TEACHING OF ISLAMIC SCIENCES IN SCHOOLS AND MADRASAS OF THE BUKEY HORDE UNDER THE RELIGIOUS POLICY OF TSARIST RUSSIA

Аннотация

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the teaching of Islamic sciences in schools and madrasas of the Bukey Horde within the framework of Tsarist Russia’s religious policy. From the first half of the 19th century, a Muslim educational system developed in the Bukey Horde, organized by mullahs and religious scholars. These institutions played a crucial role in spreading literacy and promoting Islamic values among the local population. However, the Russian Empire sought to weaken the influence of Islam by implementing various restrictive measures. Between the 1840s and 1870s, the imperial administration placed Muslim schools under state supervision, curtailed waqf activities, established Russian-native schools, and made Russian a compulsory subject. The study analyzes archival materials concerning Khan Zhangir’s educational reforms, the impact of Tatar mullahs, the establishment of the first Russian-Kazakh schools, and the ideological struggle against Islam. It demonstrates that the Bukey Horde’s educational system gradually acquired a colonial character, becoming an instrument of imperial ideology and cultural assimilation. Furthermore, the article highlights the significance of Muslim madrasas in preserving religious and cultural identity among the Kazakhs and examines the mechanisms of spiritual colonization pursued by Tsarist authorities to control the local population.