The first two pages of this four page section briefly review pre-Soviet, Soviet, and post-Soviet Islam in Central Asia. They take the view that Islam was not very strong in the pre-Soviet and Soviet periods and discuss state control of Islam in the post-Soviet period. The last two pages discuss nation building efforts in the region.
Comments: 2/23/10
With regard to Islam in Central Asia, Akiner uses phrases like "ignorance about religious matters" and "token observance in Islamic rituals." Below are similar comments. See Benson (1998), Tucker (2009a), and others for a contrary view.
- With regard to Islam during Soviet times: "It found expression in the token observance of Islamic ritual in ceremonies connected with rites of passage (e.g. births, deaths, weddings). The ritual may not have been correctly performed, it may not have been understood, and it may not have been even Islamic (all traditional practices were assumed to be Islamic), but the perception was that it was 'right', that it imparted dignity and legitimacy to the proceedings." (p. 20)
- Again, with regard to Islam during Soviet times: "The role of 'parallel' Sufi movements in keeping Islamic beliefs alive was greatly exaggerated by foreign (and later Soviet) commentators. Knowledge of basic religious teachings was almost entirely eradicated." (p. 20)
- "Muslim visitors to Central Asia are constantly astounded by the local population's ignorance of the most basic tenets of the faith." (n. 22, p. 114)
