Understanding Tsarist Patronage of Islam in the Qazaq Steppe

The study of Islam on the Qazaq steppe has traditionally revolved around the idea of “pseudo-Islamic” nature of Qazaq nomads and their “late Islamization” under Russian sponsorship of Islam. Recent scholarship exploring indigenous Muslim sources has rejected the “Qazaqs as half-Muslims” argument as historically inaccurate. However, the narrative about tsarist patronage of Islam on the Qazaq steppe has proven more resilient. This article critically examines the idea of Russian sponsorship of Islam, arguing that, more often than not, what is described as tsarist patronage amounted to a mere acknowledgment and formal confirmation of the religious demands and aspirations of tsarist Muslim subjects.