The "Tatar Way" of Understanding and Practising Islam in Estonia

This article gives a brief overview of the narratives used by Estonian Tatars, describing their religiousidentity and changes in the Estonian Muslim community during the past few decades. TheTatars are the founders of the Estonian Islamic Congregation in Tallinn, an organization which hasbeen the main representative of Islamic faith in Estonia for more than half a century. Recently theTatars and the congregation are being challenged by newcomers with other views on Islam. Forinstance, the “Tatar way” of defining religious identity within a family context differs from theway in which Estonian converts and more recent Muslim immigrants see their own religiosity. Thechanges in the Estonian Muslim community and the Estonian Islamic Congregation have influencedthe Tatars in several ways, especially their religious and cultural self-concept. Examples aregiven of how Tatars evaluate and come to terms with the differences and the challenges.