Islam through a Cultural Lens
Turkic peoples can embrace Islam by adapting it to their traditional views and customs, which results in a unique form of religious practice that does not always align with the conceptions of Muslims from the Arab world. This process often occurs through a synthesis of Islam with local beliefs and rituals, where the religion becomes not only a matter of faith but also an integral part of national or ethnic identity. For example, as noted in one source, among the Tatars the understanding of Islam is clearly influenced by their traditions: “We are Muslims because we are Tatars, but our Islam is our national identity. If I cease to be a Muslim, then I cease to be a Tatar” (source: link txt). This statement demonstrates that for many Turkic peoples, the adoption of Islam is linked to uniqueness and the preservation of cultural heritage, rather than merely being about religious doctrinal tenets.Thus, the process of accepting Islam among Turkic peoples does not always represent blind adherence to Muslim canon. On the contrary, it takes place through the adaptation of Islam to already existing cultural and traditional features. As a result, such a syncretic form of Islam reflects the unique historical and social realities of these peoples, allowing them to maintain their cultural identity even in the context of global religious movements.Supporting citation(s):"This teaching attempted to adapt Islam to the traditional views, traditional law of the Tatars, Bashkirs, and so on. As a result, a phenomenon arose that Muslims from the Arab world actually do not consider true Islam. But it is quite justified. In fact, jadidism incorporated completely non-Islamic ideas: the cult of saints, some pagan methods of warding off the evil eye and hexes. Among the Tatars, the concept of Islam is often very vague. 'We are Muslims because we are Tatars, but our Islam is our national identity. If I cease to be a Muslim, then I cease to be a Tatar.'" (source: link txt)