Islam among the Turko-Mongol peoples

[anda]

Let 's make/ create more comprehensive study and timeline on how Mongol and turkic tribes become Muslim.

How Turkic khanates and their descendants become Muslim?
- Gok Turks were not Muslim, Maybe after their division into
Eastern and Western,
- When did Western turks become Muslim. After their collapse?

How Mongol-Kypchag-Turkic tribes become Muslim?
- Il Khanate
- Altan Ord Khanate
- Tsagatai Ulus

[Atabeg]

people follow the religion of there kings; prins babur

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

Islâm started spreading in the Western steppes in the 8th-9th centuries. The Umawwids forcily converted the Khazar Khan into Islâm but soon after they left Northern Caucassia, he returned back to his original religion. However, Muslim colonies started to appear in the Caspia Steppe around that time, founded mostly by Muslim merchants. It was these merchants who spread Islam in the khanates of Khazar and Volga Bulgaria. In the late 9th and early 10th centuries, Islâm became the dominant religion in the Bulghar Khanate of Volga-Kama with the influence of merchants, so the Khan of the Bulghars converted to Islâm around that time, making Islâm the official state religion. Following his deman from the 'Abbâsid Caliph of Baghdâd, Ibn Fadhlan was sent with a caravan of imams and architects to teach Islâm to the Bulghars and to construct mosques and Islâmic styled fortifications.

The spread of Islâm in Western Turkistân was a bit different. The towns in the Jaxartes (Sîr-daryâ) Valley were inhabited by a mixed population of Soghdians and Oghuz Turks. Islâm first spread here, probably because of the influence of Muslim merchants. However, warfare and raidings between Muslim and non-Muslim territories on this borderland were common too. Islâm had been established in Transoxiana (inhabited largely by Iranic speakers) earlierly in the 7th-9th centuries, mostly by Arabic force. Towards the middle of the 10th century, the areas under Qarakhanid rule (notably Yedisu and Kâshgharia) were subjected to a flood of Iranian and Turkic sûfî missionaries who preached Islâm in a heterodox way similar to Tengrist, Buddhist and Manikheist beliefs practiced by the non-Muslim Turks. Besides, Satuq Bughra Khan converted to Islâm in the 940s (with the influence of a Sâmânid refugee prince, according to the mythological story) and soon after that, Islâmic sources talk of a mass-conversion in Qarakhanid territory (they give the number as 400,000 tents), who were mostly probably Qarluqs, Yaghmas and Chighils. Of course such a mass conversion can not have happened totally by the own wills of those people; it must include influences of merchants and missionaries, as well as the strict orders of the ruler.

The Oghuz had started becoming Muslim in the Sîr-daryâ Valley, but the vast majority (who were nomads) still kept their own Tengrist beliefs. When Seljûq Beg had a political disagreement with the Yabghu (Ruler) of the Oghuz, he went to the town of Jand on the Muslim-Oghuz frontier. Here, together with his followers, he converted to Islâm to gain the support of the local population in his struggle against the Oghuz Yabghu. This looks similar to how the Russians converted to Eastern Orthodox Christianity, but this was on a much smaller scale. The Oghuz later started to convert to Islâm in larger numbers, mostly due to the preaches of traveling sûfî heterodox dervishes (who were very similar to Buddhist Ma-ni-pa travelling monks). So the way Muslim Oghuz (who got the name Türkmen) understood Islâm was quiet different from the orthodox way of Islâm praticed in urban areas. The Islâmisation of Oghuz Turks lasted throughout 11th-12th centuries (some say even later).

Muslim Qarakhanids and Buddhist Uyghurs fought long and bloody wars in the Tarim Basin. The Qarakhanids slowly conquered or vassalised the Tarim Basin cities, forcily establishing Islâm in these regions. Mahmûd of Kâshghar's Turkic-Arabic dictionary is full of poems depicting how the Muslim Turks fought against the Buddhist Turks, how they burnt down their temples and how they dis-respected their holy objects (like sh*tting on Buddha statues, as one poem openly depicts). However, the Islâmisation of the Tarim Basin Uyghurs continued up to the 15th-16h centuries.

The Qïpchaq Turks became Muslim during the Golden Horde period, probably by several ways (such as by the strict orders of rulers and by the influences of Muslim missionaries). The Qazaqs and Qïrghïz also became Muslim this way.

[Atabeg]

hmmm I allways tought after the golden horde periode well as you see everyday I'm leaning ;D

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

The Islamisation of the Turkic peoples started in the 9th century and lasted until the 18th century, so it took a millenium. Even today, not every Turkic is Muslim.

[Bor Chono]

I guess Islam gives something!? I mean what does it give?
I guess it gives "healthy life" -always washing(=cleaning yourself), not drinking & not eating pork.(=U can get disease from pig or chicken first.) But many don`t like it because of it`s strict rules, -I think.(some Mongols don`t like it because women has not good place in society, -like women can`t be a tardesmen or boss...etc, I mean some Mongols are quite Feminists.)
Cristianity is quite successful, I heard that : because it gives some "hope to continue live"?. Same with Islam!?

AND
Why does it called "ISLAM"?
LOL can be like "Is-Lama". U know that "Lama" is Buddist priest. ;D

[Atabeg]

borchono said:

But many don`t like it because of it`s strict rules, -I think.(some Mongols don`t like it because women has not good place in society, -like women can`t be a tardesmen or boss...etc, I mean some Mongols are quite Feminists.)


AND
Why does it called "ISLAM"?
LOL can be like "Is-Lama". U know that "Lama" is Buddist priest. ;D

Well firstly I want to say that it's BS that Islam is harsh on the women. Middle eastern culture is just Horrible befor Islam the arabs used to burry there baby daughters alive it was a shame o have a daughter. Women were forced in prostitution and all kind of stuff. You could say they got a break(luck) with Islam. As for the ninja outfit(burkha) it doesn't say in the qur'an(holly book of islam) that the women should wear one. The burkha was worren in the middle east by woman before Islam by women.

the whole middle eastern culture is women supressing. Look at turkey look at other turkic countries okay mabey not turkey in general east is the same as middle east bit better I think.

In Arabic, Islam comes from Sîn-Lâm-Mîm, wich literally means 'to make peace' the word 'Islam' is derived from a form of this word 'istislam' which itself derives from 'silm' meaning 'Submission'. Islam is an abstract nominal derived from this root, and literally means "submission to 'The God'

Hope it's helpfull chono

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

Well the Turks did not accept Islâm in the Arabic way so Muslim Turkic societies usually gave great importance to women most of the time. However, following the 15th century, in the urban areas of the Ottoman Empire, the strict orthodox Arabic style of Islâm started to spread so this caused the downfall of the women's position in the society. However, 'Alevîs and nomadic Yörük Türkmens always and and still today do give much importancr to women (the status of women in Turkey greatly increased following Atatürk's foundation of the republic in 1923).

Did you know that Nilüfer Khatun, the Greek convert wife of Orkhan Beg (second ruler of the Ottomans), kept the position of Nikaean governorship for a long time?

[Bor Chono]

ahiskali said:

Ninja outfit(burkha) Hope it's helpfull chono

;D Thanks
In Mongolian lang :
"Burhuul"(=can be "Burkhul") means "Cover"=a thing with U can cover something.

btw Mongols call "Islam" as "Lal"
"Laliin shashin"="Islam"="Muslim religion"

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

Is there another meaning of Lal in Mongolian?

[raapi]

Religion holds virtually NO resonance with me whatsoever and a mans choice is his own. I do however kind of lament tha fact that we adopted Islam and with it much of a mentality that wasn't ours. We Turkics do wear our Islam more lightly than Arabs or Iranians but we still seem to have suffered from the stubborness it creates... not participating in the industrial revolution or renaissance for starters.. Anatolian Turks in particular (and in general) seemed to have adopted that slap-dash and corruptable attitude from the Arabs. I feel that without our strong historic friendliness with them that was cemented with adoption of Islam, we'd not be a so honorless or bribable and corrupt society.

From a personal point of view we gained little from Islam and I prefer the idea of us retaining our original faith (if not strictly) because it is simply more logical to honor things you can see and that visibly give you life (water, fire etc) that some dude in the sky.

[anda]

admin said:

Is there another meaning of Lal in Mongolian?

LAL - there is no other meaning in that word. I found this word very weird. Where is it originated

[Bor Chono]

I heard that no Muslim leader spoke bad about Jesus & Cristianity while most Cristian leaders did.
-Is it true?

[aca]

It's true. The reason for this is that Muslims consider Jesus as one of God's prophets, so speaking bad things about him would be blaspheme. (Of course, some radical Muslims don't get it)
On the other hand, Christians see Jesus as their only prophet, so in their eyes Muslims are infidels.
Generally, Christians speak more bad things about Muslims than other way around.

[tengrikut]

borchono said:

I heard that no Muslim leader spoke bad about Jesus & Cristianity while most Cristian leaders did.
-Is it true?

but mostly muslims hate christians. you cant hear them bec muslims dont have a great leader like pope. if you listen to a imam, you will see his anger to christians and jews.