Islam In Russia
Compared to the communist era, Russian Muslims are allowed to smile now. Russian Federation Government apparently began appreciative. First time in history, a Russian leader to enter the Muslim ministers in his cabinet and acknowledge the existence of Russian Muslims. President Vladimir Putin looks serious glance at Islam by attending the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Malaysia (2003), which eventually became permanent observers, and initiated the formation of Alliance of Civilization Russia-Islamic past 27 to 28 March 2006 with a meeting of Islamic leaders from 15 countries.
In fact, Russia acknowledged the victory of Hamas in Palestinian elections and Putin was 'reprimanded' Pope Benedict XVI for his speech that accused Islam and the Prophet Muhammad in Germany. Russia views the Islamic world as a significant force and can become partners in creating a new world order of peace, just and civilized. Prof. Victor Sychev, an Indonesian expert from Russia, also asserted that Islam is a religion that teaches the values of peace. He rejected Islam associated with terrorism because it is only caused a few people with the name of Islam.
Long HistoryUnlike other Muslim countries in Europe, mostly immigrants, the presence of Islam in Russia has a very long history. Islam arrived in Russia (Dagestan and North Caucasus) in the second half of the 7th century AD Ke10 century, Islam has become the official religion of the Tatar nation. When a Christian of ethnic Russians in power, Muslims began to occupied territory. In fact, in the mid-18th century, Russian Muslims are not allowed to conduct religious activities, build mosques and schools. Outbreak of the communist revolution in 1917 led to a very bad situation for all faiths, especially Muslims, which led to the eradication of religion since 1927.
Although very prevented during communist, cultural roots and history of Islam was never uprooted. The momentum of economic and social reforms, until the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's Muslims used to restructure the keberagamaannya. Today, Russian Muslims are the largest Muslim communities in Europe. They come from 40 ethnic groups and totals about 20 million (15 percent of Russia's 142 million population). In addition to the Muslim descent, many of those who convert to Islam. In fact, 60 percent of new adherents are ethnic Russians who previously had no religion whatsoever.
In addition to the factor of immigration from the North Caucasus region and Central Asia, Muslim population growth is also triggered by the crisis among the ethnic Russian population that causes a decrease in population of 700,000 people per year. This is a potential concern, especially among the orthodox Christians, that they would become minority and the loss of Russian identity. If this trend continues, the estimated population of Muslims in the next 30 years could exceed the ethnic Russians. In fact, Muslims will become the majority in the Russian army.
Muslim parents in Russia is what led to many works of Islamic gold produced and 'buried' there. In the library of St. Petersburg, can still be found an ancient manuscript of al-Quran handwritten by a hundred versions of Arabic handwriting, a collection of manuscript works of the scholars of Kurdistan, the minutes of the local Islamic philosopher, Ibn Sina's philosophy encyclopedia (Uzbekistan), the work of al-Farabi (Azerbaijan) and Manuscripts al-Quran for mini lighters (gift Iranian Shah Abbas the Great in one of his son Emperor of Russia). At the Library Institute Orientologi National Academy of Sciences Moscow also found religious texts, law, governance and science originating from Islamic countries long ago.
Future OpportunitiesDecades of repression in the communist era, Russia has made Muslims isolated from the science and practice of Islam, especially the younger generation. Although still proud as a Muslim, Islam is only limited to the introduction of highly restrictive name of Muslims in reaching the perfection of Islam. All this requires extra work until there are proper Islamic education and religious facilities representative.
With human resource large enough (about 1.5 billion people, nearly a quarter of the world popualsi), President Putin will be difficult to ignore Muslim. Moreover, most of Russia's Muslim population in Europe. Islamic world's natural resources (oil, forests and gas) are still many untapped Russia will also be a consideration to keep being nice to Islam. All of this trump card should also be put to good use by Russian Muslims.
But, it seems Putin is still allergic to the Muslim 'extremists' such as the Muslim Chechens. He's more welcome to the moderate Muslims such as Muslim Tatars and Central Asia. This indication should make wiser Russian Muslims in attitude. Without sacrificing the main goal of Islam, it's good to learn from the history of Russian Muslims when Islam first conquered the Tatars in the West of Russia. Universal ideas such as justice, brotherhood, anti-tyranny and love of science has won the admiration of Russian society.
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