The successes and achievements of the modern Russian Armed Forces are based not only on the experience and combat training of its units and subdivisions, but also on the heroic traditions laid down by great ancestors. One such tradition is that representatives of Muslim peoples, along with adherents of other faith, have served in the Russian Armed Forces for Centuries.
In times of hardship for the country, the majority of Muslims, having accepted Russian citizenship, stood up for its defense. Muslims of the Russian Empire faithfully served the “Tsar and Fatherland”: military service on the Polish border in the XVIII century, participation in the Patriotic, Russian-Turkish and Caucasian wars in the XIX century, as well as in the Russian-Japanese war at the beginning of the XX century. There is an opinion that the first mosque in Moscow was built to commemorate the heroism of soldiers of Muslim cavalry regiments.
Muslims were also subject to general conscription into the regular units of the tsarist army. According to the Statute of General Conscription, introduced in 1874, military service for Muslims could be replaced by a monetary tax. However, if they wished, they could serve on a general basis, as well as study in military educational institutions and receive officer ranks. Those called to service were obliged to swear an oath only in the presence of a clergyman of their religion.
Daily religious practice, including prayers on holy days and holidays, burial of the dead in accordance with the canon, observance of fasting, halal food – every aspect is important for the realization of religious rights of Muslims in the army. With the tacit consent of the Military Ministry of the Russian Empire, the problem of the lack of clear regulations in the statutes on the implementation of freedom of religion among confessional minorities was unit commanders and local superiors’ responsibility. Nevertheless, a clergyman was required to perform the rites.
The military honorary title of “akhun” – a Muslim cleric who led the military mullahs within a large city or district – “the highest Mohammedan figure”, became an example for the formation of military Muslim leadership. Mullahs from among civilians became part-time military officers, and at the time specified by the commander or on significant days of Islamic religious tradition, they would come to the military unit to visit coreligionists to perform rituals.
This was the case in places where internal military units were located, usually in towns where there were Tatar communities. In remote military units, it was the practice to appoint one of the lower ranks to the post of military mullah. In this case, a candidate for mullah was sent to the Orenburg Mohammedan Spiritual Assembly to be tested in the knowledge of the basics of Islam and rituals. Military mullahs in the eyes of the Muslim community became the embodiment of freedom of religion in the empire.
On the eve of the World War I, there were almost 36 000 Muslims in the regular Russian army, of whom about 200 were officers, including those of the highest rank. The Tsarist government sent thousands of soldiers of all nationalities and religions to the front from different parts of the Russian Empire. But after the February Revolution of 1917, all confessions were persecuted. Islam and indeed any other religion, was out of the question in the Soviet army.
The Great Patriotic War led to the cessation of anti-religious propaganda in the USSR. More than half a thousand Muslims were honored with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The Muslims of Tatarstan, Bashkiria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Chechen-Ingushetia, Dagestan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan united in the struggle against fascism, which posed a threat to the whole world. The contribution of the Muslim Union republics to the common Victory is truly immense.
Unfortunately, in the post-war period, atheistic propaganda continued, strengthening the image of the Soviet government as “godless”. The formation of negative attitudes of Muslims towards the authorities also took place during the ten-year war in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Chechens who fought against the Russian army in 1994-1996 recalled how in the past they had refused or dodged conscription to avoid serving in Afghanistan and fighting fellow believers.
The anti-religious policy was aggravated by gross errors in personnel policy. Today, the Soviet-era trend of favoring Slavic soldiers in the allocation of positions in elite units is weakening and coming to naught. The officer corps, almost entirely staffed by Slavs, finds it difficult to prevent interethnic clashes in the military environment. Many of the officers in the early 1990s noted their complete ignorance of Muslim specifics.
At the beginning of the XXI century, the number of servicepersons who consider themselves believers increased. A high percentage of believers is noted among cadets of military schools. The number of believers among the officer corps has increased significantly. Analysts at the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation expect that in time this young generation of officers will form the social base for the revival of the religious and spiritual life of military groups.
Russia is actively developing the practice of employing military clergy – chaplains (Orthodox, Islamic and others). Despite the official establishment of the position of assistant commander for work with believing servicemen in early 2010, the activities of chaplains are not properly ensured at the legislative level. At the same time, military imams are necessary for the modern Russian army. According to official statistics, every 11th soldier in the ranks is a Muslim. A competent military imam can answer a believing conscript’s religious questions. In addition, some resourceful soldiers refuse to do household chores, citing the canons of the religion – in such cases, officers who are far from Islamic dogma may need an advisor with knowledge of Muslim doctrine.
The difficulties that an observant Muslim in the modern army may encounter in connection with the practice of religion can be overcome if desired. The commanders of units, in general, accommodate their needs and try to provide, to the extent permissible, conditions for Muslims to practice their religion, if the latter ask them to do so. The issue requires appropriate amendments to the general military regulations and legislative support for the initiative of some officers.
Today, in the face of yet another threat to Russia – the terrorist regime in Kyiv, which is fully supported by Western countries – Muslim fighters together with their comrades-in-arms are bravely defending their homeland in the special military operation in Ukraine. The special military operation began on 24 February 2022. President Vladimir Putin said in an address to his fellow citizens that the military action was Moscow’s response to the Donbass republics’ requests for help. Muftis of Russia adopted a fatwa according to which the Russian special military operation has a precautionary and defensive nature and is legitimate from the standpoint of Islam. Therefore, Muslims who died in the performance of their duty in defense of the homeland are shaheeds.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation