In a message to the Summit of the Muslims of Russia, commemorating the 1,100th year of presence of Islam in Russia, Raisi called this country as one of the first foci of the presence of Islam in distant lands.
"We Muslim Iranians are proud of ourselves that the historical city of Derbent, which is the center of fusion and intersection of Russian, Iranian and Islamic culture, is the first passage and the focal point of the presence of Muslims in this vast land,” the Iranian president said.
"The Islamic Republic, according to the guidelines of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution as in the past and within the framework of the three principles of honor, wisdom and expediency, has always demanded to pay attention to the capacities of the Islamic religion in the vast country of Russia with the aim of developing bilateral interactions, and in it will not spare any assistance and cooperation in this way,” he added.
“The religion of Islam appeared at a time in the history of this world when the blackness and darkness of ignorance, corruption and crookedness in the field of life had narrowed the human race and the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) made this distortion of spirituality and morality, the deposit of peace and security in the sphere of justice for humanity,” the Iranian president said, his official website reported.
“In the meantime, the unique capacity of Islam and religions in this civilized country promises fields of more cooperation and synergy in a bright and sublime future,” Raisi stated.