2. Features of Central Asian Folk Islam

Abstract

Features of Central Asian Folk IslamThe revival of Islam in Central Asia cannot be analyzed without understanding the local forms of Islam prevalent in the region.Therefore, I first of all highlight the most important aspects of Central Asian Islam.One important feature is the prevalence of the Sunni Hanafi School of law and their adaptation of local customs; how this combines with pre-Islamic rituals, and the influence of Sufism. GENERAL REMARKS ON ISLAM A Heterogeneous ReligionA special feature of Islam is that it has developed heterogeneous characteristics in different parts of the world.Moreover, these many local forms of Islam are themselves not homogenous but internally diverse, a fact which all too often goes unnoticed, as Khalid makes clear:"Totalizing statements about Islam [] grossly misrepresent this reality.Characterizations that present Islam simply as wicked or tolerant are equally incorrect.Muslims can draw any number of lessons from Islam.The tradition is much too rich and diverse to be reduced to a single evaluative adjective" (Khalid 2007: 24).Alongside the development of different cultural understandings of Islam over time has been a concomitant evolution of diverse theological debates about the proper way to practice religion (Schubel 2009: 279).The catch-