The Northern-most Outpost of Islamic Civilization

Abstract

According to certain legends still very much alive today in the local collective memory, the first Muslim missionaries came to the territory of Western Siberia and began to disseminate the true belief in Allah among locals in 1394-1395. Today, amidst conditions of burgeoning ethnic, cultural and religious self-awareness of the citizens of Russia, this legend has taken on the character of a genuine historical fact. The Siberian cities of Omsk and Tyumen - centres of dense Siberian Muslim populations - celebrated the 600th anniversary of Siberian Islam as national and religious holidays, which were accompanied by festivals of traditional culture and scientific conferences.