The Cult of Saints in the Religious Views of the Tatar Jadid Ulama of the late 18th – early 20th century

The article discusses the issues of the cult of saints within the theological views of the Tatar Jadid ulama of the late 18th – early 20th centuries. The prominent representatives of this movement – Gabdennasyir Kursavi, Shigabutdin Marjani, Galimajan Barudi, Rizaetdin Fakhretdin, Musa Bigeev – searched for the causes of spiritual, political, social and economic decline, in which Muslims found themselves. These religious representatives believed to fi nd a way out the crisis through the change of Muslim beliefs as well as the rejection from innovations in religion and return to the Qur’an and Sunnah. They opposed many traditions that existed among the people. In their opinion, these rituals contradicted with the doctrines of Islam including the cult of saints and the institute of saints graves’ guardians. On the other hand, the Jadids regarded reforming the educational system, studying of secular sciences, borrowing modern scientifi c, technological and other achievements from the Europeans as an important condition for the progress of Muslims. This attitude of Tatar theologians favored the establishment of Islamic cultural values and opened up new ways for Russian Muslims to familiarize with the achievements of world civilization.