Abstract

This academic article examines the characteristics of one of the Islamic movements that spread throughout Central Asia during the years of independence — «Tablighi Jamaat». The author meticulously examines the historical emergence of this religious movement, and, drawing on theoretical and empirical research by other scholars, attempts to understand its activities, structure, main ideas, and influence on the Central Asia region. The present article engages with a scholarly article by Emil Nasritdinov, a Kyrgyz researcher who holds a doctorate, on the Tablighi Jamaat. Given the author’s direct involvement in the travels of the religious movement, an opportunity is presented to comprehend the nature of Tablighi Jamaat and its representatives from the perspective of a participant. Furthermore, the article undertakes a thorough analysis of the conclusions drawn by researchers such as Bayram Balysh, Mahesh Zanjan Debat, Matijs Pelkmans, Izzet Ahmet Bozbey, and Shuxiang Tan regarding the geographical presence and activities of Tablighi Jamaat in Central Asia, along with an examination of the movement’s relationship’s to the prevailing political environment in the region.
Consequently, an examination of theoretical and empirical works by scholars enables us to ascertain the nature of Tablighi Jamaat in Central Asia from two perspectives. This methodological approach serves to enhance the scientific objectivity of the conclusions derived from the study.