The number of worshippers visiting Moscow mosques for Eid al-Fitr this year has declined, coinciding with a drop in the immigrant population in Russia following the Crocus City Hall tragedy. Islamic scholar Roman Silantiev spoke to Values.RF about these shifts, noting that broader demographic changes are influencing attendance patterns at major religious events.
As the country tightened its immigration policy, those who remained have tended to participate less in large public gatherings. Silantiev emphasized that this trend reflects changes in the community fabric rather than a sudden loss of faith. He pointed out that fewer newcomers, coupled with stricter movement and residency rules, can lead to smaller turnouts at festive occasions, even when the holiday spirit remains strong.
When Ravil Gainutdin, the Head of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims in the Russian Federation, attributed a decrease in Eid al-Fitr attendance to the summer holiday period, Silantiev argued that this seasonal factor has not historically prevented high participation. He recalled that Eid al-Adha attendance in Moscow has previously set records, suggesting that the current dip is partly due to other cyclical and demographic influences rather than the holiday timing alone.
Silantiev also described Gainutdin as a prominent mufti among immigrant communities, noting that the leadership appears to focus on the needs of newcomers while acknowledging a relatively smaller base of local, long-time Muslims. This distinction helps explain observed attendance patterns and how community leadership interacts with shifting demographics.
As an example, Silantiev cited recent coverage on a social media channel indicating that about 65 percent of students at the Moscow Islamic Institute, which receives support from Mufti Gainutdin, are Tajik. He observed that local Muslims prefer sermons delivered in Russian or Tatar and may be less receptive to content in Tajik, underscoring language dynamics within the city’s diverse Muslim population.
Earlier remarks from Gainutdin, recorded by RIA Novosti, indicated that the number of Muslims praying on Eid al-Adha in Moscow typically drops compared with Eid al-Fitr. The cleric attributed this pattern to the summer season and the tendency for families to travel to their hometowns during holidays, framing Eid al-Adha as a family occasion that emphasizes togetherness with relatives and friends.
Today, May 16, Muslims in Russia and around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, marking the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The holiday represents a time for communal prayer, family reunion, and charitable acts, traditions that persist even as communities navigate population changes and regional migration trends.