Mufti of Tatarstan Kamil Hazrat Samigullin made an address on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic war:
"Dear veterans!
Dear co-religionists!
On behalf of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Republic of Tatarstan and on my own behalf, I cordially congratulate you on Victory Day! This is a special holiday for our country. It is celebrated by representatives of all nationalities and religions, participants of various public organizations and political movements, rich and poor, young and old. May 9 is a truly national holiday in Russia.
75 years separate us today from the end of the largest and bloodiest tragedy in the history of mankind. For four monstrous years, our multi-ethnic people have been fighting against the merciless fascist occupiers who have encroached on the life, honor and freedom of our Motherland. The losses were huge – the war claimed the lives of about 12 million people and left a scar on the heart of every Russian family.
When the enemy entered our land in 1941, the Religious Board of the country's Muslims addressed the faithful with an appeal. By quoting 190 verses of the Surah "al-Baqarah" from the Noble Koran: "Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors", as well as the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Love for the Motherland, its protection is the duty of religion", the leaders of Muslims called on their co-religionists "to spare no effort to fight on the battlefields for the liberation of the great Motherland, all humanity and the Muslim world from the yoke of fascist villains". "Pray to the Great and Merciful God for a speedy victory over the enemy, for the liberation of all mankind and the Muslim world from the tyranny of human-hating fascists," the message also said.
Muslims responded wholeheartedly to this call. Shoulder to shoulder with compatriots of different faiths and worldviews, they did not spare their lives, they defended their home, their families and our future at the front; and they worked tirelessly, without food or sleep, they brought Victory Day closer in the labor rear. In the mosques of the same Religious Board, the believers raised funds for the creation of a separate tank column.
And today, by the grace of Allah and the efforts of front-line and rear-line soldiers, we live under a peaceful sky. It is impossible to express in words the feeling of gratitude that we feel today to the Almighty and the veterans for this opportunity. The feat of our people during the WWII is immortal! Prayer eternal memory to the soldiers and home front workers!
Dear Muslim brothers! Dear veterans! I congratulate all of you on Victory day and ask Allah to protect our Motherland, children and grandchildren from the horrors of war, and to bestow His mercy on veterans. I wish them good health. May the Almighty strengthen peace and mutual respect between the peoples and countries of the earth and send peace to every home and family."
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the RBM RT