DUSHANBE, December 19, Asia-Plus — Islam is a civilization and culture that has played important role in formation of self-consciousness of many peoples, including Tajiks, through its great immortal values, President Emomali Rahmon remarked at a meeting with representatives of Tajik intelligentsia in Dushanbe on December 18.
The meeting was held on occasion of the Idi Qurbon, which is marked in Tajikistan this year on December 20.
Noting that Islamic culture is filled with ideas of sponsorship, sympathy, mercy and goodness, the Tajik head of state stressed that sacred duty of Muslim is to participate in moral upbringing of members of society.
“The best charity is helping the needy,” President Rahmon cited one of sayings of Prophet Muhammad. The president added that ministries and organizations had been charged to provide humanitarian aid to elderly and disabled people, orphan children and lone people.
Dwelling on the law on the order of observing national traditions and rituals, Emomali Rahmon noted that the law should be observed by all members of society and called on those present to intensify explanatory work among the population.
The president also expressed concern that every year, rise in prices of food products is to be observed in the country ahead of the Idi Ramazon and Idi Qurbon holidays.
He also underlined the importance of development of dialogue among religious and civilizations. He noted that among Tajik nationals there are also representatives of other religions and in accordance with the Constitution, pluralism and freedom of religion are guaranteed in Tajikistan.
He named propagation of wrong religious ideas among the population inadmissible.
President Rahmon noted that Islam propagates social and moral equality of peoples, and the Islamic world is not subdivided into the West and the East. “The Koran expresses equally respectful attitude to all prophets,” said Rahmon, “Muhammad called on followers of other religions, in particular Christians and Jews, to follow this principle as well.”
He also reminded that last May, he charged the Government and the Academy of Sciences to publish the Koran in the Tajik language, and “this commission was fulfilled.”
