Prapor
Active member
For those unfamiliar, these are two different schools of thought in the Islamic faith. Sufism promotes secular ideals, separation of clergy and government, tolerance and respect for others, including those of different religious, ethnic, or cultural identities. Here in Russia, this interpretation of Islam is predominantly popular in Republics of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan. There, Muslims and Orthodox Christians have for centuries lived side by side, in peace, harmony, and mutual understanding. There are many mixed families. Nothing symbolizes this like the Kazan Kremlin, in Kazan, capital of Tatarstan
The beautiful Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Kazan Mother of God, built by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, stands right next to the magnificent, ancient Tatar mosque Kul-Sharif.
When religious occasions happen to coincide, it is very interesting to see large crowds of faithful walking out of both great houses of worship, after the end of their services, and people come across neighbors, coworkers, friends from both confessions; conversations begin, jokes, laughing. That is true Russia, in my opinion.
Well, that is one side of Islam. The other, of course, are the Wahabis. Look at Afghanistan or Somalia (or even certain Paris and London neighborhoods, these days) to see what that is like.
It has infected Chechnya here, and to a lesser extent has spread in Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, and Dagestan (where now the Dargins and Bats, ethnically related to Chechens and sympathetic to Wahabism are constantly and violently clashing with the Nogai - brother nation to Tatars and Bashkirs, favor Sufism).
I think the West must try to understand this issue: it is not Muslims vs everyone else, it is often enough Muslims vs Muslims. Sufism is widespread among Muslims in India, and also quite popular in Turkey. Those are the people America and Europe should engage, if they want to win their war on terror. Pakistan is not an effective ally in this struggle: country ruled by Wahabis, full of Wahabis. Same as Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia. Work with India. Muslim Indians are ones who invented Sufism, you know. Turkey too, secular, Westernized, believe, many of them, in Sufi ideals. Indonesia as well. Those are the places to focus on.
The beautiful Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Kazan Mother of God, built by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, stands right next to the magnificent, ancient Tatar mosque Kul-Sharif.
When religious occasions happen to coincide, it is very interesting to see large crowds of faithful walking out of both great houses of worship, after the end of their services, and people come across neighbors, coworkers, friends from both confessions; conversations begin, jokes, laughing. That is true Russia, in my opinion.
Well, that is one side of Islam. The other, of course, are the Wahabis. Look at Afghanistan or Somalia (or even certain Paris and London neighborhoods, these days) to see what that is like.
It has infected Chechnya here, and to a lesser extent has spread in Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, and Dagestan (where now the Dargins and Bats, ethnically related to Chechens and sympathetic to Wahabism are constantly and violently clashing with the Nogai - brother nation to Tatars and Bashkirs, favor Sufism).
I think the West must try to understand this issue: it is not Muslims vs everyone else, it is often enough Muslims vs Muslims. Sufism is widespread among Muslims in India, and also quite popular in Turkey. Those are the people America and Europe should engage, if they want to win their war on terror. Pakistan is not an effective ally in this struggle: country ruled by Wahabis, full of Wahabis. Same as Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia. Work with India. Muslim Indians are ones who invented Sufism, you know. Turkey too, secular, Westernized, believe, many of them, in Sufi ideals. Indonesia as well. Those are the places to focus on.
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