Rafik Mukhametshin: ‘Bolgarian Academy will occupy the vacant niche’

'In Russia theological tradition was lost'

— Rafik Mukhametshovich, can you summarize the results of 2015 and talk about the plans for the new year at your Institute?

— When the Russian Islamic Institute was established, there was a dual challenge: in addition to training of imams, we have to prepare Muslim intelligentsia, too. We went a little wider on the problem of training religious personnel, so our University was established. At the faculty of Islamic studieswe have the baccalaureate programme, we graduate Muslim theologians, religious leaders. Also, there is the theology faculty, where the graduates get a state diploma. There are courses such as Islamic theology, Economics, Linguistics (Arabic and English) and Journalism. This year we graduate only five journalists. In Theology and Linguistics,we started training holders of master's degree. On Islamic economy, we are also planning to start the master's degree this year. The expansion of new specialties is unlikely to happen in the nearest future. We must focus on the needs of the Muslim Ummah of Russia. There is no sharp need in the opening of new faculties. So, the format of the University will not change. We will focus on the quality of personnel.

In Russia, theological tradition is lost, so it is impossible to revive theology on our own. This is an urgent need in invitation of foreign experts.

— From time to time, you hold interesting meetings with foreign lecturers. Are you going to carry out such lectures this year?

— In Russia, theological tradition is lost, so it is impossible to revive theology on our own. This is an urgent need in invitation of foreign experts. For example, there is a problem with Logics. Islamic Logics was one of the leading subjects in the pre-revolutionary madrasah. Now, it's gone. We invited experts from Morocco. This year, this will continue.

— From what countries will the experts come?

— More preferable are those countries that we are already working with. This is Egypt — Al-Azhar University, Morocco – the University of al-Qarawiyyin, Syria — Damascene Islamic University. Last year we invited specialists from Pakistan and India. It is hard to make plans. You need to have these scientists put us on their schedule.

Now there are little places where we can send professionals after graduation. There are a lot of foreign universities, but you don't know who they are by their ideological lines

— How many graduates are there during the existence of the University?

— For 12 years we have over 500 graduates. They all don't work in the religious sphere. It depends on many reasons. The need for such personnel is huge. However, this need is not supported by a social protection package: salary, apartment, etc. 59% graduates of 2015 found works. This figure is not low. The religious sphere is specific. Nobody offers a graduate high salary, especially in rural ares.

'There are a lot of foreign universities, but you don't understand who they are by their ideological lines'

— Now we turn to the topic of Islamic Academy. Under whom it will be, to whose 'diocese' will be treated?

— Bolgarian Islamic Academy will be a separate legal entity. By its form – organization of higher religious education. It will be a higher educational institution for training specialists in the field of Islam. In order it won't be a competitor to the Islamic Institute, it was originally founded as an institution of postgraduate education. That is, the Islamic educational institutions of Russia will train specialists for Bolgarian Academy, and there they will write papers on the master's and doctoral programs. Now there are little places where we can send professionals after graduation. There are a lot of foreign universities, but you don't know who they are by their ideological lines – whether Salafi,or of Muslim Brotherhood. In the world, there are many places where, perhaps, there is fulleducation. But we send our children to a completely different environment, where they can get under someone's influence. Somewhere there is a civil war. So, the choice is small. Morocco is also good, but there is Maliki tradition, that is also not quite consistent. Although, we train there. The master's degree involves the consideration of questions in a comparative manner. Mazhab is not a limitation.

The problem of Al-Azhar is not in any existing influence. It is a whole system that acknowledges their education from scratch. It is quite difficult to wedge at some stage in Al-Azhar.

In Russia it is necessary to create more competitive site to train. I think, Bolgarian Academy will occupy this vacant niche. This is the next stage in the development of Islamic education in the country.

— Are there those who wish among your students to study there?

— Yes. In order the Academy has become a recognized Islamic center, I think we should go on a double diploma. How to recruit people to the Bolgarian Academy? It has no name, and this is the problem of establishing facilities in Bolgar. Adults will study there, who are about 30 years old, many of them have families. Where will the child study and where spouse will work? That is the problem for students. Therefore, we need attractive modes of study. First, in order to advertise the Academy, there will be a double diploma. For example, having got a diploma from the Academy, they will get both a master's degree at the University of al-Qarawiyyin or Damascene Islamic University. Their thesis they will write only in Arabic, in ordertheir reviewers could read it. If a thesis is good, we will publish it in Russian, too. Our objective is to enter into the unified educational space of the Islamic world with the participation of leading experts.

The rector of the Academy will be from Russia

— The name of Abdurrazak As-Saadi was mentioned. It was believed that he would be a rector, then it turned out to be just a rumor. Who will be the head of the Academy?

— As-Saadi will be one of the invited professors. Who will be the head — this issue is solving yet. He will be from Russia. To give the Islamic Academy to foreign expert is not quite right, because here there is a political component. We should consider domestic needs to build training.

I am sure that one of the local staff should lead the Academy. It is preferable that he had PhD, spoke Arabic, knew the basics of Islam. I think we will decide in the nearest future

A very good specialist can come from abroad and start train by the analogue of other foreign state. But he might not know the internal substantive. For example, today we need specialists in aqeedah. No foreign expert can effectively organize the work. In this case, it is not enough to have knowledge and to work in a foreign University.

I am sure that one of the local staff should lead the Academy. It is preferable that he had PhD, spoke Arabic, knew the basics of Islam. I think we will decide in the nearest future.

'The government has allocated 300 million rubles for Islamic education'

— Will education be paid or not?

— We have not discussed this issue yet. I think, it will be free. For the first time it will be impossible to ensure the competitiveness. It will be difficult to attract people in Bolgar, unknown center. No one knows the level of training. The budget will be discussed.

— Okay, you establish the Academy, it will work. And who is going to pay? After all, you need to ensure the existence of the Academy, salaries to the faculty.

— I don't think that the maintenance of the building, training will need a fantastic sum. The budget will be discussed with the involvement of the state. The country has various funds: Fund for support of Islamic science and education, Federal project of in-depth study of Islam. The government allocates 300 million rubles for Islamic education through secular universities. The state has some sources that allocate to Islamic education.

It is the state that should be interested in it, not religious organizations. Because the country have many problems when religious organizations send young people in large quantities to foreign countries.

It is the state that should be interested in it, not religious organizations. Because the country have many problems when religious organizations send young people in large quantities to foreign countries. They train and return, creating problems not only for Muslim Ummah, but also for the society. Someone can be a carrier of radical ideas, non-traditional for Tatars, for Russia's religious beliefs. Today the government understands that religious policy should be built.

'They're not just waxworks'

— Kamil Samigullin told that there will be established the Ulema Council. Mintimer Shaimiev, Rustam Minnikhanov and representatives of the muftiat have already supported this idea. What body will be, how will it work?

— There is an idea of the all-Russian Union of Ulema in the concept of the Bolgarian Academia. It is connected not only with Bolgar. Today, Russia needs in the Union of Ulema. For example, recently Lenur Islyamov almost declared a jihad on behalf of the Crimean Tatars. But someone had to answer him. This could be done only by Islamic theologians. Today there are a lot of questions. But for some reason, we address immediately to Qaradawi, who has never been in Russia. The Union may be without reference to Bolgar. But as there will be a research and education center, we also tied this idea.

We have this necessity for a long time. We would like to see from all founders by no less than five theologians. They must have excellent knowledge of the Arabic language. They're not just waxworks — if you're a mufti or rector, you go there. There must be a working body. There will be theologians with knowledge of the matter, they will study all sources and prepare a draft fatwa. They will not be in Bolgar all year. They will come to exams. They will prepare a draft project, will discuss on the Internet, then they will meet and adopt. It is a working body which will be linked to the Bolgar, as there will be a center of Muslims of Central Russia.

— What practical use will this Academy have?

— First of all, it will train teachers for universities. I would send all the teachers, so they wrote their doctoral thesis under the leadership of the greatest Islamic theologians. We will have our scientists who will be able to argue with Cordage, and with Qaradawi, on any questions, proving their point of view. Initially, we should not put before them any political purpose. Those, who studythere, need to think about fundamental scientific knowledge. But they must be prepared to meet the challenges of realities.

—Thank you for your answers.