Petitions from the Muslim communities of the Tobolsk region for the construction, renovation, and status of mosques (1860s–1870s)

Abstract

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the construction of mosques was essential for shap ing the cultural and religious identity of Siberian Tatars, becoming a center of social life and edu cation. This study is based on previously unpublished documents from the National Archives of the Republic of Bashkortostan (NARB) from Collection I-295 of the Orenburg Muslim Spir itual Assembly. These materials were kept outside of scholarly circulation until now, making this study a novel contribution to the field. This study is based on institutional and historical-critical methods, exploring the organiza tional characteristics of Muslim communities and their interactions with government authorities within the imperial administrative system. An analysis of archival sources and published data based on a systemic and comparative approach allowed reconstructing the participation of parish ioners and clergy in the construction of mosques in the Tobolsk Governorate, as well as identify ing statistical data on the number of parishioners, clergy, and educational institutions. The study reveales that mosques served as both religious centers and infrastructures that supported educa tional activities, cultural development, and the education of Siberian Tatars. The initiatives of ru ral communities provided the material and technical foundation for the construction, restoration, and maintenance of mosques, as well as funding for educational institutions such as mektebs and madrasas. The clergy and trusted community representatives held correspondence and inter acted with government agencies, in particular, the Tobolsk Provincial Government.