Peculiarities of religious practices of Muslim servicemen in the Russian Imperial Army in 1874-1914

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the analysis of religious practices of Muslim servicemen in the Russian Imperial Army in 19th – early 20th century (prior to 1914). The author briefly reveals the historiography of the problem, describes a small number of Muslim units, documents numbers of Muslims in the Army, identifies reasons leading to the loss of their confessional identity, and discloses factors, which influenced amplification of the Muslim rituals in the Russian Imperial Army. The exposure of religious situation of Muslim soldiers is conducted through the analysis of conditions of executing religious rituals that Muslims were ought to observe. A considerable attention is given to the legal status of regular and public mullahs in military bases, as well as to the participation of civilian Muslim clerics in ensuring the fulfillment of religious duties by their fellow Muslims.