Alwaght- Among the large number of foreigners who traveled to Iran to mourn the martyred Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei, some were Russian Muslim figures. Some of them arrived in Iran from various cities of Russia despite the long distance for the final farewell with a character who for years was known not only as the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran but as one of the most influential world leaders.
Saheb Sheikzedayov is one of these visitors from Russia. He told Alwaght about record of familiarity with the martyred Supreme Leader, his position among the Muslims of Russia, and the feelings of the Russians after his martyrdom.
A travel out of duty
Talking about what brought him to Iran, he said that since the moment he heard of the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, he decided to take apart in the funeral processions. He felt that it was not just a mourning ceremony, but a historic moment in the Muslim world and he had an obligation to get to Tehran to mourn beside the Iranian people and Muslims from other countries.
This was not an ordinary travel to him. He came to honor a character from him he learned for years and followed his speeches.
"I feel that if I do not attend this funeral, I would not fulfill my duty to someone who was inspiring to many Muslims for long years," He said.
Familiarity from Moscow mosques
This Russian citizen spoke about how he became acquainted with Ayatollah Khamenei, saying: "My acquaintance dates back to 2007. That year, I developed stronger ties with mosques and Islamic centers in Moscow. It was in that setting that I first became familiar with the thoughts, speeches, and messages of Ayatollah Khamenei. From that time onward, I have always tried to follow his positions, speeches, and guidance. As time went on, my understanding of his scholarly, religious, and political character grew deeper, and my respect for him increased as well."
He added that in Russia, many Muslims, especially Shiites, closely followed his statements. In many mosques and religious gatherings, his views were discussed, and his works and speeches were circulated among those interested. This was not limited to Muslims residing in Russia; native Muslims were also very keen to learn about his perspectives.
Popularity among Sunnis and Shiites
Referring to Ayatollah Khamenei's standing among Russia's Shiites, he stated: "For many Shiites in Russia, he was not merely a political leader, but held the status of an Imam and a religious authority. People spoke of him with love and devotion, and many adjusted their religious decisions based on his fatwas and guidance. The respect people had for him was not solely due to his political responsibilities, but was rooted in his scholarly and jurisprudential standing."
He added: "I can say with confidence that Ayatollah Khamenei was one of the most beloved religious figures among Russia's Shiites. Perhaps it is not easy to express these feelings in words, but there was a deep and emotional bond between Russia's Shiites and him. This affection had developed over the years and was not merely a fleeting sentiment."
The Russian citizen also emphasized that respect for Ayatollah Khamenei was not limited to Shiites, stating that even many of Russia's Sunnis held him in special regard. There may be jurisprudential differences, but regarding his scholarly stature, political courage, and his role in defending Muslims, there was considerable respect.
Grief that engulfed Russia
Pointing to the influence of the news of the Leader's martyrdom on Russia's Muslims, he said that when the news came, many of people were truly shocked. At the mosques and Islamic centers, atmosphere of grief was dominant and many of people felt that they lost one of the greatest Islamic figures.
"If I want to express my feelings, I must say that losing such a character was tough on us. Perhaps humans can bear loss of many people, but losing a leader trusted for years and whose words were light of our way was extremely difficult," he said.
A leader beyond Iranian borders
He went on to say that, in his view, Ayatollah Khamenei was a figure beyond Iran's borders, adding that he belonged to all Muslims. If we look at various countries, we see that in different parts of the Islamic world, Muslims felt a closeness to him. This status was not merely due to his political role, but was shaped by his scholarly and religious character, as well as his perspective on the issues facing the Islamic world."
He maintained that Imam Khamenei always spoke about the affairs of the Islamic ummah and sought to call Muslims toward unity. This very outlook made many Muslims outside Iran feel a connection with him as well.
Supporting Palestine, the secret to his popularity
Sheikzedayov further held that Ayatollah Khamenei's support to Palestine, Lebanon, and Yemen was the main factor for his popularity among the Russian Muslims. "In our view, he was one of the small number of leaders who did not walk back against big powers' pressures and firmly held his standing in support of Muslims nations. Support for the Palestinians, the Lebanese, and the Yemenis made many Muslims think that there is still a voice ghat defends their rights.
For Muslims living in non-Muslim countries, this is of significance. We felt that on the world stage there was someone speaking of Muslim ideals and not indifferent to their challenges.
What I saw in Tehran
The Russian citizen also commented on the massive turnout at the funeral procession, saying: "The scenes I witnessed today in Tehran will remain in my mind forever. This overwhelming presence showed just how deep the bond between the people and their leader had been. I have seen many ceremonies in different countries, but what I observed today in Tehran was different, in terms of its grandeur, the emotions of the people, and the spiritual atmosphere."
Referring to the presence of mourners from various countries, he added: "Seeing Muslims of different nationalities alongside the people of Iran demonstrated that Ayatollah Khamenei's character was not only recognized within Iran, but also held a special place among Muslims in other nations."
A path to continue
Ending his interview, Sheikzedayov said that "though today Ayatollah Khamenei is not with us, his thoughts, speeches, and the path he set will live on among millions of Muslims. "I hope the Muslims continue the same path of dignity, independence, and defense of the Islamic ummah he emphasized on. I will relate to my friends and compatriots what I saw and experienced in Tehran these days, because I believe that these days are part of the contemporary history of the Islamic world."
