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Islam in Kazakhstan
More information about Kazakhstan culture in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan Islam overview
Islam is the largest religion of Kazakhstan. Ethnic Kazakhs are historically Sunni Muslimsof the Hanafi school. The Muslim population of Kazakhstan is about 50%.
It is stated Islam is practiced by 47% of the population of Kazakhstan by the CIA and US Department of State (1994) and 57% according to the Embassy of UK (2007).
Kazakhstan Islam history
Islam was brought to Kazakhs people during the 8th century when Arabs arrived into Central Asia region. Islam was widely spread because of zealous missionary work of Samanid rulers, especially in areas surrounding ancient Kazakhstan city of Taraz where a lot of Kazakh people accepted Islam.
In the late 1300s, the Golden Horde was spreading Islam religion among Central Asian tribes. During the 1700s, Russian influence toward Kazakhstan region rapidly increased in Central Asia region. However, Russian policy gradually changed toward weakening Islam by introducing pre-Islamic elements of collective consciousness.
During the Soviet period, Muslim institutions of Kazakhstan survived only in areas where Kazakhs significantly outnumbered non-Muslims due to everyday Muslim practices. In an attempt to conform Kazakhs into Communist ideologies, gender relations and other aspects of Kazakh culture were key targets of social change.
In recent times, Kazakhs have gradually employed determined effort in revitalizing Islamic religious institutions after the fall of the Soviet Union. While not strongly fundamentalist, Kazakh people continue to identify with their Islamic faith, and even more devotedly in the countryside.
Kazakhstan Islam today
Since gaining independence, religious activity in Kazakhstan has increased significantly. The construction of mosques and religious schools accelerated in the 1990s, with financial help from Turkey, Egypt and especially Saudi Arabia.
Kazakhstan Constitution (1995) stipulates that Kazakhstan is a secular state. Kazakhstan is the only Central Asian state whose constitution does not assign a special status to Islam. Aware of the potential for investment from Muslim countries of the Middle East, Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev visited Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Central Kazakhstan mosques
Southern Kazakhstan mosques
Eastern Kazakhstan mosques
Northern Kazakhstan mosques
http://islam.ru/en/content/news/kazakh-muslims-elect-new-mufti
KAZAKH MUSLIMS ELECT NEW MUFTI
By Yernat Kashkynov / 21 Feb 2013
A new mufti has been elected in Kazakhstan to administer the religious affairs of the Muslim community in the former Soviet Republic.
"During the direct voting, the candidacy of Yerzhan Malgajyuly Mayamerov, former head of the East Kazakhstan branch of the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Kazakhstan, was unanimously approved,”a spokesman for the administration said.
“He was elected as Grand Mufti andchairman of the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Kazakhstan.”
Born in 1972, Mayamerov studied Islamic Shari`ah at Egypt’s Al-Azhar University.
After graduation in 2008, he remained in Egypt for three years for completing his religious study.
In 2011, he was appointed a representative of the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Kazakhstan in the East Kazakhstan region.
Maramerov was elected unanimously by all participants in the 7th meeting of the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Kazakhstan.
His election came after Mufti Absattar haji Derbisali resigned earlier this month.
"On 14th February this year during the meeting of the Presidium of the Spiritual Board, I expressed that I want to leave the office and devote myself to science and creativity,”Derbisali told attendees.
“Not long before that, at a meeting with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, I also told him my wish. He accepted my initiative.”
The Mufti is the highest religious official in Kazakhstan.
He is responsible for issuing religious edicts (fatwas) on interpretations of Islamic Shari`ah.
Islam is the dominant religion in Kazakhstan, which has a large Christian minority, belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church.
According to the CIA Fact Book, Muslims make up 47 percent of the population, Russian Orthodox 44 percent, Protestant 2 percent and others 7 percent.
Ethnic Kazakhs are historically Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school of thought.
Islam was brought to the Kazakhs during the 8th century when the Arabs arrived into Central Asia.
Islam initially took hold in the southern portions of Turkestan and thereafter gradually spread northward.