Muslims of Chechnya are joyfully preparing to greet a holy relic, a hair of the Prophet Mohammed, which will arrive on a flight from Turkey on Thursday afternoon, RIA Novosti reports.
It is expected that the relic will be delivered from Grozny airport to the central mosque named after Akhman – Hadji Kadyrov. Despite the freezing temperatures and biting winds, thousands of Muslims have been lining up along the city streets since early morning while awaiting the hair’s arrival. Once the relic arrives, a collective prayer will commence.
Chechnyan muftis report that hundreds of Muslims are coming from the republics of Ingushetia, Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria to be in the presence of the prophet’s hair.
On Wednesday, the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov said during a meeting with religious leaders that the appearance of Islamic holy relics in the country "is the best proof that the people of Chechnya are living in peace and harmony."
"I want every person to feel this majestic moment. Those who wish to should be able to see the holy relic. It needs to be brought to all the districts of the republic," said Kadyrov.
It is believed that the greatest amount of Prophet Mohammed’s hair is stored in the Turkish “Top Kapi” museum, which has around 60 hairs of the prophet, as well as his descendants.
Earlier in September 2011, a specially chartered flight from London brought Prophet Mohammed’s sacred chalice, which is believed to be over 1,400 years old. The chalice was met by over 3,000 inhabitants of the republic, who formed a solid line along the route from the airport to the mosque “The Heart of Chechnya” in Grozny to which the relic was delivered.
