07 January 2020, 09:33
Islamic scholars clarify Mufti's statements about Kunta-haji Kishiev
Allegations of the immortality and supernatural abilities of the Chechen preacher Kunta-haji Kishiev fit into the Sufi doctrine, but contradict the Orthodox Islam, Russian Islamic scholars have stated.
During the religious events on the Commemorate Day of Kunta-haji Kishiev, Salakh Mezhiev, the Mufti of Chechnya, stated that the Sheikh continued preaching Islam in the world. Some residents of Chechnya criticized the Mufti by saying that this statement is contrary to historical facts and Islamic norms, while the preacher's personality is largely mythologized.
Kunta-haji Kishiev is an Islamic preacher of the epoch of the Caucasian War, who belonged to the Sufi order of Qadiriyya, the founder of the Zikrist movement. He is considered to be one of the 356 Muslim saints, who constantly live on the Earth. Ramzan Kadyrov and most of Chechen officials and religious figures are among the followers of Kunta-haji Kishiev's wird (a set of prayers).
Kishiev's immortality is not understood literally, Dmitry Mikulsky, an Islamic expert, has explained. "It means that after his death, Kishiev is able to appear in dreams to believers and help them by working miracles by the will of Allah," Mr Mikulsky believes.
Leonid Syukiyainen, another Islamic scholar, has pointed out that the issues of the righteous' the immortality or endowing them with divine attributes are contradictory to the orthodox Islamic doctrine, but are generally debatable in the Islamic discourse.
According to his observations, for Chechnya and many neighbouring regions, the Sufi traditions have become an organic part of their worldview.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 6, 2020 at 08:55 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Alikhan Mamsurov Source: CK correspondent
