Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin participated in the Quds Day at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque and addressed the participants of the event online, as well as the Muslim Ummah and the international community:


Dear brothers and sisters!


On the last Friday of the Holy month of Ramadhan we usually hold an event dedicated to the International Day of Quds (Jerusalem), with the participation of distinguished foreign guests, representatives of the Palestinian state, ambassadors of Arab and Muslim countries.

Unfortunately, we had to change our plans due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, despite all the difficulties, we cannot cancel this event, since Jerusalem has a special place in the hearts of believers. So today, on the last Friday of Ramadhan, the Quds Day is being held at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque.

Allah the Almighty mentions the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings, Jerusalem, in the Holy Qur'an.

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِِ

“Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing. "
That is why this ancient city of Quds was called the Holy Land.

In his hadith, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, encouraged the Muslim Ummah to visit the Al-Aqsa mosque located in this city and pray to Allah from this place, where he was taken to the Creator. "Do not prepare yourself for a journey except to three Mosques: Masjid al-Haram, the Mosque of Aqsa (Jerusalem) and my Mosque.” Jerusalem is also a city where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and numerous Jewish religious monuments are located. This is why it is called the cradle of the three Abrahamic religions.

Jerusalem has a very special status for those who practice Abrahamic religions. Active and aggressive Judaisation of Jerusalem, which is taking place during the recent years, is a source of concern not only for Muslims, but also for Christians living there. The world needs to pay attention to this situation and make sure that all believers have access to Jerusalem.

For ages the representatives of different religious inhabiting this city were bound by special contractual relations. This good neighborliness successfully existed for a long time.

The position of Russia has not changed since the times of the Soviet Union: Palestine should be recognized by the world community as an independent state, with its capital in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem belongs to the entire Abrahamic world and occupies a special place in the hearts of the followers of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, which, of course, once again emphasizes the fact that the Almighty Allah is the only true ruler of these holy places.

Muslims of Russia support the efforts of the Palestinians with regard to self-determination, independence and the right to live a decent life, which is hardly possible in the context of the ongoing occupation of the Palestinian territories.

We appeal to the entire progressive international community to make every effort to preserve the traditions of good neighborliness and peace and to prevent interfaith and interethnic hostility and confrontation in these places.

In these last days of Ramadhan, I would like to express confidence that the destiny of Jerusalem will be in the hands of sincere believers, regardless of their faith, who want to live in peace and harmony and try their best to strengthen the bonds of tolerance and good neighborliness.

On behalf of the Muslims of Russia, I express the hope that the global community will pay appropriate attention to the importance of this city and its heritage. Jerusalem is a city of peace and must belong to the whole world.

I express my gratitude to all our partner and friends from Palestine and Jordan, who made a contribution to our event by sending their video messages.
I thank the ambassadors of the Arab and Muslim countries who participated in the event. May the Almighty gather us all in the Al-Aqsa Mosque in prayer for peace in the Holy Land and in the whole world.