Islam in Russia: The Four Seasons

Description

A fascinating story of spiritual survival. The cultural and national reawakening that has accompanied the resurgence of Islam in Russia has contributed to the revival and renewal of Islamic thought throughout the Muslim world. The author explores how Islam vis-a-vis Russian Orthodox Christianity shaped national, political and cultural developments in the vast region of European Russia and Siberia. This volume thus presents an analysis of the history, development and future prospects for Islam in Russia based on exhaustive research of the primary and secondary sources as well as the author's own personal experience. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Preface: The Unknown Ummah Acknowledgements List of Maps Introduction Part One: Spring (922–1229) 1 The Trials of Ibn Fadlan: The delegation from Baghdad and the acceptance of Islam by the Volga Bulgars 2 The Birth of the Ummah: Islam takes root 3 That Time of Bloom: Volga Bulgaria develops as an independent Islamic state Part Two: Summer (1229–1400s) 4 Enter the Sufis: Peculiarities of the development of Islamic thought 5 The 'Tartars' versus Islam: The Mongol onslaught 6 Islam at the Dawn of the Golden Horde: The acceptance of Islam after the conquests of Genghis Khan 7 The Silver Age: Uzbek Khan and the triumph of Islam 8 Collapse and Disintegration 9 Who were the 'Tartars' of history? The enigma and paradox of the name misapplied Part Three: Autumn (1400s–1583) 10 Astrakhan and Noghais: Events in the south 11 Kazan and Kazimov: Ulug Muhammad and the Moscow principality 12 The Suyumbika Tower: Islam beheaded 13 Terra Incognita: Islam in Siberia Part Four: Winter (1583–1800s) 14 The Momentum Lost 15 The Survival Test: A new religious leadership emerges 16 The Official Ulama Re-appears: In every winter, there is spring in the making Glossary Select Bibliography