of the largest centers of spiritual education. The future muftis, theologians and enlighteners will get classical spiritual education relying on centuries-old traditions of traditional Islam," the head of the republic said.
Sheikh-ul-Islam Talgat Tadzhuddin, Chairman of the Central Religous Board of Muslims of Russia, says that the school is one of the seven Islamic universities in the country. There are more than 700 students from the regions of Russia and the CIS states.
The mufti thanked the head of Bashkortostan and his colleagues, spiritual leaders of Muslims in Turkey, who helped and supported the construction of new buildings of the Russian Islamic University. "45 years ago I taught my students Arabic and the basics of Shariah in a room designed for storing firewood, and so today I am the happiest person when I see the conditions in which the young boys and their older friends will study. Today our country unites more than 140 nationalities, which live together as a single organism and keep their national and religious traditions," he said.
Mufti of Istanbul, Professor Safi Arpagush conveyed greetings from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and all Turkish people and noted that a great historical event was taking place in Ufa. "Today we see how attentive the authorities in Russia are to Islam and the problems of Muslims. We share the joy of opening the new buildings of the Russian Islamic University, and it is very pleasant that the citizens of our country also helped in its construction. And of course, huge thanks to the head of the Republic and his colleagues for their support of the construction and their contribution to the development of interfaith harmony and the preservation of the ideals of peaceful coexistence", said the mufti of Istanbul.
Deputy Head of the Department for Cooperation with Religious Organizations of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation Almaz Fayzullin noted that students of the Russian Islamic University have received a beautifully equipped building with exquisite architectural forms.
After the opening ceremony, the distinguished guests toured the building, including classrooms, a dormitory, a canteen and a library. Talgat Tadzhuddin guided them around the building and explained that the university consists of three faculties: the theological and pedagogical faculty, the faculty of theology and Islamic history, the faculty of retraining, advanced training and additional education. Education is available full-time, evening and part-time, for men and women.
The Russian Islamic University is the legal successor of the famous Galiya madrasa, opened in Ufa in 1906. The madrasa was widely known as a major Muslim educational center, and attracted students from Ufa, Orenburg and Kazan provinces and Central Russia, the Crimea, Siberia, Central Asia, the Caucasus and distant foreign countries. After the 1917 revolution, the Galiya madrasa was closed. Only in January 1989 the first educational institution for training imams and clergymen was reopened in Ufa under the Central Religious Board of Muslims of Russia.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"