«Silent Zikr» of the XIX-th Century Tatar Sheikh Shigabutdin Marjani

The article is devoted to the study of the role of Sufism in the life and work of the famous Tatar scholar, educator, theologian of the 19th century - Shigabutdin Marjani. The view of Sh. Marjani as a “jadidist” in opposition to “kadimism” associated with the stagnant phenomena of “ishanism” that emerged in the 20th century leads to the need to re-analyze the facts of the biography of this imam. The article compares the already known facts of the Sufi biography of Sh. Marjani with the writings of medieval theorists of Sufism and the founders of the Naqshbandi tariqa and the Mujaddidiyya branch. A comparative analysis leads to the conclusion that Sh. Marjani could carry out many elements of Sufi rituals in secret, which was commanded by the teachers of the tariqa - this is “silent dhikr”, solitary reading of the Koran, constant striving for new knowledge and renewal of faith by returning to the original “pure state”. Considering the great contribution of Sh. Marjani to the development of Tatar Islamic culture of the 19th century, it is necessary to correctly assess the role of enlightened, elevated Sufism in the life of this religious figure.