The history of an experiment: the Russian educational qualification for candidates for mullahs in the Samara province in 1872-1886 years

The article deals with the attempts of the Samara provincial administration in 1872-1886 to introduce the educational qualification for candidates for positions of parish Muslim ecclesiastics. The candidates had to pass the exams for knowledge of the Russian language in district police departments. The introduction of the educational qualification exceeded governor’s authority, but the practice never met success.