Beliefs of the Dargins

Dargins, including Kubachins and Kaitags, are Moslems-sunnits of Shafi kind (maskhaba). In the 4-5th centuries Christianity spread around Dargins coming from the neighboring Caucaus Albania. Islam was brought by Arabs in the 7th century, but became finally consolidated by the 14th century. Dargin village Akusha was one of the religious centers of Dagestan, well-known far away from it. During the Caucasus war Dargins actively participated in the movement of Shamil. Ideas of muridism were wide-spread among them and remained even after the defeat of Shamil.

Though the rights of the believers were infringed uring the years of the Soviet power, Dargins managed to keep the Islam traditions, educated mullahs, in some places even alims. Nowadays new mosques are being built, they revive traditions of Moslem education in the mosque schools - mektebs. Many young people study abroad, in Moslem countries. Like all Moslems, Dargins widely celebrate the main holidays - Kurban-bairam and Uraza-bairam. Every family is trying to observe the rite dedicated to the birthday of the Prophet (mavlid). Zikr is an important Islam rite of the Dargins, it?s more quiet than the Kadir (Chechen) zikr. Zikr is performed after the Friday prayer, during the burial ceremony, at mavlid etc. The elements of traditional beliefs retain in the agricultural and family rites and demonology. Until the recent time there existed the archaic rites of calling the rain by dressing one of the participants in foliage. Since 1992 in Izberbash there exists the Dargin kaziat. During the last years vakhabit ideas started to spread among the Dargins.