Dialogue of Religions and Cultures
“Alraid” always stood for an extensive dialogue between representatives of various cultures and religions. This is one of dimensions of Muslim piety. This dialogue has been led with due consideration for not only positive traditions of Islamic East, but also for experiences of co-existence and interactions of Muslim communities and organizations in the NIS countries, the EU and the USA with their non-Muslim fellow citizens.
Representatives of the “Arraid” Association several times took part in different meanings, conferences and seminars on the topics of inter-faith dialogue. Moreover, the Association has become a venue of repeated visits by leaders and representatives of many Christian confessions and Jewish communities.
Versatile and close cooperation of adherents of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, e.g. the related monotheistic religions, represents one of the most important areas of the Association’s activities, including contributions into finding solutions for global problems of humanity.
Civil Activity
With the same aim, as well as for the development of modern Ukrainian Islamic studies, at the beginning of 2004 the Association organized All-Ukrainian competition of Islamic studies for young researchers on behalf of the A. Krimsky University in Kiev, in which participate competitors from the whole
Ukraine. In 2007, anniversary year for “Arraid” was announced the third contest of A. Krimsky on the topic “Islam in the World of Globalization”.
“Arraid” collaborates with different social and religious organizations, such as “All-Ukrainian Center of Islamic Studies”, Youth Association of Religious Studies, with the SAM of Crimea, different religious associations, etc. Together with other organizations the Association carries out scientific and public forums: conferences, seminars, meetings, press-conferences, festivals and concerts. Here are just a few events which took place in the course of 10 years of “Arraid’s” functioning: 1998 – international seminar “Muslim Minority: between Theory and Practice”; 2000 – international conference “Woman in the Modern World”; 2002 – seminar “World after Tragic Events of 11th September 2001” with participation of famous agents of Ukraine and the NIS; 2003 – peaceful action “Women for Peace and Goodness”, supported by various female organizations from Ukraine.; 2006 – international scientifically-practical conference “Muslims in Modern Ukrainian Society”, in Crimea, conference seminar “Muslims for Peace and Agreement”, “Ukraine and Muslim World”; 2007 – female conference “Cherche
la Femme“, etc.
The Association strives to use only authentic data in its work, supporting different scholarly researches. For instance, the Association organized social surveys of Muslims of Ukraine in 1997 and 2003-2004. Also, in 2006 together with young researches of religious studies was held a questioning of
Kiev students concerning the issue of national and religious tolerance.
“Alraid” continuously propagates healthy life-style: organizes thematical lectures and discussions, publishes informational lists and brochures on the topic of precautions and fighting drug addiction, alcoholism, prostitution and AIDS.
The Association takes an active part in actions conducted for strengthening of peace and accord in
Ukraine and in the world. These are different seminars and conferences, held by the Council for
Europe, the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Students Organizations (FEMYSO) and other organizations.
Today it may well be affirmed that these actions entail a strong positive resonance both in
Ukraine and in Islamic states.
Spiritually-Educational Activity
In Islamic Cultural Centers of the “Alraid” Association meet, communicate and grow spiritually many Muslims of Ukraine. For them are regularly held lectures on different aspects of Islam, seminars, lessons. To stimulate Muslims to raise their spiritual perfection, in “Alraid” are held annual contests of reading of the Holy Quran by heart. As a rule they are organized at the days of the Holy month of Ramadan and encompass different age groups and levels of knowledge of verses from the Quran. During the years of its work the Association assisted to Muslims of Ukraine in building and rennovation of mosques in Crimea and other regions of
Ukraine. After a long time of raging of Soviet atheism a lot of Muslims – mostly Crimean and Volga Tatars, and emigrants from the countries of Islamic East – enjoyed the possibility of performing collective prayers in the mosques, which they were deprived before. Moreover, the mosque is not just a place for prayer, but the place for communication and learning as well, where Muslims can learn more about their religion, teach their chldren. This is also the place where burial prayers and marriage ceremonies according to Muslim laws are held.
The Association also sponspours iftars (dinners) in mosques after the finishing of daily fasts during the Holy Month of Ramadan. During Muslim holidays of Id-al-Fitr (Ramazan Bayram) and Id-al-Adha (Kurban Bayram) the needy Muslims get help from the Association, namely, clothes and food-stuffs.
The Association promotes among the believers all-round development of personality and healthy life-style, that is why its Culture Centers arrange seminars for parents, in which participate different specialists (teachers, psychologits, doctors), family meetings and joyful contests, children festivals and concerts, chess, tennis and football tournaments. In the summer traditional are family picnics, excursions, daytime camps for children with lots of interesting occupations. In many centers function or are planned different courses for women (for example, cutting and sewing, hairdressing), function gyms or training halls and sports grounds, internet-clubs.
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