The Mufti's call for prayer for Kadyrov sparked discussions on social media.

Many authors of comments on social media criticized the call of the Mufti of Chechnya for prayers for Ramzan Kadyrov. Their opponents reminded that the practice of praying for a ruler does not contradict Islam.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the Mufti of Chechnya Salah Mezhiev, who spoke at the inauguration of the head of the republic, called it the duty of Chechens to pray for Ramzan Kadyrov, and referred to the governor's inauguration ceremony as "the mercy of the Almighty".

Facebook* and Instagram* users left 64 and 289 comments, respectively, under the publications of "Caucasian Knot" about Mezhiev's statement by 18:55 MSK on October 12.

Comment authors criticized the Mufti's position. "They will start with Kadyrov, then move on to prayers for the king," suggested Berg Otto. "There are no words to describe these [offensive word]," wrote a user with the nickname Covered Spider. "What will he say when Ramzan is no longer around?" asked Azer Ismailov.

"Soon they will declare him a prophet," expressed Ali Relawan. "Then they ask me, "Why don't you pray?" shared Zaur Bagiev.

"Maybe we should pray for Putin right away [...] don’t think we are left unattended, truly Allah sees everything and controls everything, and the reckoning will be severe," wrote Arzo Isakov.

"This prayer is meant to guide the leader on the right path," stated Yng Yngs. "1. There is no compulsion in Islam. 2. In Islam, everyone chooses for themselves whom to make dua for," wrote Murat Meryem Hacca Yeter.

"The Mufti of Chechnya blesses Kadyrov? [...] You are proud of Kadyrov, who is under Putin's thumb and fulfills his whims [...] Proud Caucasians, take the holy book of the Quran in your hands, read carefully, do not sin, there will be no mercy in the afterlife," addressed Roza Godzhal to the residents of Chechnya.

"He does not fear the Almighty Allah at all," commented the Mufti's statement denis_ogaysky. "In this life, no one owes anything to anyone," expressed erzhan8154.

"Kadyrov is a devoted foot soldier of Putin, ready to carry out any [inhumane] order from the Kremlin and sacrifice thousands of Chechen lives... And he won't even remember the Quran at that moment, nor the commandments. So there is no need to involve religion here. People will pray for him, and he will send them to the [front] for that," shared his opinion andreinikolaevich510.

"Is it wrong to make dua for a ruler?" asked smk_binmatai. "Right does not equal obligatory," replied serdceputnicka1.

Several comment authors supported the position of the Mufti of Chechnya. "What is he wrong about? [Kadyrov] built such a city, there are still plans for the future, so we need to pray," wrote danatella090.

"Mezhiev said it would be correct to make dua for Kadyrov, not to pray. Do you even know what dua and prayer are?.. Don’t you make dua for your loved ones or for someone who does something good? And he is addressing the Chechens, the residents of the Republic, who are grateful to Ramzan for such a prosperous republic, but how does this concern you? This question is not only for the author but for all commentators. What is it to you? Is he asking you for something? You should be watching over your Republic and speaking about your leaders," outraged wolf_014.

"Dua in Arabic, prayer in Russian. Prayer — in English, and so on. To pray for him means to make dua, and we Muslims make dua," responded nohchy.

Russian Muslims practice prayers for rulers

Let us remind you that praying (dua) for a leader or ruler is not an obligation even in Muslim countries, noted an expert in Islamic law, Professor Leonid Syukiyainen from HSE. "Even if some sermon before the prayer mentions certain events, including those involving the leader, it does not mean that the prayer is directly dedicated to him," he said earlier to "Caucasian Knot".

Prayers for the current authorities usually sound during the Friday sermon, said Dmitry Mikulsky, the chief researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. "Traditionally, this was an obligation because proclaiming a prayer for the one who rules is, in fact, documenting that power is being exercised. This is a classic situation, but it concerned rulers in Islamic states," he said.

In turn, the imam of a mosque in Moscow, Rauf-khazrat, told "Caucasian Knot" that dua for a ruler is indeed practiced in Muslim regions. "There is nothing surprising about this. This is, firstly, from the etiquette of relationships, so to speak, of Muslims with their ruler. On the other hand, it is an act from the desirable, conditioned by the Sunnah, when a Muslim prays for his ruler, wishing him well. But by doing so, he wishes well, including for the entire ummah, and in some way for himself," he said to "Caucasian Knot".

The words of the imam are confirmed, in particular, by a publication made in the Telegram channel of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Tatarstan in June 2025. At that time, the Muftiyat reported the arrival of pilgrims from the republic to Hajj.

Muslims performed a separate prayer for the head of the republic, Rustam Minnikhanov

"Muslims performed a separate prayer for the head of the republic, Rustam Minnikhanov, asking Allah for support in matters for the benefit of Islam and for the preservation of interethnic peace and harmony in society, rewards and mercy for him," the publication states. 1

In Islam, it is customary to follow the ruler

In the Telegram channel of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Bashkortostan - another Muslim region of Russia - as of 18:55 MSK, there are no publications mentioning conducted dua for the ruler or calls for such dua.

However, the chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Bashkortostan, Ainur Birgalin, noted in October 2022 that it is customary for Muslims to "follow the ruler". "In Islam, it is customary to follow the ruler. If the people are divided, nothing good will come of it," the state television and radio company "Bashkortostan" quoted his words on October 22, 2022.