The centralized Islamic religious organization “Muftiat of the Republic of Dagestan” with the support of the Ministry of National Policy and Religious Affairs of Dagestan  Republic with the assistance of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, the Administration of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the North Caucasus Federal District and the Foundation for the Support of Islamic Science, Culture and Education held an international theological conference on the topic “Religious and Family Values in preserving traditions: challenges of the present and solutions for the future” on November 2, 2022.

   As part of the conference, a meeting of the section “Family and family values in world religions” was held at the site of Dagestan State Medical University on November 3.

    Religious figures from all over Russia gathered to discuss the problems of modern society:Mufti of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug of Yugra Tagir Samatov ; Mufti of Volgograd region Bata Kifah Mohammad ;  Mufti of Tomsk and Tomsk region Nurulla Tursunbayev ; Mufti of Samara region Talip Yarullin; Deputy Chairman of the Board “Tatarstan-Turkey Friendship Society” Mansur Khashimov.

   The event was also attended by the assistants of the Acting Vice-Rector for Public Relations and Social and Educational Work.

Acting Vice–Rector for Public Relations and Social and Educational Work Elmira Abieva addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. “Family for us is not only a unit of society,  but is  a small space where there is its own charter; this is the most important thing in the life of each of you. The family is the place where everything begins: birth, upbringing, transmission of traditions and values, introduction to society, learning about morals in accordance with which you need to live in society. It is very important in our turbulent times to talk about patriotism, about love for the Motherland. And all this originates in the family,” Abieva said in her speech.

   Head of the Department of Religious Affairs of the Ministry of National Policy and Religious Affairs of the Republic of Dagestan Rasul Gajiyev thanked the leadership of  DSMU for the platform provided for the event, for the opportunity to communicate with students. “Today our conference will raise topical issues that have been repeatedly discussed by famous muftis and religious figures. There is no healthy society without a normal, healthy family”, Gajiyev said.

He spoke about the value of the family from the standpoint of traditional religious confessions and the need to take into account not only the cultural-forming factors operating inside the country, but also external value influences that influence the formation of the mentality of the population.

 The question of the importance of the family in the life of every citizen was raised in the report of each of the speakers; the speakers tried to find out how traditional religions relate to the family. The muftis in their speeches spoke about the position of Islam regarding the family, about the fundamental principles of the Koran concerning family relations; about the relationship between a man and a woman in Islam, respect for a woman.

 The speakers agreed that the foundations of education are laid in the family. And it is on the family that the formation of a person’s personality depends. The mother, father and other relatives surrounding the child from the first days of his life play a crucial role in the development of his character. That is why Islam pays so much attention to the relationship between parents and children, offering many tips and examples.

  The theologians in their speeches spoke about the influence of religious views on the value orientations of modern society and the culture of the country.

  A categorical negative opinion was expressed against same-sex marriage; the number of religious denominations entering into same-sex marriages has been growing since 2010. Young students were instructed not to take into account information on the Internet about such facts and to be careful when communicating with unfamiliar people on various sites. Their most important task now is to study and become good specialists, which will benefit their country in the future.

 At the end of the event, all those present could ask the theologians their questions.