Kazan hosts forum on dialogue between Russia and Islamic World

KAZAN, Russia (MNTV) — An international forum bringing together students, young researchers and activists from 20 countries opened in Kazan to promote cultural exchange and cooperation between Russia and the Islamic world, IslamNews reports.

The first International Forum “Dialogue of Cultures: Russia — Islamic World” opened at the Galiaskar Kamal Tatar State Academic Theater. It was organized by the Russian Islamic Institute, the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group and Mohammed bin Zayed University for the Humanities, with support from the Foundation for Support of Islamic Culture, Science and Education.

Participants came from countries ranging from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to Indonesia and South Africa.

Tatarstan Mufti Kamil Samigullin highlighted Russia’s Islamic theological heritage, citing scholars including Shigabuddin Marjani, Galimjan Barudi, Murad Ramzi and Abdurashid Ibragimov.

He said Kazan had historically been a center of religious learning alongside cities such as Bukhara, Samarkand, Damascus, Baghdad and Cairo.

“I hope the forum’s geographic reach will only expand. Kazan has always been a cradle and center of knowledge. The world’s first Quran was printed in Kazan,” Samigullin said.

Citing the teachings of Hasan al-Basri, an early Muslim scholar, the mufti warned against acting without knowledge and obstructing others from learning. He said there was hope for the revival of Islamic scholarship and the emergence of new scholars as long as such obstacles did not become decisive.

Marat Gatin, deputy chairman of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group, said scientific and educational cooperation and youth engagement were central to the group’s work.

“This forum is a shining example of building horizontal connections,” Gatin said.

Islamic studies contest draws international participants

A major component of the forum is the fourth International Olympiad in Islamic Studies and Arabic, which brings together students from leading Islamic universities in Russia, 15 Commonwealth of Independent States countries, Turkey, Pakistan, India, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Participants from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and South Africa are taking part for the first time, organizers said.

The competition covers four categories: Arabic language, fundamentals of religion, Islamic law under the Hanafi school and Islamic law under the Shafi’i school.

Alexey Petrov, deputy director for regional project coordination and government relations at the Foundation for Support of Islamic Culture, Science and Education, said the competition demonstrated young people’s interest in Islamic studies and the organizational capacity of the participating institutions.

Petrov said the participation of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was significant despite what he described as attempts to discredit Russia. He added that the forum, which grew out of the academic competition, underscored the importance of communication across cultural, national and territorial boundaries.

He also praised the development of Islamic education in Russia, which is home to 194 nationalities, and expressed gratitude to Samigullin, Russian Islamic Institute rector Rafik Mukhametshin and Bulgarian Islamic Academy rector Farkhat Khusnutdinov for their work on Islamic education.

Discussions focus on peace, education, cultural exchange

The opening day included a workshop titled “Dialogue of Cultures in My Country,” where participants gave presentations on their countries’ cultural traditions.

A plenary discussion, “Shared Values as the Basis for Dialogue,” featured speakers including Adham al-Asimy, a lecturer at the Damascus Islamic Institute; Ahmad al-Rumhi, deputy dean of the Faculty of Sharia Sciences; Roman Ziyakaev, a lecturer at the Muhammad Ayman al-Zahrawi Academy; and a vice rector for academic affairs at the Kazan Islamic Institute. Ahmad Sheikh Mustafa, a lecturer at the Bulgarian Islamic Academy, moderated the discussion.

The program also featured an exhibition titled “A Taste of Unity: Sweets of the Peoples of the Islamic World,” introducing guests to culinary traditions from participating countries.

Further events were scheduled to include roundtable discussions on “Youth for Peace and Harmony,” “Education and Academic Mobility,” and “Media and Digital Communications.”

The forum is set to conclude with a closing ceremony and the signing of memorandums of cooperation between universities.