The Spiritual Management of Muslims of Ukraine "Ummah" celebrated its first year. And though communities which make a part of the Spiritual Management fruitfully function for many years as religious association, "Ummah" sums up its activity for the first time.
The passed year 2009 became critical in the destiny of the Muslims of Ukraine. Both in positive and in negative aspects. I will begin with negative aspects, which are two. The first and the most unpleasant for Muslims is hysteria and loud statements of the high-ranking officials about, "Islamic extremism" in our country. It would be desirable to hope that this is just exaggeration, and there is actually no any extremism and, God grant, there never will be. The second is unwillingness of one of the Spiritual Centers to enter the structure of the Council of Spiritual Managements and Centers of Muslims of Ukraine which we among ourselves name "The Council of Muftis". All the same, Muslims of our country are worthy that leaders of the traditional Muslim associations conducted the co-coordinated policy of rapprochement, dialogue and consolidation.
Speaking about positive moments of 2009, we will completely agree with the point of view of the Mufti of the Spiritual Management of Muslims of Crimea Emirali Ablaev who said in his interview to the news agency QHA, "In the SMMC they consider that the creation of the Council of Representatives of Spiritual Managements and Centers of Muslims of Ukraine at the State Committee on Religions was the most considerable (scale) action in 2009".
Last year the Council managed to organize and carry out Hajj for pilgrims from Ukraine. Despite the economic crisis, epidemic of swine flu and other obstacles, Hajj performed 131 persons. As it was planned, the offer on fulfillment of Hajj was in two price categories: 3700$ and 3000$.
We hope that by means of Allah the Almighty we will manage to co-ordinate in the future the important decisions and to co-operate productively for the good of Muslims of the country.
The SMMU "Ummah" is the youngest of all Muslim associations of the country and consequently our basic activity of the last year was directed on formation, strengthening and management development. Last year the structure of the Spiritual Management was increased by eight Muslim communities, thus, the number of the communities of "Ummah" reached eighteen.
The activity of the SMMU "Ummah" in 2009:
• Established communication with Federation of the Muslim organizations of Europe and the Council of Europe on Fatwa and Research;
• In the course of preparation to Hajj-2009, representatives of the SMMU "Ummah" as a part of official delegation of the Council of Spiritual Managements and Centers of Muslims of Ukraine visited Saudi Arabia;
• Registration and release of the first three issues of the Muslim religious-educational newspaper "Ummah" in the Ukrainian language (the publication of the SMMU "Ummah");
• Building of a cathedral mosque in Lugansk and a mosque in Konstantinovka (Donetsk area);
• Participation of representatives of the Spiritual Management in eight international conferences in Kiev, Moscow, Simferopol, Kazan and Donetsk;
• Organization and carrying out of religious-educational seminars in Vinnitsa, Odessa, Kiev, Lugansk, Kharkov, Donetsk and Zaporozhye;
• Creation of libraries of the Islamic literature in ten communities of a part "Ummah";
• Creation of a blog of the Spiritual Management www.umma.in.ua;
• Printing and dispatch of the schedules on Ramadan for communities, schedules of prayers for Kiev, brochures on Islamic subjects.
Plans of the SMMU "Ummah"
The most important problem in the new year is not to stop in the development. The one who does not move forward — moves backward as the other world will not stay at one place. Muslims call for simple and clear trues which find response in the souls and hearts of the people. Faith and worship to One God, justice, responsibility, brotherhood, sincerity, honesty is that what does not suffice a modern society, should be necessarily inherent in a Muslim. We simply have no right to stop on the reached.
In 2010 the SMMU "Ummah" plans to finish the building of mosques in Lugansk and Konstantinovka, to provide believers with the necessary literature, for what is planned acquisition and transfer of eight more Islamic libraries. In the next year will be continued publishing of unique in the country Muslim newspaper in the state language, for printing and publishing will be prepared new books, brochures, the Muslim wall calendars combined with a traditional calendar, will work a high-grade Internet site of the Management.
"Ummah" will continue to develop cooperation, both with the European Muslim organizations, and Spiritual Managements from the countries of the Muslim world and the post-Soviet territory. It is planned to begin preparation of highly skilled Imams, for the communities which are a part of the Management.
And, of course, the most important task is the further fruitful activity within the limits of the Council of Spiritual Managements and Centers of Muslims of Ukraine at the State Committee on Religions in the duty of consolidation and development of the Muslim Ummah of the country. By the way, it also concerns preparation to Hajj 2010.
We hope that in the new year the Muslims of Ukraine will reach new heights, and in practice will show high moral and spiritual qualities inherent in the followers of Islam.
The Mufti of the SMMU "Ummah", Said ISMAGILOV
By the blog of the SMMU "Ummah"
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