Cleric Highlights Interest in Translation of Quranic Works in Russia
Speaking in an interview with IQNA, Hojat-ol-Islam Saber Akbari Jeddi said a lot of work has been done in this area and one of the institutions active in the field is the Russia Islamic Studies Foundation.
He said Muslims in Russia have done numerous translations of the Quran as well as major works in Quranic fields.
According to the cleric, one cannot expect to see serious research studies in Quranic field in Russia because the ground is not set for it there but they are interested in translating the Quranic research works from other languages.
The Russia Islamic Studies Foundation, known as the Ibn Sina Foundation, is among those active in this field and the Islamic Republic of Iran supports its activities, he noted.
The foundation has so far published two series of the interpretation of the Quran in the Russian language in 12 volumes, Hojat-ol-Islam Akbari Jeddi stated.
The other Russian translations of Islamic works published by the foundation include ‘At-Tamhid fi Ulum al-Quran’ by Ayatollah Hadi Marefat and ‘History of Quran’ by Mohammad Baqer Hojjati, he noted.
So we can see attention to translation of Quranic studies in the Russian language but it is too early to expect Quranic works (written by Russian scholars), he added.
The cleric further said that renderings of the Quran into the Russian language have been published in Russia in recent years that have been received very well.
There are also papers being written in Quranic fields and the Russian Muftiate is also planning to publish magazines on Quranic subjects, he stated.
In southern Russia and in regions like Dagestan, Chechnya, and Tatarstan where there are large Muslim population Islamic universities and centers have been launched where religious teachings are provided to students at academic levels, he said.
Hojat-ol-Islam Akbari Jeddi noted that Quran competitions are also organized in Russia by the Muftiate, adding that Quranic concepts, Quran recitation and memorization are among the categories of the contests.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he said Russia is interested in activities aimed at proximity of Islamic schools of thought and supports such activities.
Russia also has a positive view of Iran’s religious logic and Shia current, which is intellect-based and in accordance with today’s needs and strives for proximity, unity and peaceful coexistence among faiths, he went on to say.
“We have good ties with Christianity and several rounds of interfaith dialogue have been held between Iran and Russia’s Christians.”
Hojat-ol-Islam Akbari Jeddi also said that some 30 million Muslims live in Russia, a country of 140 million people.
Nearly three million Russian Muslims follow the Shia school of thought, most of whom are Azeri, he stated.
Historically, there have been good relations between Shia and Sunni Muslims in Russia and these ties are growing even better than before, he went on to say.
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