The traditional majlis "Izge Bolgar Jiyen", which concluded the cultural program of the International Economic Forum "Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum", was held today in the Republic of Tatarstan.
The event is held annually in commemoration of the adoption of Islam by the peoples of Volga Bulgaria in 922 CE. The majlis, led by Grand Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, was attended by a delegation from the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation – muftis, imam-muhtasibs, imams, activists and staff of regional spiritual boards from dozens of regions of Russia.

At the rally at the Memorial Sign of the Adoption of Islam by Volga Bulgaria, the spiritual leader of Russia's Muslims, Mufti Sheikh Gaynutdin, addressed the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov:

"I am sincerely grateful to you. When we asked to hold the International Quran Recitation Competition in the capital of Tatarstan as the opening event on the occasion of Kazan's selection as the cultural capital of the Islamic world in 2026, Rustam Nurgalievich said with words of gratitude: let us hold it, with the word of Allah Tabaraka wa Ta'ala, with the Noble Quran."

The head of the RBM emphasized that the declaration of Kazan as the cultural capital of the Islamic world in 2026 holds symbolic significance: this year, the Russian ummah marks the 250th anniversary of Gabdennasyr Kursavi, the 175th anniversary of Ismail Gasprinsky, and the anniversaries of other great thinkers.

"We are proud of our great alims and today we are returning their legacy to our people. We are publishing series of their scholarly and theological works. We are sincerely grateful to the authorities, the academic community, and our muftis, who contribute to the spiritual revival and preservation of the legacy of the great scholars of the Bulgar land," emphasized Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin from the podium.

The spiritual leader of Russia's Muslims also noted the significance of the coincidence of the year of Kazan as the cultural capital of the Islamic world and the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia:

"This is very symbolic folk brotherhood – together with the state authorities, the esteemed heads of spiritual boards, leaders of local Muslim religious organizations, our partners in interreligious dialogue from the Russian Orthodox Church, the Buddhist and Jewish communities, and representatives of other traditional religions of Russia are all working. All our religious events are peacemaking."

The history, nation and religion of the Tatars originate in Bolgar, the Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov stated at the rally: "We must remember the history of our ancestors. This is our religion – Islam, and, of course, we must remember all the traditions of our older generation."

The head of the republic emphasized that Izge Bolgar Jiyen is the concluding event of KazanForum: "There were many federal ministers, more than 100 countries were represented at our forum, and, of course, we held a meeting of the Strategic Vision Group 'Russia – Islamic World'. The most important event – we have come here."

Also addressing the ummah were the Chairman of the Central Spiritual Board of Muslims, Sheikh ul-Islam Talgat Tadzhuddin; Mufti of the Republic of Belarus, Abu-Bekir Shabanovich; Mufti of Tatarstan, Kamil Samigullin; Chairman of the RBM of the Asian Part of Russia, Nafigulla Ashirov; Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, Vasil Shaykhraziev; and Bishop of Chistopol and Nizhnekamsk, Pakhomy.

After the rally, the majlis participants performed prayer on the grounds of the Cathedral Mosque. The program continued with the annual plenum of the RBM, attended by the Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, the Acting Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan Marat Akhmetov, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the republic, Vasil Shaykhraziev.

Approximately 25,000 participants attended "Izge Bolgar Jiyen" in 2026.