Ziyarats and cemeteries of the Orenburg Mohammedan Spiritual Assembly district as infrastructural objects

Abstract

This article is dedicated to the analysis of the study and interpretation of a significant element of the infrastructure of Russian Muslims in the Orenburg region, namely ziyarat and cemeteries. The initial material was collected during the compilation of a series of encyclopedic dictionaries entitled "Islam in the Russian Federation," published by Medina Publishing House. It is concluded that ziyarat and cemeteries constitute vital components of Muslim infrastructure. In this context, their role has been significant, although currently underestimated, in preserving Muslim identity. Their importance notably increased during the Soviet era, characterized by the closure and confiscation of various infrastructure elements, including mosques, educational institutions, publishing activities, media outlets, and charitable organizations. This raises the issue of the necessity for further research and the preservation of cemeteries and ziyarat as fundamental components of the Muslim infrastructure.