The Heroic Image In Islam: Historical And Philosophical Discourse

Gabdrakhman Rasulev: the sources of spirituality and heroism

Gabdrakhman Rasulev (1889-1950) was the eldest son of Zaynulla Rasulev, the spiritual mentor of Muslims, scholar-theologian, educator, Sheikh of Naqshbandi Sufi brotherhood, who was an Ishan by degree. Zaynulla Rasulev is mentioned by historians in a number of progressive representatives of the national intelligentsia and the Muslim clergy (Basyrov, 2009; Karibullin, 2013; Guseva, 2013).

In this family tie, we see the genetic influence of educational traditions among the broad strata of the Muslim population, which, along with representatives of other peoples who inhabited Bashkiria, sought to get an education.

The Merit of G. Rasulev is his consistent and purposeful work to promote knowledge, the development of material and technical base and increase the attractiveness of Muslim cultural and educational institutions.

For a more complete representation and understanding of the importance of the ascetic, creative and patriotic activities of Gabdrakhman Rasulev, we should turn to specific historical facts.

G. Rasulev was born on 10 November 1889 in the village which is called Achuzha of Zlatoust district of Ufa province (now the Uchalinsky district of Bashkortostan). Makhuba, the fourth wife of Zaynulla Rasulev, was his mother. At the age of 11, the boy began to receive education in his father's madrasah which was called "Rasulia". After graduating from the madrasah at the age of 18, G. Rasulev was awarded the title of Imam and for the next 3 years he received education at the Islamic University of Cairo.

After graduating from Cairo University, G. Rasulev taught at the madrasah, which had been opened by his father. In the future, he succeeds his father in the leadership position and makes a great contribution to the development of the institution. When Gabdrakhman-Hazrat became the director of Rasulia madrasah, he continued his father's work on the modernization of education. So, he directly influenced that a new madrasah building, a library, a boarding house for students coming from afar, a printing house, a bath house and a pharmacy with free medicines were built. Yamaeva (2017) notes that:

The new educational process was organized, there were new subjects (history, natural science, etc.) that had been previously absent in the curriculum. For the new three-storey madrasah building (opened in 1905) were purchased tables, chairs, cabinets, visual aids. Next to the new madrasah building a two-storey building - boarding school for Shakirds was built. In the madrasah library appeared fiction along with religious books. If earlier the madrasah prepared only imams, then with the adoption of the new program it began to graduate teachers of primary Muslim schools. (p.205)

It can be reasonably said that Rasulev actually turned the madrasah into a Muslim cultural and educational centre, involving the general population in his activities. He organized the publication of Muslim calendars, Newspapers and books.

Expansion of educational activities

Like Zaynulla Ishan, Gabdrakhman Rasulev becomes a Sheikh of the Naqshbandi brotherhood. Such a high position allowed G. Rasulev to expand the scope of its activities: he opens manufactory and grocery stores in the city of Troitsk (now Chelyabinsk region). He also organizes the "Association of Gabdrakhman Rasulev on the Amur" (Amur – the village near the city of Troitsk). This entrepreneurial activity allows him to focus on charitable activities. Rasulev provided ongoing financial support to the fifth mosque of Troitsk, as well as to Muslims in need.

In 1917 Rasulev headed the fifth Cathedral mosque of Troitsk, and then after the end of the Civil war became Imam-mukhtasib of the Ural region, mufti of the Central spiritual administration of Muslims in one of the most difficult periods in the history of the country, when religion was subjected to severe persecution.

By the year of 1936 almost all the mosques and parishes (mekhelle) in the USSR suspended its activities. Of the 13700 parishes worked only about a hundred. Most of the Muslim clergy were repressed, shot or sent to appropriate camps. The heavy impression on G. Rasulev made the death of Rizaeddin Fakhreddinov, his spiritual mentor, teacher and former head of Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia, and subsequent destruction of this organisation. (Lukyanova, 2018) To this end, the NKVD (People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs) was initiated "The case of the conspiracy of the leaders of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia". More than 30 people, and first of all, the leadership of this organisation at full strength were accused. Along with the destruction of Muslim centres, Islamic education and education in the region were automatically destroyed. In the 30s, the replacement of the graphics of the Turkic peoples was organized twice. Islamic education, like other religious education, has been banned in our country for about 70 years.

When the repression against the Muslim leadership had past, the authorities have combined two spiritual managements. There were Spiritual Administration of Muslims and Bashkir spiritual administration. G. Rasulev was appointed as the chief mufti. The decisive factor that influenced his appointment was the recognition of the authority of Gabdrakhman Rasulev, who at that time was the most famous and revered Sheikh.

Spiritual leadership of G. Rasulev during World War II

G. Rasulev being the mufti of Spiritual Administration of Muslims played a huge role in the mobilization of the patriotic spirit of the Muslim population during the Great Patriotic War (Kiznyabaeva, 2005). Rasulev urged Muslims not to remember the numerous insults and persecution of the authorities, but throw all their strength to defend the homeland. Hitler relied on the discontent of believers, including Muslims, who were persecuted in the USSR. The recruiting of large number of believers and USSR religious leaders on the Germany side was the part of his plan. Hitler sincerely hoped to rally Muslims against Soviet power. However, his plans were not to come true. Heroes-defenders protected not the power which oppressed and betrayed them, but the Homeland which suffered from violence of the aggressor.

In May 1942 at the emergency congress of Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims which took place in Ufa, mufti G. Rasulev addressed to the compatriots with an appeal: "Dear Muslim brothers! The words of the Great Allah and his prophet, the great Muhammad, peace be upon him and the blessing of the Almighty, call you, Muslims, sparing no effort to fight on the battlefield for the liberation of the great homeland, all mankind and the Muslim world from the power of fascist villains. The men and women in the rear do not panic and cowardice, do your best to produce all the necessary items for the successful conduct of the war and ensure the lives of the population. In this sacred Patriotic War against fascist Germany and its henchmen, having proved your rightness, show your loyalty to your Motherland in front of the whole world, pray in mosques and prayer houses for the victory of the Red Army. We, the scholars of Islam and spiritual leaders in the Soviet Union, call on all Muslims to unanimously defend their beloved Fatherland and the Muslim world from the German fascists"( The ninth mufti of TsDM of RUSSIA…, 2010).

The mentioned speech of the mufti was translated into the languages of all Muslim peoples of the USSR and distributed in their places of residence, as well as read during sermons in mosques. It was also published in the "Trud" newspaper. These words were the impetus for the active mobilization of Muslims and an important reason for their great contribution to the great victory over Hitler. These words of the mufti were the guarantor of the loyalty of Islam supporters to their homeland in front of the government and Stalin. During the great Patriotic war, representatives of Islam collected money, clothes, food for the needs of the front, distributed bonds of state loans through parishes, equipped the army with weapons, equipment, participated in battles and worked in the rear.

Stalin in response sent a telegram to the mufti. J. Stalin said: "Thank you for your concern for the armoured forces of the Red Army. Please accept my regards and thankfulness" (On the contribution Of the Central Spiritual…, 2011, p. 1). As a token of gratitude to the Muslims, Stalin gave permission for the construction of two mosques. One of them was built in Miassky bowery in Chelyabinsk, and the other in Ishimbay located in the Republic of Bashkortostan. After the publication of Gabdrakhman Rasulev's "Appeal", the Muslims living in the country began to raise funds for the front, which they continued throughout the five years of the war. There are many specific examples, which prove this fact, given by historians-researchers. In 1942, the Spiritual administration of Muslims of the European part of the USSR and Siberia declared Jihad to German fascism. The "Appeal" which was adopted at an emergency congress of Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims in May 1942 gave a religious rationale for the struggle of Soviet Muslims against Nazism. March 3rd 1943 the "Izvestia" newspaper published an article confirming the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the European part and Siberia fund raising in Ufa for the construction of a tank column. The newspaper said that mufti Rasulev personally donated 50,000 roubles for this purpose. In total, Muslims collected about 10 million roubles. Stalin's telegram to G. Rasulev expressed gratitude to the Muslims who participated in this charity event. Also in 1942, the Muslims of Dagestan raised funds for the organization of the same armoured units. They also received Stalin's commendation. This tank column, which operated as part of the Red Army during the World War II, called "Imam Shamil". At this time, the Spiritual Administration prepared and disseminated a fatwa that Muslims must unreservedly fulfil one of the five pillars of Islam – zakat (obligatory alms given once a year, in the amount of 1/40 of the property of a Muslim).

Except zakat to the people in need, there also zakat al-fitr (charity of purification) which is given in favour of the soldiers families on the occasion of the sacred month of Ramadan, and the alms- sadaqat is given at any time depending on possibility of every Muslim. Ural historians and Islamic scholars during trips to the Tatar-Bashkir villages of the Sverdlovsk region found a significant document of 1942: Spiritual Administration of Muslims paper with the official seal contained the appeal to the Islam supporters written in Turkic graphics. The appeal was aimed at collecting donations for the front and sending them to Ufa. The document was signed by mufti G. Rasulev.

At his call, members of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims began to actively travel to the places, meet with Muslims, help with opening mosques, and call for raising funds for the defence Fund. For example, On 7th of August B. Toguzbayev, mufti of Spiritual Administration of Muslims, speaking at the city cemetery of Chkalov city, reported on the work of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims and called on Muslims to raise funds in the defence fund. He said the following: "Comrades-Muslims, it will be necessary to collect funds among Muslims for the defence of our country and the rapid defeat of the common enemy". The Muslims of the town gathered 5700 roubles in the defence fund and passed the Treasury bonds in the amount of 20460 roubles. Large sums were collected by believers in the Central Asian Union republics.

Religious and educational activities of G. Rasulev as a tool for spiritual unification of the nation

When the Great Patriotic war ended, the authorities created easier conditions of observance of the faith for Islam adherents. For example, the closure of mosques stopped (mosque could be closed only with a special order from the Council for religious Affairs), the tax for religious figures of Islam was reduced, and the passport regime for religious figures of all faiths was eased.

At the same time, the concept of parish registration emerged. But the state authorities were not in hurry to register them. Unregistered communities emerged in difficult political conditions. Mufti G. Rasulev provided feasible and constant assistance for such parishes and was not afraid to issue them permission to operate on behalf of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims. Thus, until 1950, they were issued 917 permissions. Also Rasulev provided Muslim calendars for such parishes.

Undoubtedly, such support led to a significant increase in unregistered parishes. The mufti held to the slightest possibility of promoting the religion of Islam in the country. At his insistence, the way for the pilgrimage of Muslims to the city of Mecca was reopened, when this way was closed for 20 years. He also organized the Hajj of Soviet pilgrims. (Akhmadullin, 2013)

Gabdrakhman Rasulev was strong, independent, respected mufti. Thus, while Takbir (loud praise of Allah by believers) and sacrifice on Kurban Bayram were banned, in August 1949 he met with Polyansky the Chairman of the Council for religious Affairs and obtained permission to conduct these ceremonies. As mufti, Rasulev was the first who started distributing Zam-Zam water brought from the Hajj to the believers, which was a very important event for them. Rasulev capably used the hair of the prophet Muhammad brought from Turkey in order to spread Islam. On the occasion of the celebration of Mawlid (the birthday of the prophet Muhammad), this relic was brought to the review of the believers.

Due to his fame in the USSR and outside the country, Gabdrakhman Rasulev published a book "Islam dine", which was published in large quantities. In October 1948, at the request of the mufti G. Rasulev the fourth Muslim Congress was held. By the decision of the Congress the name of the organization was changed to "Spiritual administration of Muslims of the European part of the USSR and Siberia" and the new Charter of Spiritual administration was adopted.

The biography of G. Rasulev is included by Keye the American researcher in the edition "Who is who in religion" published in 1947. G. Rasulev died on the night of 5 to 6 July 1950. His grave is located in the courtyard of the first Cathedral mosque in Ufa.