Muslim rituals reflect Muslim beliefs and serve as a basis for the Islamic cult. The most important of them are common to the entire Muslim world.

The organization unites heads of Muslim spiritual boards around the country. This is done for coordination of their activities; a board remains entirely independent when its leader joins the Council.

Like other contemporary successful Muslim movements in Russia, the Union of Russian Muslims is quite moderate in its platform. Since its leader was arrested its activity has remarkably fell though.

The CMSBR succeeds to the Orenburg Mohammedan Spiritual Assembly established by Empress Catherine II's edict in 1788-89. It has survived the USSR and is now successfully developing.

Nur is a broad-based Muslim socio-political movement in Russia. Its moderate, but consistent platform allows it to enjoy increasing support of the Muslim public around the country.

The Muslim renaissance brought about by the break-up of the USSR has led to the emergence of a number of Muslim movements in Russia. Some of them have already left the scene, while others are still developing.

The Battle for the Caucasus is a series of military operations in the N. Caucasus conducted by the Armed Forces of Russia and Nazi Germany. It began on July 25, 1942, and ended on October 9, 1943.

Borga Kash is the earliest of the surviving Muslim monuments in Ingushetia. It was built in 1405-06 in honor of a certain Bek-Sultan and since then has become a very revered place.

Islam is the second religion in the number of adherents in Russia. The Muslim community has survived the Russian Empire and Soviet government and is now going through a renaissance.

dokl03en.zip

The Khushtada ziyarat is the "holy" grave of three Naqshbandi sheikhs of the XIX-XX centuries, evidence of the cult of "holy" martyrs among the Muslims in Soviet and present-day Dagestan.

In 1637, a relatively small Cossack company took the powerful Turkish fortress of Azov and held it until 1642, having withstood a serious siege. This striking event was reflected in tales of the XVII cent. Azov siege sitting.

Quartered in the Kuban region, the Kuban Cossack Host was used by the czar to protect Russia's southern borders. It took part in military campaigns, was abolished in 1920. It has presently been restored.

The Don Cossack Host formed the most numerous part of the Cossacks in pre-revolutionary Russia. Quartered in the Don area, it protected Russia's southern borders and took part in military campaigns, was disbanded in 1920 and restored in the late 1980s.

Part of the Cossacks in pre-revolutionary Russia quartered in the Terek region, formed in 1577 and abolished in 1920. It was restored in the 1990s and has been taking an active part in the counter-terrorist operation in Chechnya.

Holy place, named after the horse of the fourth "Righteous Caliph," Ali ibn Abi Talib. Caliph Ali's name is also bound up with the place names in Talysh/Talish, Azerbaijan: Ali-riz and Ali-chopan.

Mahkamahs Syariah are Sharia courts. For a while, they played an important part in post-revolutionary Russia, but were abolished as the Soviet government was firmly established.

In the Muslim cosmology, Kahf is a great mountain surrounding the Earth. In the earthly geography, Kahf corresponds to the Caucasian highlands where mountain-linked cults are widespread.

Abu Muslim is the hero of Muslim folklore of the Northeast Caucasus. Legends, tales, and chronicles about him date back to different periods and are based on various sources.

One of the most important and joyful Ossetian customs is the wedding ceremony. Here is an account of the traditional Ossetian wedding with all its common and specific features.