Islamic Educational Institutions in Georgia: Historical Survey and Modern Realities Islamic Educational Institutions in Georgia: Historical Survey and Modern Realities
Xülasə
During the middle Ages and the early Modern Era, intensive contact with the Islamic world created favorable conditions for the spread of Islam in the Christian Georgia.
In the first part of the paper a brief survey of history of Islamic educational institutions in Georgia is presented. I t is stressed that such institutions existed even in medieval times. It is worth to note that there were several scholars of mediaeval times in the Middle East with nisba at-Tiflisi, or at-Taflisi.
Considerable attention is given to the situation created in 19th c. when Georgia became the part of the Russian Empire. It is analyzed the situation in Ajara region. For example in Batumi, the Ajarian capital, there was one madrasa that combined primary and secondary schools and where instruction was conducted in Arabic and Ottoman Turkish.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Russian imperial authorities tried to win the confidence of Georgia’s Muslims, which led them to cultivate relations with the Muslim clergy in particular. An Islamic seminary for the preparation of mullahs was opened in Tbilisi with state support.
In the second part of the paper today’s situation is analyzed. In the “Sunni” Ajara, the major religious player is Türkiye.
There are several primary education institutions in towns and villages of Ajara. A considerable number of young Ajarian Muslims have received religious education abroad. Many of them are financed by the Turkish foundations. In part, education of young Ajariansis financed by their relatives, Turkish citizens of Georgian origin.
It is stressed that the competition of the Turkish and Iranian organizations is most noticeable among the Azerbaijani population of the Eastern Georgia.
At the end, some major problems concerning Islamic educational institutions in Georgia are discussed. One of the main problems is that the Religious education of Muslims in Georgia is limited to madrasas at mosques. These madrasas have no legal status in Georgia and documents issued by them cannot be used as certificates of education. Thus, in order to receive higher education, Muslims are forced to travel abroad.
In the first part of the paper a brief survey of history of Islamic educational institutions in Georgia is presented. I t is stressed that such institutions existed even in medieval times. It is worth to note that there were several scholars of mediaeval times in the Middle East with nisba at-Tiflisi, or at-Taflisi.
Considerable attention is given to the situation created in 19th c. when Georgia became the part of the Russian Empire. It is analyzed the situation in Ajara region. For example in Batumi, the Ajarian capital, there was one madrasa that combined primary and secondary schools and where instruction was conducted in Arabic and Ottoman Turkish.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Russian imperial authorities tried to win the confidence of Georgia’s Muslims, which led them to cultivate relations with the Muslim clergy in particular. An Islamic seminary for the preparation of mullahs was opened in Tbilisi with state support.
In the second part of the paper today’s situation is analyzed. In the “Sunni” Ajara, the major religious player is Türkiye.
There are several primary education institutions in towns and villages of Ajara. A considerable number of young Ajarian Muslims have received religious education abroad. Many of them are financed by the Turkish foundations. In part, education of young Ajariansis financed by their relatives, Turkish citizens of Georgian origin.
It is stressed that the competition of the Turkish and Iranian organizations is most noticeable among the Azerbaijani population of the Eastern Georgia.
At the end, some major problems concerning Islamic educational institutions in Georgia are discussed. One of the main problems is that the Religious education of Muslims in Georgia is limited to madrasas at mosques. These madrasas have no legal status in Georgia and documents issued by them cannot be used as certificates of education. Thus, in order to receive higher education, Muslims are forced to travel abroad.
During the middle Ages and the early Modern Era, intensive contact with the Islamic world created favorable conditions for the spread of Islam in the Christian Georgia.
In the first part of the paper a brief survey of history of Islamic educational institutions in Georgia is presented. I t is stressed that such institutions existed even in medieval times. It is worth to note that there were several scholars of mediaeval times in the Middle East with nisba at-Tiflisi, or at-Taflisi.
Considerable attention is given to the situation created in 19th c. when Georgia became the part of the Russian Empire. It is analyzed the situation in Ajara region. For example in Batumi, the Ajarian capital, there was one madrasa that combined primary and secondary schools and where instruction was conducted in Arabic and Ottoman Turkish.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Russian imperial authorities tried to win the confidence of Georgia’s Muslims, which led them to cultivate relations with the Muslim clergy in particular. An Islamic seminary for the preparation of mullahs was opened in Tbilisi with state support.
In the second part of the paper today’s situation is analyzed. In the “Sunni” Ajara, the major religious player is Türkiye.
There are several primary education institutions in towns and villages of Ajara. A considerable number of young Ajarian Muslims have received religious education abroad. Many of them are financed by the Turkish foundations. In part, education of young Ajariansis financed by their relatives, Turkish citizens of Georgian origin.
It is stressed that the competition of the Turkish and Iranian organizations is most noticeable among the Azerbaijani population of the Eastern Georgia.
At the end, some major problems concerning Islamic educational institutions in Georgia are discussed. One of the main problems is that the Religious education of Muslims in Georgia is limited to madrasas at mosques. These madrasas have no legal status in Georgia and documents issued by them cannot be used as certificates of education. Thus, in order to receive higher education, Muslims are forced to travel abroad.
In the first part of the paper a brief survey of history of Islamic educational institutions in Georgia is presented. I t is stressed that such institutions existed even in medieval times. It is worth to note that there were several scholars of mediaeval times in the Middle East with nisba at-Tiflisi, or at-Taflisi.
Considerable attention is given to the situation created in 19th c. when Georgia became the part of the Russian Empire. It is analyzed the situation in Ajara region. For example in Batumi, the Ajarian capital, there was one madrasa that combined primary and secondary schools and where instruction was conducted in Arabic and Ottoman Turkish.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Russian imperial authorities tried to win the confidence of Georgia’s Muslims, which led them to cultivate relations with the Muslim clergy in particular. An Islamic seminary for the preparation of mullahs was opened in Tbilisi with state support.
In the second part of the paper today’s situation is analyzed. In the “Sunni” Ajara, the major religious player is Türkiye.
There are several primary education institutions in towns and villages of Ajara. A considerable number of young Ajarian Muslims have received religious education abroad. Many of them are financed by the Turkish foundations. In part, education of young Ajariansis financed by their relatives, Turkish citizens of Georgian origin.
It is stressed that the competition of the Turkish and Iranian organizations is most noticeable among the Azerbaijani population of the Eastern Georgia.
At the end, some major problems concerning Islamic educational institutions in Georgia are discussed. One of the main problems is that the Religious education of Muslims in Georgia is limited to madrasas at mosques. These madrasas have no legal status in Georgia and documents issued by them cannot be used as certificates of education. Thus, in order to receive higher education, Muslims are forced to travel abroad.