"Asri Musulmanliq" (1924–1927) – the First Muslim Journal of Crimea

Abstract

The research features the first Muslim Crimean magazine "Asri Musulmanliq" ("Modern Islam"): its history, structure, typological and problem-thematic peculiarities, etc. The authors refer to the situation of the Muslims of Crimea in the 1920s, the history of the National Administration of Religious Affairs of Muslims of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic and its media organ, the monthly religious, scientific and philosophical journal "Asri Musulmanliq" (1924–1927). The topics of the Journal are considered in close cooperation with the life of the Muslim Ummah of the Crimean Peninsula, the leading trends of the time, and the tasks of the authors of the publication. The authors concentrate on the religious and moral content of the journal, which tried to enlighten its Muslim readers, and the Soviet realities with their model of the "new man". The Journal contained numerous articles on the dangers of drinking, the need to observe hygiene and get rid of prejudices and superstitions, on the equal rights of men and women, including education, etc. All these ideas had their roots in the norms of Islam. However, they also corresponded with the social renewal and healthy lifestyle, promoted by the Soviet press in the 1920s. According to the authors, "Asri Musulmanliq" was a unique publication. Its articles: 1) revealed the ideological views and main directions of the activity of the National Administration of Religious Affairs of Muslims of Crimea; 2) combined the realities of the new era with traditional Islamic issues and Crimean Tatar’s journalism. The latter originated from I. Gasprinsky’s editions, which dwelled on the civic and religious education, women's rights, unity of the Turkic world, etc.