Rustam Minnikhanov visits a grave of the Tatar philosopher and theologian Musa Bigiev in the El-Qarafa necropolis in Cairo

On 13 April during his working trip to Egypt, the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov visited a grave of the Tatar philosopher and theologian Musa Bigiev in the El-Qarafa necropolis in Cairo.

The Bigiev family descended from Penza Tatars. Musa Bigiev graduated from several madrassas in Bakhchisarai, Kazan, and Bukhara, and studied at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, then in Mecca, Medina, and cities in British India.

The scientist died of 28 October 1949 in Cairo and out of respect to his merits was buried in the Khedive’s family royal tomb.

In 2025 Tatar community and the Russian Muslims Spiritual Board organized a number of events dedicated to the 150th birthday of the outstanding Tatar theologian and opened a unique exposition in the Museum of Islamic Culture, which exhibited personal belongings of Bigiev from the Tagirzhanovs family collection.