The Official Madrasas of Soviet Uzbekistan

Abstract

Sadum, the muftiate of the Soviet Central Asian republics, operated three Islamic educational establishments at various times in the half century following World War ii. This article argues that, far from being rubber-stamp bodies imparting official propaganda, these madrasas benefited from significant influence from three constituencies in the religious sphere: the state, sadum, and influential unregistered ʿulamā beyond the reach of both. As institutions at the intersection of “official” and “unofficial” Islam, they offer historians of Soviet Central Asia a rare glimpse into debates about Islamic education under communism. sadum, the muftiate of the Soviet Central Asian republics, operated three Islamic educational establishments at various times in the half century following World War ii. This article argues that, far from being rubber-stamp bodies imparting official propaganda, these madrasas benefited from significant influence from three constituencies in the religious sphere: the state, sadum, and influential unregistered ʿulamā beyond the reach of both. As institutions at the intersection of “official” and “unofficial” Islam, they offer historians of Soviet Central Asia a rare glimpse into debates about Islamic education under communism.