Russia"s Mufti Council gave Iftar in Moscow
Harun Yahya
A Ramadan tent has been opened just near the Moscow"s Zafer Mosque and will remain open during the last ten days of the Islamic fast. For its fifth anniversary, the tent"s opening day has become an important event, and many religious officials of Russia"s other faith communities have attended. During the iftar (dinner for breaking the fast) the Chairman of Russia"s Mufti Council Ravil Gaynutdin expressed that Russian Muslims live in peace together with the people from other religions and Ramadan is a means for all Muslims to perform their religious duties effectively.
Sergey Ryahovskiy from the Protestant Church has participated in Iftar and expressed his feelings by saying: “Holy Ramadan Month is very significant. People of Muslim Community are my brothers in faith. While I am sitting here, I read the Qur’anic verses that are written on the tent walls and realize that all these verses seem like the ones I believe.”
Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin from the Orthodox Church has also joined the iftar and in his speech he said: “Fasting is a religious duty that unites Muslims and Orthodox Christians. We need to collaborate in good days and also in bad days. If somebody treats one of us as an enemy, the other one of us must immediately come for his help.”
This year, the tent has been officially recognized by the government by being added to the official list of the city"s religious activities, holidays and festivals.
Last year the tent was open for 10 days; its activities are being greatly expanded this year and will continue for 15 days, the second half of Ramadan.
The opening ceremony this year brought together representatives of the Orthodox, Protestant and Catholic churches, as well as Jewish religious officials to honor the event"s fifth anniversary.
Around 600 guests are expected to visit the tent daily, and are invited to take part in religious and philosophical discussions and listen to Qur"an readings.
Yeni Asya, 28 August 2010
