Islam in Ukraine

However, the final victory of Islam in the Crimea is connected with the name of Khan Uzbek (1313-1342), who officially introduced Islam as the state religion on the peninsula and made the city of Solkhat (now Old Crimea) the administrative center of the new ulus of the Golden Horde. He himself lived in the Crimea for some time, showing his subjects a model of adherence to the tenets of Islam. The legendary Tamerlane (1336-1405) completed the process of Islamization of the Crimean population by deposing the Golden Horde Khan Tokhtamysh. After the end of the Golden Horde period of its history, the Crimean ulus separated into an independent state entity, on the basis of which the Crimean Khanate arose. From 1427, the dynasty of khans from the Girei family became the ruler.

In 1475, a new period in the history of the khanate began. In this year, the rulers of Crimea recognized the power of the Ottoman Empire as the caliph, the ruler of all Muslims. All the highest spiritual persons were appointed with the participation of representatives of the caliph and his name was praised every day in the Crimean mosques after the name of Allah. But, according to the laws of the Ottoman state, the Girei dynasty was considered more noble than the dynasty of the Ottomans themselves and had to sit on the throne in the event of the termination of the Ottomans in the male line. Higher clergy became an influential force in the khanate. Chief among them was the mufti. He was considered the second person after the viceroy of the sultan and was a member of the State Council. This representative of the clergy became the supreme interpreter of Sharia laws.

The Mufti of the Crimea was a member of the State Council of the Empire - Divan. Next, places on the hierarchical steps were occupied by Sharia judges, mudaris (responsible for teaching in Muslim schools - madrasahs), imams, sheikhs (heads of Muslim brotherhoods), Sufu (members of brotherhoods or hermits). They cared about the enlightenment of Crimeans in the spirit of Islam, taught observance of its precepts, raised faithful Muslims and conscientious subjects. Islam became the basis of the spiritual life of the Crimean Tatar people. Mosques functioned in almost all significant settlements.

Throughout the existence of the Crimean Khanate, an atmosphere of religious tolerance prevailed in the state. Orthodox, Catholic, Greek, Armenian churches and monasteries, Jewish synagogues, and Karaite kenases operated freely on the territory of the state.

Under the influence of the ideas and norms of Islam, the national culture of the Crimean Tatars, their everyday traditions, language, way of life, system of education and upbringing of children was formed; writing, bookmaking, music, stone and wood carving, ornamental art and especially architecture flourished. The town of Eski Kirim (Old Crimea) is rich in valuable monuments of Muslim architecture with Uzbek and Beybarsa mosques, Kurshum-Jami and Takhtala-Jami, with madrasahs, caravanserais and fountains. There are many monuments of Muslim culture in Bakhchisarai, the former administrative center of the khanate: a palace, mosques, a rich collection of Muslim literature from the Middle Ages. The centers of the Muslim civilization of Crimea were also Karasubazar (Biloghirsk), Kafa (Feodosia), Kezlev (Yevpatoria) with its unique Juma-Jami mosque (1552).

During the rule of the Russian Empire, a consistent policy of destroying the foundations of the Muslim civilization of Crimea was carried out. More than 900 mosques were destroyed or turned into barracks. Shortly after the events in the city of Karasubazar, many Muslim scholars were forcibly summoned and executed. In 1883, the first mass burning of ancient books took place in the Crimea (the second was in 1929).

Despite the systematic oppression, the Muslim culture of Crimea lived on and was even renewed. An example of Muslim culture of the 20th century. became the work of Ismail Gasprinsky. His efforts led to a religious and cultural reform in the Crimea, the result of which was to be a new system of education for Muslims. In 1881, Gasprinsky published the book "Russian Islam", and from 1883 - the weekly magazine "Terjiman" ("Translator"), in which he advocated the ideas of enlightenment among Muslims.

As a result of economic migration during the XIX century. the resettlement of representatives of peoples who traditionally practice Islam in Ukraine begins. Natives from Kazan Tatars settle on Ukrainian lands. The number of displaced persons is measured in tens of thousands. In the industrial belt of Ukraine - in the east and south, a peculiar community of Turko-speaking peoples is forming in Ukraine.

The imperial government allowed Muslims to have their own mosques (but in limited numbers). That is why Muslims often had prayer houses in addition to mosques. So, for example, in Donetsk region at the beginning of the 20th century. two mosques functioned - in the cities of Luhansk and Makiivka, and several more prayer houses in the settlements. In Kyiv, the Tatars lived in Podil, Lukyanivka, and Svyatoshyn. On the street The prayer house stood peacefully. In 1910, the foundation of the mosque was laid, which was never built. Kyiv was allowed to have 2 Muslim cemeteries. Muslim communities were active in many cities of Ukraine - Katerynoslav, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and in others, outside the borders of the Russian Empire - in Lviv.

Crimean Muslims were subjected to mass deportation in 1944 when Joseph Stalin accused them of collaborating with Nazi Germany. More than 200,000[3] Crimean Tatars were deported to Central Asia, primarily the Uzbek SSR. It is estimated that more than 100,000 deportees died of starvation or disease due to the deportation.[4]

• Mustafa Dzhemilev is a political and public figure of Ukraine of Crimean Tatar origin, one of the leaders of the Crimean Tatar national movement, People's Deputy of Ukraine.
• Rustem Umerov - Minister of Defense of Ukraine.
• Refat Chubarov is a Ukrainian Crimean Tatar politician and public figure. Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people.
• Emine Dzhaparova - the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
• Tamila Tasheva - Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

• Akhtem Seitablaev is a Ukrainian actor and director of Crimean Tatar origin.
• Jamala is a Ukrainian singer of Crimean Tatar origin, People's Artist of Ukraine.
• Nariman Aliev — Ukrainian director and screenwriter.

• Ahmed Tamim - mufti of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine.
• Ayder Rustemov - mufti of the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Crimea
• Murat Suleymanov - Mufti of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine "Umma" since 2022.
• Said Ismagilov - Mufti of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine "Umma" (until 2022). President of the NGO "Ukrainian Center for Islamic Studies".

• Amina Okuyeva (1983 - 2017) is a Ukrainian doctor-surgeon, public activist and military officer.