The attempt to remove the imam in the Buinaksk mosque was the result of the rhetoric of the Dagestan Muslim Spiritual Directorate

The Dagestan Muslim Spiritual Directorate has repeatedly spoken out against Abduljalil Afandi Karanaisky, who opposes the muftiate; hostile rhetoric has led to an attempt to remove the imam of the Juma Mosque of Buinaksk. Theoretically, the community can replace the imam, but the muftiate seeks to control imams through appointments, analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" indicated.

As "Caucasian Knot" wrote, a former employee of the DUM and former imam of Makhachkala, Muhammadrasul Saaduyev, before the prayer, declared the need to choose a new imam in the Juma Mosque of Buinaksk; those gathered supported him. The muftiate called the incident a provocation and an attempt to "ignite a second airport", Muhammad Urminsky remains the imam.

The views of the mosque imam, Muhammad Urminsky, and Magomedrasul Saaduyev, who tried to replace him, are not globally different, said a Dagestani journalist who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Both are representatives of the Dagestani schools of tariqa, the so-called traditional Islam. But after Saaduyev was expelled from the muftiate, he joined a group of religious figures opposing the muftiate. The leader of this group is considered to be Sheikh Abduljalil Afandi Karanaisky. The conflict was caused by the fact that Urminsky spoke out against the tariqa sheikh Abduljalil Afandi Karanaisky. Therefore, Saaduyev, as a resident of Buinaksk, having gathered supporters, tried to replace the imam of the city's Juma Mosque," he said.

The conflict between Karanaisky and the muftiate is based on issues of interpretation of tariqa, he said. "The muftiate devoted a lot of time to vilifying Karanaisky's person. "Exposés" and "round tables" were held, during which almost every representative of the muftiate who had any influence spoke out against Karanaisky," the speaker emphasized.

Karanaisky is very influential figure of the Dagestani tariqa, the analyst believes. "He is conservative, demonstrates asceticism, during the life of Said Afandi Chirkeysky he was his faithful companion, is considered his successor, which is disputed by the muftiate. Karanaisky had previously made comments to the mufti on issues of music and songs (prohibited in Islam) and their practice in the work of the muftiate," the journalist added.

The leader of the political association "Independent Dagestan" Gasan Gadzhiev confirmed to the "Caucasian Knot" that the views of Saaduyev and Urminsky differ only in their attitude towards Abduljalil Karanaisky. "The mufti claims complete power and leadership in the Sufi order of the "Shazili and Naqshbandi tariqa", which the followers of Abduljalil Afandi do not agree with. After unflattering statements regarding Abduljalil Afandi at the round table of the muftiate, friction arose between representatives of the order, which we are seeing in the form of a conflict in the mosque in Buinaksk," he said.

DUMD seeks to control imams through appointment, which does not suit all communities

Caucasian expert, who spoke to the "Caucasian Knot" on condition of anonymity, noted that in Dagestan there are de facto different rules for choosing imams. "Often imams were chosen by the community. Recently, the DUMD has been trying to control imams through appointment, which does not suit all communities," he said.

According to the scholar, theoretically the community can replace the imam, because formally the imam should be elected from the most worthy. "And the majority should speak out on this matter. But in a situation where the procedure for appointing imams is being introduced, the DUMD now believes that it is its prerogative to decide who is considered the most worthy," he concluded.

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