The Group of Strategic Vision is a significant factor in the development of a constructive and mutually beneficial dialogue between Russia and the Islamic world, which has roots dating back centuries. Even Russian chronicles, recounting events a thousand years ago, document a respectful attitude toward Muslims. A new stage in the relationship between the two civilizations occurred at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when the world stood on the threshold of revolutionary change. One of the significant events of that time was the visit to Russia of Jamal ad-Din al-Afghani, a prominent figure of al-Nahda (the period of the awakening of Islamic socio-political thought). He arrived at the invitation of the renowned Russian publicist Mikhail Nikiforovich Katkov.
Jamal al-Din al-Afghani founded several publications both in Muslim countries and in Western Europe. He actively promoted ideas of Islamic unity, the fight against colonialism, and the development of education and modernization, including in the pages of his influential Parisian publication, "The Strongest Ties". The first issue was published in March 1884, and the appearance of a newspaper with an anti-colonialist stance in central Europe had a huge impact.
When the philosopher Ernest Renan expressed opinions offensive to Islam and the Arab nation in his lecture "Islam and Science," Afghani wrote an article, "Reply to Renan," in which he tactfully and scientifically criticized his opponent. The response made such a strong impression on Renan that he radically changed his position. In addition to polemics with philosophers, Afghani spoke at international conferences in Paris, convincing scientists and politicians that Islam does not hinder the development of science and culture. It was there that he met Mikhail Katkov, who was on a diplomatic mission.
Mikhail Nikiforovich Katkov, the founder of Russian political journalism and publisher of the magazine "Russky Vestnik" and the newspaper "Moskovskie Vedomosti," was close to Emperor Alexander III. Knowing Afghani as an authoritative journalist and publicist with huge influence in the Muslim world, Katkov invited him to Russia to discuss key issues in the East.
In 1887, Afghani arrived in the capital of the Russian Empire via Baku, Tiflis and Vladikavkaz, where he stayed with the Iranian state consul in Moscow, Mirzo Negmatullo Isfahoni. The main goal of his trip was to seek support from the Russian government and society for the peoples of the East in their struggle for freedom and independence. Several of his articles, directed against the British colonialists, were published in the Moscow newspaper Novoye Vremya.
It's important to note that Katkov himself opposed Western colonialism in the East. However, the death of the Russian publicist in 1887 compelled the Islamic educator to seek new solutions to Eastern issues. To this end, Afghani traveled to St. Petersburg to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Nikolai Girs, to whom he outlined his views on many Eastern countries. In the Northern Palmyra, he also met with representatives of the local ummah. The guest was delighted with the freedom and comfort felt by Muslim peoples in Russia. Furthermore, Russian Muslims also had the opportunity to become more familiar with the enlightener's personality and ideas.
It was in St. Petersburg that Afghani met the prominent Russian and Tatar educator Rizaetdin Fakhretdin, the future mufti of Inner Russia and Siberia during the Soviet era. The meeting had a profound impact on the Tatar scholar, as both he and his contemporaries repeatedly emphasized. Fakhretdin expressed his endless gratitude to the Almighty for his long conversation with Afghani, who opened his eyes to many truths, as he wrote about in Shuro magazine.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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