A meeting between the Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation and Russia Muftis Council mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin and the President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas took place in RMC residency.

The meeting was attended by the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the State of Palestine Saed Mustafa, the official representative of the President of the State of Palestine Nabil Abu Rdeinah, member of the executive council of the Palestine Liberation Organisation Saeb Erakat, advisors of the President of the State of Palestine, first SAM RF deputy chairman Damir Gizatullin, first RMC deputy chairman Rushan Abbyasov, director of the International department Ildar Galeev and other members of RMC and SAM RF staff.

In the beginning of the meeting the high guest and members of his delegation were familiarised with the progress of the reconstruction of the Moscow Jum'ah mosque and the decoration works that precede the official opening ceremony and listened to the detailed narrative of mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin who told about the finishing stage of the reconstruction. The Palestinian leader who came to Russia with an official visit highly spoke of our country's role in the mediation of the Middle East crisis: "It is pleasant to note that the relations between Palestine and Russia have been steadily developing and continue improving."

In RMC residency head of the Palestinian State awarded Russian spiritual leader with a high reward, Order Najm al-Quds (the Star of Jerusalem). The decoration order reads: "In recognition of the outstanding role in spreading the culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence of different religions and ethnicities and as a sign of appreciation of his efforts in the reconstruction of the Moscow Jum'ah mosque."

Mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin stressed that he sees the award is a sign of respect and appreciation of the efforts of all Russian muftis and imams who spread the word of our blessed religion in the name of peace and stability. He told of more than 8000 new mosques that opened their doors in Russia in the last years and about the religious renaissance the country is experiencing.

"The construction of the Moscow Jum'ah mosque has become possible due to the goodwill of the Russian President and the participation of Muslim countries among other things," said Ravil hazrat, stressing that Palestine was among the first Muslim states that contributed to the construction works on behalf of the Palestinian children. "You are also the participants of our grand construction works," said mufti.

"The main result of the renovation of Moscow Jum'ah mosque is that it represents peaceful coexistence of religions and peoples in Great Russia," said Palestinian leader.

"Moscow Jum'ah mosque is a very important symbol for the whole Muslim world that is suffering from disaccord as well as a symbol for Palestine, the holy land of monotheism," said Mahmoud Abbas.

RMC and SAM RF Chairman informed the guests of the agreements reached on the future official opening ceremony of the mosque that will take place in May of next year and will be attended by the Russian President and the country's leadership as well as the leaders of almost all Muslim countries. The official invitations will be sent in January of 2016.

During the meeting, mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin assured the Palestinian leader that Russian Muslims will always support the right of Palestinian people for their own state with capital in East Jerusalem. Spiritual leader of Russian Muslims noted that the Palestine's admission to the membership in the International Criminal Court along with the recognition of Palestine as an observer state of the United Nations in 2012 are a sign of the positive trend in Palestine's road to the full international recognition. "It's what the Soviet Union stood for, what Russia has been standing for since the creation of Palestine; Russia gave its voice in support of the people of Palestine," said mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, greeting and supporting the people of Palestine on behalf of the 25 million strong Russian Ummah and Russian Muslim organisations. Mahmoud Abbas spoke exceptionally highly of the cooperation with our county and the efforts of Russia to bring peace to their land.

The mufti has noted the contribution of the Palestinian President to the stabilisation of internal political and economical situation in the Palestinian state and thanked him for the support he provides to our Muslims while visiting different parts of our country, saying that thanks to the support from the nation's leadership, Russian Muslims show good results in almost all areas.

"We, the Muslims of Russia, pray to Almighty God, asking Him for peace and accord in the whole world, both in our Fatherland and in Palestine," said mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, wishing success to the blessed and long-suffering land of Palestine.

"Your efforts are best illustrated by the word from the holy Qur'an: The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give zakah and do not fear except Allah , for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided (Sura at-Tawbah, ayah 18)," said Palestinian leader adressing mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin.