Countering Wahhabism and Promoting Religious Stability in Kazakhstan: Theological Insights From Qawam Ad-Din Al-Itqani

Following Kazakhstan’s independence, the expansion of religious freedoms created a societal religious vacuum, which, coupled with the low level of religious literacy among youth, facilitated the spread of radical ideologies. Historical evidence indicates that Wahhabism entered the region through broader Salafi movements, doctrinally grounded in the teachings of Ibn Taymiyya, contributing notably to inter-religious tensions among younger generations. Traditional Islamic frameworks in Central Asia – the Hanafi school of jurisprudence and the Maturidi creed – have historically played a central role in maintaining religious stability. The scholarly works of Qawam ad-Din al-Itqani, a prominent intellectual from the Turkistan region, systematically codify this traditional methodology and provide precise, methodologically grounded strategies to counter the influence of foreign radical currents. Al-Itqani’s theological framework offers strategic and practical relevance for contemporary Kazakhstan, serving to uphold religious stability, enhance the religious literacy of youth, and protect society from the spread of radical ideologies.