"Spiritual Silk Road": second day. “Spiritual Silk Road. Creation. Integration”: thematic sections, round tables and presentation “Kalandar-name. “Spiritual Silk Road: Creation. Integration” Speech by Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin at the II Inter
The II International Scientific and Theological Conference “Spiritual Silk Road. Creation. Integration”, which was a continuation of the official opening ceremony of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy. The conference brought together spiritual administrations and relevant state departments of Russia, China and Central Asian countries to develop a common position regarding the challenges of our time
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I would like to note the interconnection of the most important provisions of the conference and the fact of the opening of the Islamic Academy. The issues discussed at the conference primarily concerned the integration of efforts to reach agreements between the countries of the world in all areas, including in the field of education. Education is the basis for achieving high results in any activity, especially in modern times, when new challenges to peace and tranquility of people arise in the world.
Today, more and more new “hot spots” are emerging, countries are being attacked by terrorists, the foundations of the religion of Islam are being distorted, the system of science and education is being deformed, the Internet is causing many troubles, including deformation of the minds of young people, a conductor of erroneous or incomplete knowledge, a factor in the recruitment of militants and suicide bombers. for the purpose of denigrating Islam and carrying out terrorist acts, crimes against humanity.
In this regard, it seems to us that one of the most important factors in combating the negative consequences of the challenges of our time is the development of education as a source of true knowledge.
The enrichment of Muslim institutions with the emergence of the academy is an important milestone in the development of Muslim education and the solution of problems arising from its absence. This is a kind of Renaissance of religion, which must be supported by quality education.
“The opening of the academy is a historic event both for Tatarstan and Russia as a whole, and for the entire Muslim world. Here on Bulgarian soil almost 11 centuries ago our ancestors converted to Islam. During this time, our people have traveled a glorious and difficult path, retaining faith in Allah and loyalty to great traditions. For many centuries Bolgar was the place of concentration of eminent theologians. By opening an Islamic academy in its heart, we are reviving its former greatness,”- President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov noted in his speech at the grand opening of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy on September 4.
 
The history of the development of Islamic education in our country has more than 1000 years. Description of the trip Ibn Fadlan to Volga Bulgaria in the 10th century contains information that the population of the Volga region, even before the official adoption of Islam, was familiar with it, had mosques and religious educational institutions - madrasahs.
After the conquest by the troops Ivan the Terrible Muslim khanates, madrasahs become the center of the spiritual life of scattered communities, from among which come theologians and mullahs. The heyday of the madrasah begins during the reign of Catherine II, the patroness of Islam in Russia, and reaches its peak in the XIX - the first third of the XX centuries. At this time, Shigabuddin Marjani (1818-1889), Ismail Gasprinsky (1851-1914), Galimdzhan Barudi (1857-1921), Yusuf Akchura (1876-1935), Musa Bigiev (1875- 1949), Hadi Atlasi (1876-1938) and others - A. M. Salakhov, "The Rise of the Islamic Theological School in Russia" A. M. Salakhov. The rise of the Islamic theological school in Russia.
The Soviet era became fatal for Islamic education: officially, it completely ceased to exist. The teaching of religious disciplines went underground, to private houses and apartments. Only in 1946, after the Great Patriotic War, the authorities made concessions and opened the Mir-Arab madrasah in Bukhara, where all Muslim clerics studied until 1980. Gorbachev's "perestroika" opened a new page in the history of Russian Islam: the number of people wishing to learn more about their religion increased dramatically, which led to the opening of Islamic educational institutions.
In 2007, the Government of the Russian Federation began to help the development of Islamic education. By decision of the Ministry of Education and Science, five Islamic universities were attached to five state universities in order to improve their methodological base and exchange experience. Since that time, the continuous development and improvement of Islamic education in Russia began.
Photo source: president.tatarstan.ru
The name of the conference is a great analogy
It is no coincidence that the name of the conference is the Spiritual Silk Road. It reminds me of the existence Great Silk Road which in ancient times connected East and West with trade, economic, political, diplomatic and cultural contacts. At different stages of its multi-thousand-year functioning, there were changes in the content and meaning, directions and scales of these contacts. The main role of the Silk Road remained unchanged - it was the main intercivilizational bridge.
Travelers of the Silk Road made a huge contribution to the study of the cultural characteristics of the countries located along its entire length. The world got acquainted with the ideas and works of great philosophers, scientists and statesmen. There was a mutual enrichment of cultures: peoples exchanged knowledge, spiritual and philosophical concepts and views. Through the Silk Road, various creeds spread: Buddhism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
In addition, he played a huge role in establishing and maintaining diplomatic relations between the centers of power of the Ancient World, the major states of the West and East. The process of intercivilizational communication took place intensively throughout the entire period of the functioning of the ancient Silk Road.
In 2013, China put forward the idea and began the practical implementation of the twenty-first century Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) and Maritime Silk Road (MSR) strategic super-project (One Belt, One Road).
In recent years, the main efforts of Chinese diplomacy have been devoted to combining the strategic development of the countries of Greater Eurasia with the Silk Road Economic Belt (One Belt, One Road) super-project. In total, more than 70 countries and international organizations expressed their readiness to cooperate in the implementation of the project, and more than 30 states signed a cooperation agreement with China, including Russia.
 
Photo source: onlaps.com
President of Russia Vladimir Putin, answering journalists' questions about the "Silk Road" during a press conference at the 9th BRICS Summit (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), noted that now the Chinese and Russian sides are actively studying the issue of laying the route of the Great Road through Russia. He also recalled that China plans to participate in the construction of the Moscow-Kazan high-speed railway.
“We discussed in Moscow during the previous visit of the President of the People's Republic of China the possibility of building a high-speed passenger-cargo railway through the Russian Federation,” Putin said.
Recall that the summit was held in the southern Chinese coastal city of Xiamen, Fujian province on September 4-5.
Conference as a vector: impressions
 
Photo source: website
II International Scientific and Theological Conference “Spiritual Silk Road. Creation. Integration” began its work by reading the Surahs of the Holy Quran.
Moderator of the plenary session - First Deputy Chairman of the RMC and DUMRF Rushan Hazrat Abbyasov- said that the group of strategic vision "Russia - the Islamic world", the Spiritual Muslim Board of the Republic of Tatarstan and KFU acted as co-organizers of the conference.
The plenary session was opened with a welcoming speech on behalf of the First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation Sergei Kiriyenko. It was read by the deputy head of the internal policy department Mikhail Belousov:
“The current agenda and the representative composition of the participants make it possible to speak of the conference as a significant international event. Participation in the work of a wide range of experts, representatives of the diplomatic corps, religious organizations demonstrates a common commitment to the need to preserve and develop the centuries-old cultural ties of the Spiritual Silk Road on the foundation of traditional values and moral guidelines.”
Also in the address, Kiriyenko emphasizes the existence of a long history of multifaceted ties between the Russian Federation and the countries of the historical Silk Road, which is manifested in respect for the diversity of cultures and civilizations, and commitment to the peaceful resolution of all issues.
"The active position of the conference participants on the protection, preservation and enhancement of spiritual and cultural heritage will contribute to the further development of international cooperation on an equal and mutually beneficial basis",- he noted in his address.
Greetings on behalf of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov read out by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Vasil Shaikhraziev.
“It is symbolic that the conference opens in one of the recognized historical centers of the Eurasian civilization, where the Great Silk and the Great Volga routes crossed over the course of ages, and where almost eleven centuries ago the ancestors of the Tatars converted to Islam. Developing the initiative put forward last year at a conference in Urumqi, we fully support the idea of strengthening spiritual ties between Muslims of our countries and regions, improving state religious cooperation and interfaith dialogue,” the President of the Republic of Tatarstan said in his greeting.
 
Photo source: website
Head of RMC and DUM RF Ravil Gaynutdin noted that the current conference has already become a good tradition - last year in the city of Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, issues of the middle path in Islam were discussed.
Chairman of the Chinese Islamic Association Yang Fa Ming noted that the ancient Silk Road firmly connected the peoples of many countries of the world. According to him, "The idea of the middle way and countering extremism" was the main issue at the conference, held last July in the Chinese city of Urumqi. He also emphasized:
"Chinese Muslims will maintain relations with neighboring Muslim countries, and this conference will bring together many Muslims, strengthen communication and cooperation, and promote friendly relations among people."
During the conference, Svetlana Nuzhdina(Director of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation), Toktomushev Maksat azhi(Mufti of Kyrgyzstan), Metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan Feofan. Issues raised by the speakers: the importance of rebuilding the Bulgarian Islamic Academy, which is entrusted with the mission of reviving the national Islamic theological school; development of interfaith and interethnic peace; consolidation of the potential of the Russian Muslim clergy and reputable foreign scientists in the matter of strengthening traditional Islamic trends in Russia, etc.
Chairman of the Spiritual Muslim Board of the Republic of Tatarstan Kamil hazrat Samigullin noted that the Bulgarian Islamic Academy appeared on the land of Tatarstan as a result of special circumstances.
“The first printed Koran was published in Kazan, and before the October Revolution, about 30 thousand titles of works were published here. I hope the academy will serve to restore, study and popularize these books. It is our duty as Muslims to show them to the whole world. We have no right to forget that we are the descendants of great scientists who left a bright mark on history,” he said.
 
Photo source: website
The conference was attended by Russian religious figures, muftis and theologians, heads of the spiritual administrations of Muslims in Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, representatives of state administrations and committees on religious affairs of the Central Asian republics, leading secular and Islamic universities in the region.
The thematic sections and round tables completed their work on September 5th. The sections are divided as follows:
- Section 1. "Creation and integration as fundamental values of Islam";
- Section 2. "Experience of interaction with religious organizations and prevention of extremism in Muslim communities";
- Section 3. "Islam on the Silk Road: history and modernity";
- Section 4. Development of Islamic education in the Eurasian space: between tradition and innovation.
- Round table: "Spiritual heritage and cultural centers of the Silk Road".
In addition, the conference participants were lucky to see a film presentation of the publication "Kaandar-name" Abu Bakr Qalandara who worked in the heyday of the Golden Horde.
 
Photo source: website
The need for stability and security, just like in the distant centuries of prosperity of the caravan Silk Road, will again bring to life an extensive infrastructure, actualizing the need to revive the ancient culture of tolerance or the Turkic-Islamic civilization.
Participants of the III International Scientific and Theological Conference “Spiritual Silk Road. Great humanistic traditions and challenges of our time”
Bishkek hosted the III International Scientific and Theological Conference “Spiritual Silk Road. Great Humanistic Traditions and Challenges of Modernity. It was attended by more than 160 delegates from the spiritual administrations and relevant government departments of Kyrgyzstan, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Lithuania, and Estonia, representatives of religious and secular higher educational institutions, as well as representatives of various public and official government structures. The main topics discussed at the event are of significant relevance today: “Pseudo-religious extremism in the Eurasian space: prevention, solutions”, “Social service of spiritual administrations”, “Tasks for improving the examination of religious literature”
United Silk Road
The state, confessions and public institutions of Eurasia have united to jointly counter terrorism and radicalism. The participants of the “Single Silk Road” conference were faced with the task of conveying to the people a tolerant perception of the Islamic religion, to form among young people an idea of the inadmissibility of violence on religious grounds.
The Head of the Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Dosaly Esenaliev delivered a message on behalf of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbai Jeenbekov: “The discussed topics of the conference today are becoming an urgent platform for discussing modern challenges, and issues of preserving and further developing the religious and cultural heritage of the peoples of the Eurasian space. "Spiritual Silk Road" is a timely step in promoting cooperation and strengthening interaction. I am confident that the conference will make a significant contribution to the development of a common coordinated position regarding the challenges of modernity, the preservation and further development of the religious and cultural heritage of the peoples of the Eurasian space, their further following the path of progress, science and innovation based on the foundation of common traditional values.”
Theme “Spiritual Silk Road. Great humanistic traditions and modern challenges” is not only history, but also modernity, with great cultural values of that time.
The Supreme Mufti of the Muslims of Kyrgyzstan Maksatbek azhy Toktomushev in his welcoming speech emphasized: "The Spiritual Silk Road" is the interaction of states, confessions and public structures in the religious sphere in the name of creation, goodness and peace, while solving common tasks for jointly overcoming radicalism and aggressiveness that arise based on ideological differences.
Chen Zongrong, Vice Director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs of the People's Republic of China, said: “More than two thousand years ago, the Chinese traveler and diplomat Zhang Jian undertook the mission of peace and friendship. He traveled twice to the Western Region and opened the Silk Road, which crosses and connects Europe and Asia. It opened the door for friendly exchanges between China and other countries along the route. The history of more than two thousand years proves that as long as we maintain unity, mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit, tolerance and mutual learning and mutually beneficial cooperation, countries of different races, different faiths and different cultural traditions can share the world and develop together. .
Chen Zongrong also emphasized: “In the process of building and promoting the One Belt, One Road initiative, as well as creating a community of human destinies, we must be soberly aware of the large number of neighboring countries and the diversity of ethnic religions. The penetration and spread of extremism and violent terrorist activities under the banner of Islam are the biggest threats we face today. Extremism and violent terror are not Islam, they are contrary to the basic teachings of Islam. The whole society and the broad masses of Muslims need to fundamentally reform, uphold justice and eliminate vices, and promote the true spirit of Islam, peace, unity and tolerance, and counter extremism, violence and terror. Promoting social harmony and world peace is our shared responsibility and the shared responsibility of governments and the Islamic community."
Associate Professor of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, member of the Ulema Council of the Kyrgyz Republic Kadyr Malikov emphasizes: “During the year, experts, religious scholars, theologians and representatives of major religious organizations, with the support of the state, developed a concept of state policy in this direction. The concept of state policy in the religious sphere defines the main directions of state policy in the religious sphere until 2020. It contains a model of secularism, based not on a total atheistic separation of religion and the state, but on the separation of religious organizations and their non-interference in state institutions of power. That is, the importance of this point lies in the fact that in other countries the model of secularism has not yet been revealed.”
Social service of spiritual administrations
Mufti Romas Jakubauskas of the Spiritual Center of the Sunni Muslims of Lithuania said: “In the entire history of Islam in Lithuania and neighboring countries, the Muslim community has proven itself very well, integrating into all areas of the local society. I must say that in our country Islam is a traditional religion and representatives of Islam have every right and every opportunity to adhere to the canons of their religion. This means that Muslims have the same rights as Catholics, who, according to statistics, belong to almost 80 percent of the population. If it speaks about the present time, that all social work, according to the measures of our capabilities in our region, comes down to several areas: moral assistance to community members, unfortunately, irregular financial support, as well as work with refugees.”
Ma Jin, director of the Department of Islamic Affairs of the State Administration of Religious Affairs of the People's Republic of China, said, "The National Bureau of Religious Affairs of China and the Ministry of Civil Affairs and other six departments have formulated "Opinions on Encouraging and Regulating the Religious Community to Participate in Charitable Activities" and have provided a comprehensive policy support for the religious community to participate in charitable activities. It is thanks to this positive political environment that the enthusiasm of religious circles in China is stimulated. Using their own advantages, religious communities are actively involved in helping the elderly, helping the disabled, donating money to help schools, repairing bridges and roads, and helping the poor overcome hardships. They generously donate in the form of humanitarian aid in various natural disasters and major catastrophes.”
Oases of the Silk Road
Within the framework of the conference, the presentation of the book “Oases of the Silk Road: Modern Problems of Ethnography, History and Source Studies of the Peoples of Central Asia” took place. The collection is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Doctor of Historical Sciences, Soviet and Russian ethnographer, orientalist-Turkologist Balkis Karmysheva.
The collection contains 66 articles by 72 domestic and foreign authors from Kyrgyzstan, China, Germany, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and France. The collection consists of several parts: the first is dedicated to Balkis Khalilovna herself, her scientific biography and heritage,
the second part is divided into seven independent sections and clearly demonstrates how great is the interest in modern issues in the field of ethnography, history and source studies of Central Asia. A number of authors, practically in "real time", argue with each other. The book is intended both for specialists in ethnography, source studies, historians and orientalists, university professors, graduate students and students, as well as for a wide range of readers interested in the problems of history and ethnography of the peoples of Central Asia.
Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation, said: “This fundamental work, published by our publishing house on the eve of the Conference, collected materials from a scientific conference that took place within the walls of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque last year. It so happened that this meeting, held under the auspices of the Council of Muftis of Russia, became the first opportunity after a long break for scientists to exchange their new research on the history and ethnography of Central Asia. Their fertile research on various Muslim peoples, culture and traditions, the life of ancient cities was reflected in the reports that aroused great interest in the academic community. A significant place in the collection is given to the history and ethnography of Kyrgyzstan.
The outcome of the III International Scientific and Theological Conference “Spiritual Silk Road. Great Humanistic Traditions and Challenges of the Present, a Resolution was adopted in which the conference participants paid special attention to the fact that social service is a fundamental principle of Islam, confirmed that it should become a priority for Muslim religious organizations. In addition, the conference participants consider it necessary to develop new approaches to solving the social challenges of our time and join forces in the fight against poverty, ignorance and other social diseases. Without the successful solution of these tasks, it is impossible to successfully confront the challenges and risks that today lie largely in the humanitarian sphere as a whole, and in its spiritual, cultural and social segments.
By the way
China was the initiator of scientific and theological international conferences, therefore the First International Conference: “The Idea of the Middle Way in Islam” was held in Urumqi (PRC) on August 20-21, 2016, which subsequently opened a cycle of international meetings on this common topic. Second International Scientific and Theological Conference “Spiritual Silk Road. Creation. Integration” was held on September 3-5, 2017 in Kazan (RF). The key theme of the conference was: the great humanistic traditions and the challenges of our time, it determined the ways for further interaction between the spiritual departments and relevant government departments of the participating countries on the development of their common coordinated position regarding the global challenges of our time.
Speech by the Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation
Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin
at the II International Scientific and Theological Conference ""
Kazan, September 4, 2017
Dear President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Nurgalievich!
Dear State Councilor of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Sharipovich!
Dear Deputy Minister of the State Administration for Religious Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Zhang Yantong!
Honorable brother, Chairman of the Chinese Islamic Association Hassan Fa Ming!
My dear colleagues - venerable muftis and imams, representatives of the scientific community, statesmen and public figures, guests and participants of the conference!
I cordially greet you on behalf of the Council of Muftis of Russia and the Spiritual
Muslim Board of the Russian Federation, organizers of the II International Scientific and Theological Conference " Spiritual Silk Road: Creation. Integration” and prayerfully wish you peace, the mercy of Allah Almighty and His blessings - as-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi taala wa barakatuhu!
Our today's meeting has become a continuation of a good tradition initiated by our Chinese colleagues last year in the city of Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, where together with the Muslim leaders of Central Asian countries, Islamic scholars and statesmen, we fruitfully discussed the middle path in Islam.
And if the Xinjiang Uygur region of China is a crossroads of two great cultures - Chinese and Turkic, then on the land of Russian Tatarstan, which hospitably welcomes us today, no less great Russian-Slavic, Finno-Ugric and Turkic civilizations intersect, each of which also contributed a significant contribution to the development of Eurasian economic and cultural ties along the channels of the Great Silk Road.
For many centuries, the Tatars and Russians, Maris and Chuvashs, Udmurts and Bashkirs, as well as many other indigenous peoples of the Volga and Ural regions living here, lived together, worked, built, helped each other in good, resisted evil and together defended their land from external aggressors .
Integrating into a single Russian society and jointly creating new achievements for the benefit of their common Motherland, they at the same time preserved their national traditions, language, culture and faith.
There is no doubt that this phenomenon of Russian civilization in general and Russian Islam in particular deserves special attention of researchers. However, I want to emphasize that we should in no way talk about a special form or a specific regional trend of Islam, since, in fact, creation and integration are the fundamental values of Islam, prescribed by God's final message to all followers.
The Holy Quran says:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوباً وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا
“O people! Verily, We created you from a male and a female and made you peoples and tribes so that you may know one another” (49:13).
لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجاً وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَـكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُم فَاسْتَبِقُوا الخَيْرَاتِ
“Indeed, We have established for each community its own Law and way. And, if God wanted, He would make you a single community. But [He did not do this], in order to test you in what was given to you. So compete among yourselves in good deeds” (5:48).
وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى الْبرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلاَ تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ
« Help one another in piety and fear of God, but do not help one another in sin and enmity"(5:2).
وَقُلِ اعْمَلُوا فَسَيَرَى اللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ
« Say: Work hard and Allah, His Messenger and the believers will see your deeds.(9:105).
وَلاَ تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلاَحِهَا وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفاً وَطَمَعاً إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“Do not spread wickedness in the earth after it has been put in order. Call on Him with fear and hope. Verily, the mercy of Allah is close to those who do good” (7:56).
Dear conference participants!
At this crossroads of cultures and civilizations, the meeting point of Europe and Asia, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Muslim thinkers appeared who absorbed both the richest heritage of the East and the achievements of Russian and European science, who proposed new forms of understanding the above-mentioned Koranic imperatives of creation and integration. So, for example, the “father of Russian Islam,” as his contemporaries called him, the outstanding Crimean Tatar educator Ismail Gasprinsky, in his fundamental work “Russian Islam” wrote about Islam: “A doctrine that has dogma love for the land that feeds, and loyalty to the ruler who protects, leaves no room for alienation, isolation, hostility ... "
And almost half a century later, our other illustrious compatriot theologian Musa Jarullah Bigiev wrote in his famous ABC of Islam: “Islam is a religion of action. This is a religion that proclaims belief in the beneficence of human activity and its necessity... The following eleven points are the basis of Islam: the exercise of man's vicegerency on earth, his dominance based on knowledge of the laws of nature, the use of vast natural resources by him in all possible ways and means, the provision of all human needs, the use of the pantries of nature, the wealth and well-being of man, his economic power, knowledge, industry, beauty and art.
The Muslim educators of Russia tried to convey these thoughts and ideas to their co-religionists in other regions, using for this purpose the ancient channels of the Great Silk Road. At the beginning of the last century, they went to Bukhara, Samarkand, Fergana, Shymkent, Osh, Kashgar, Urumqi, Gulja, Shanghai, Harbin and other cities, where they gave lectures and opened new-method madrasahs, in which, along with religious disciplines, Russian and other European languages, as well as subjects of the natural-humanitarian cycle.
It is in these madrasahs, as is known, that most of the intellectual elite of these regions was educated.
I would like to remind once again that the long-term head of the government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Chinese Islamic Association Burhan Shakhidi was also a graduate of the new-method madrasah "Muhammadiya" in Kazan, founded by the outstanding Russian theologian and future Mufti of Inner Russia Galimjan Barudi.
In this regard, I would like to emphasize that the traditions that glorified the pre-revolutionary Muslim school of our country are, first of all, the harmonious combination of Islamic theology with science, the ability to train not only highly educated Muslim clergy, but also thoughtful Muslim intellectuals who are ready to create for the benefit of society and in other areas of activity. I hope that the Bulgarian Islamic Academy, which opened today, will become a worthy successor to these glorious native traditions.
Noting the increased interest in our past and present conferences on the part of religious and scientific figures, public authorities of the participating countries, as well as a number of international organizations, I would like to address our high meeting with a proposal to expand the format of its holding and establish the international forum "Spiritual Silk Road ”, inviting the leaders of all traditional confessions of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other countries of Eurasia to participate in it. I am sure that such a wide platform will be another big step towards strengthening the integration and creative processes both within our countries and between them.
I prayerfully wish fruitful work to all participants of the conference and thank you for your attention!
13.09.2017 13:01II International Scientific and Theological Conference “Spiritual Silk Road. Creation. Integration” (Kazan, September 3-5, 2017)
RESOLUTION
On September 3-5, 2017, Kazan hosted the II International Scientific and Theological Conference “Spiritual Silk Road. Creation. Integration”, convened on the initiative of the Council of Muftis of Russia and the Strategic Vision Group “Russia - Islamic World”.
The Conference was attended by more than 80 delegates of spiritual administrations and relevant government departments of Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other states, representatives of religious and secular higher educational institutions, as well as representatives of the federal government and the leadership of the Republic of Tatarstan.
The conference was a direct continuation of the symposium "The Idea of the Middle Way in Islam", held in Urumqi (PRC) on August 20-21, 2016, and became a fruitful discussion of ways to further strengthen the interaction between the spiritual administrations and relevant government departments of Russia, China and the countries of Central Asia on issues of developing their common coordinated position in relation to: the challenges of our time; exchange of experience in the field of countering terrorism and extremism; in improving the practical methods of preventing these phenomena in the Muslim environment, based on such traditional values of genuine Islam as tolerance and good neighborliness, and affirming in the life of Muslims everything that has always distinguished genuine Islam - moderation and openness to other peoples, with which the Muslims of the Eurasian region was determined by the Supreme Creator to live for centuries in close connection and interaction.
The participants of the Conference, emphasizing the importance and relevance of the issues discussed at it, as well as noting the high social, theological and scientific significance of the reports and messages made, consider it necessary to focus on the following conclusions and recommendations:
1. The Great Silk Road for centuries not only linked many countries of Eurasia economically, but also was the most important channel of intercultural and spiritual communications of the peoples living on the vast territory of the Eurasian continent, contributing to their civilizational self-realization and mutual enrichment of their cultures and traditions.
Today, in connection with a new round of development of relations between peoples inhabiting the transit regions of the historical Silk Road, taking into account the intensification of migration and integration processes on their territory, the task of a thorough study of the interaction between peoples from the point of view of both history and the current state of their spiritual and cultural relations is becoming increasingly important.
2. An important role in the transmission of ideas and spiritual culture on the Great Silk Road has always been occupied by its Volga-Kama and Caucasian branches, which ran through the territory of modern Russia.
3. A significant contribution to the development of economic and cultural integration processes on the Great Silk Road was made by multilingual peoples who voluntarily chose Islam as the fundamental basis of their existence and national outlook. Their remarkable distinguishing feature everywhere has become a convinced adherence to the cornerstone principles of Islam: tolerance, humanism, pluralism, integration and development - and a resolute rejection of any form of extremism and radical interpretations of Muslim primary sources as absolutely unacceptable from the standpoint of genuine Islam. Such ignorant interpretations push Muslims towards isolationism, separatism and misanthropy, leading them ultimately to intellectual stagnation, and with it to inevitable decline in all spheres of life.
4. The participants of the Conference positively and highly appreciate the experience of the work carried out in Tatarstan to preserve cultural heritage, strengthen interethnic peace and harmony, develop intercultural and interreligious dialogue, establish stable and effective interaction of Tatarstan with such international cultural and educational organizations as UNESCO, ISESCO and them similar.
5. The noticeable increase in recent years of the role of religion in various public spheres is accompanied, however, in many regions of the Islamic world by the inevitable emergence and greater or lesser spread of pseudo-Islamic sects and teachings, a considerable part of which in practice takes extremely extremist and socially extremely dangerous positions that serve as the main breeding ground for terrorism. This quite obvious fact objectively sets the task of ever closer interaction between state authorities and its law enforcement services with official authoritative Muslim religious organizations in the prevention of extremism.
6. Of particular importance in the complex of measures for the preservation of traditional values and the prevention of extremism and terrorism is the development of Islamic education, which, as the Conference participants are convinced, should harmoniously combine the centuries-old tradition and the latest achievements of science and, on this basis, train highly educated, modern cadres of the Muslim clergy , theologians and Islamic scholars. The curricula of Islamic educational institutions of all levels in the countries of the Great Silk Road are designed to emphasize the spiritual closeness of the peoples of this macro-region, with the indispensable consideration of their own national characteristics of the Islamic tradition.
7. Welcoming the opening of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy as the leading Islamic scientific and educational center of the Russian Federation, the participants of the Conference express confidence that its research activities will be aimed at studying and updating the Russian Islamic theological heritage, which is closely connected with the theological traditions of other Muslim peoples of the Great Silk way.
8. Positively evaluating the role and significance of the Conference, its participants support the initiative of the Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia and the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, to create a permanent secretariat of the International Forum "Spiritual Silk Road", which will include representatives of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan , Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other countries of Eurasia.
9. The Conference participants express their gratitude to the Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Kyrgyz Republic Mufti Maksat azhy Toktomushev for his proposal to hold the third cycle of the International Scientific and Theological Conference "Spiritual Silk Road" in 2018 in the Kyrgyz Republic.
10. The participants of the Conference express their deep gratitude to the Chairman of the Strategic Vision Group "Russia-Islamic World", the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Minnikhanov Rustam Nurgalievich, the Government of the Republic for the hospitality and exemplary organization of the II International Scientific and Theological Conference "Spiritual Silk Road. Creation. Integration” and related social and cultural events.
Today, the II International Scientific and Theological Conference “Spiritual Silk Road. Creation. Integration”, which was a continuation of the official opening ceremony of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy. The conference has become a platform for the interaction of spiritual departments and relevant government departments of Russia, China and the countries of Central Asia in developing a common position regarding the challenges of our time.
Today, within the framework of the conference, four breakout sessions and two round tables were held, as a result of which a resolution was adopted.
Thus, at the section "Creation and Integration as Fundamental Values of Islam", representatives of the muftiats of the regions of Russia, the countries of Central Asia, and China shared their experience in implementing Muslim spiritual values and discussed the factors that hinder their development in an interethnic society. The section was attended by scientists from Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, China and Russia.
Among the section participants was Professor Said Kamilov, who made a significant contribution to the revival of Islamic philosophical thought. In his speech, the director of the Institute of Islamic Civilization noted that one of the main problems of the Muslim society is the mass ignorance of the followers of Islam. He stressed that the medieval layers should be reformed, that is, subject to ijtihad. Moreover, the reform should be in accordance with the conditions and challenges that modernity throws to the Muslim ummah. "This is a support for the healthy development of the Ummah and the spiritual revival of Muslims," he said. At the same time, Said Khaibullovich warned that any extreme is undesirable in Islam: "It is important to combine Islamic traditions and modern demands, since religion proclaims middleness and openness to different cultures."
Vice-Rector for Science of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy Damir Shagaviev focused on the fact that one of the obstacles in the development of the Muslim ummah is the misunderstanding of the hadith about the division of the ummah into 73 currents. “The main mass understands the hadith literally, and each group of Muslims began to consider only themselves saved, and others going to hell. I urge you to understand the hadith in a broader way. The ummah refers to all mankind during the time period of the prophecy. That is, from all nations, those who accepted the teachings of Islam, with which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came, will be saved. Such an understanding of the hadith will save Muslims from disunity and mutual enmity,” he said.
The speech of Mufti of Kyrgyzstan Maksatazhy Toktomushev was especially bright. Speaking about the importance of the unity of the Ummah, he noted: “When discord and disunity arise between Muslims, the help of Allah Almighty leaves. Muslims should be united by one goal, common tasks and understanding of the values of Islam.”
The conference participants did not disregard the issues of countering terrorism and extremism. During the section “Experience of interaction with religious organizations and prevention of extremism in Muslim communities”, participants shared their experience of practical methods for preventing these phenomena. This section was moderated by Rushan Abbyasov, First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia and the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation. Among the speakers were guests from Kyrgyzstan, China, Kazakhstan, as well as the Republic of Crimea, Saratov region, Chechnya. Based on the results of the discussions, the participants emphasized the need for systematic work with young people in terms of preventing extremism, increasing religious and spiritual literacy. The most interesting for the listeners of the section was the experience of the guests from China. “The development of extremism directly depends on the level of economic development of the state. Therefore, in China, the tasks of preventing religious intolerance are always considered on a par with increasing the economic power of the country,” the guests noted.
Deputy Mufti of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rector of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy Rafik Mukhametshin acted as a moderator at the section "Development of Islamic education in the Eurasian space: between tradition and innovation." In his speech, he shared his opinion on the modernization of the system of religious education and its improvement. In particular, he noted that Kadimism made it possible to preserve the traditions of the Tatar people. According to him, outstanding Tatar theologians and scientists were educated in Kadimist madrasas and deserved world recognition.
If the Tatar community existed only on the basis of Jadid ideas, it would have lost its roots and traditions long ago. Even the Hanafi madhhab would not have been preserved. Jadidism is nothing more than reformism. At the beginning of the 20th century, one could observe how the Kadimists faithfully defended our national values and traditions, - said Hazrat Rafik.
Scientists and experts who took part in the section "Islam on the Silk Road: History and Modernity" and in the round table "Spiritual heritage and cultural centers of the Silk Road”. The composition of the section participants was international: scientists and theologians from the USA, Finland, China, Iran, Uzbekistan and, of course, Russia took part in its work.
In their reports, the guests shared their scientific research in the field of the history of the development of Islam and emphasized the great role of the Great Silk Road in the spread of Islam, noting that its expansion was quite successful in Central Asia.
Thus, the head of the department "Restoration of the architectural heritage" of KGUSTA named after. N. Isanova, Doctor of Architecture, Director of the Scientific Research Design Institute (NIPI) Kyrgyz Restoration of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic Dzhumamedel Imankulov spoke about the minarets of Central Asia as a special art in the space of the Silk Road. He demonstrated the unique architectural monuments in the form of minarets that have survived to this day, which are located on the territory of modern Afghanistan, Bukhara and Kyrgyzstan. According to the expert, the theme of minarets is one of the great facets of the spiritual heritage, as well as mausoleums, temples and madrasahs. “With the advent of the Silk Road, minarets, original symbols of Islam, began to appear, and every architect in his region put his own cultural codes into them,” said Imangulov. The director of the Khakass Research Institute of Language, Literature and History spoke about the cultural monuments of the northern part of the Silk Road Valentina Tuguzhekova “The northern route played an important role not only in the cultural and economic, but also in the spiritual life of the locals, namely in the spread of religion,” said Valentina Nikolaevna.
Today, within the framework of the conference, a unique work was presented, a translation of the work of the Middle Ages - the book "Qalandar-name" by Abu Bakr Qalandar, the manuscript of which was found several years ago by researchers from the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan named after. Marjani. This is the only known full-fledged theological work in Persian, created in the XIV century in the Golden Horde - the state in which the ethnic and religious identity of many indigenous Muslim peoples of the Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia was formed. Its author is the imam of the city of Solkhat Abu Bakr Qalandar Rumi.
During the final round table “Qalandar-name” by Abu Bakr Qalandar: theological and historical aspects”, Russian and Iranian experts shared the results of their research on this Persian poem in the light of religion, history and culture. Ismagil Gibadullin, Candidate of Historical Sciences, coordinator of research programs of Al-Mustafa International University Representative Office, spoke about the meanings of “Qalandar-name” in the key of metaphysical teaching, as well as about the history of Sufism in Iran. According to the senior researcher of the Center for written and musical heritage of the Institute of Language, Literature and Arts. G. Ibragimova AS RT Alsu Khasavneh, this book has a deep metaphysical essence and is fraught with many hidden meanings. Therefore, the book is intended not for an ordinary believer, but for a Muslim initiated into Sufism.
Damir Shagaviev, Head of the Department of the History of Social Thought and Islamic Studies at the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan, spoke about the four main sources of the theological chapters of the work. The first is the Koran, the second is the Sunna of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the third is dogmatic works, that is, works on Sunni theology, the fourth is various Sufi works, from poems to theoretical treatises. It is assumed that the author of this work drew his inspiration from the famous work "Masnavi" by Mavlyana Rumi.
Yulai Shamiloglu, professor of Asian Cultural Languages at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is sure that Abu Bakr Qalandar's poem should be studied not only through the prism of Islamic theology, but also from the point of view of the socio-economic and political conditions of the time when the work was written. “The fact is that in the Middle Ages a plague raged that claimed millions of lives. The theologians of that time, both Muslims and Christians from different countries, considered the plague as a punishment from Above. Therefore, many works of that time are permeated with fear and the authors, including Abu Bakr Qalandar, wrote about the salvation of man and society from punishment for sins. In addition, the scientist noticed that the poem was written in ancient Persian, that is, a dead language that practically disappeared due to the plague.