HUMSS - Elmira Akhmetova

Primary Motives for Tatar Translations and Commentaries of the Qur’an in Imperial Russia

In this presentation, I would like to explain my planned research article on drives that were vital for the emergence of translations and commentaries of the Qur’an among Kazan Tatars in Imperial Russia. An intellectual movement for translating and understanding the verses of the Qur’an based on modern realities and socio-cultural context started among Kazan Tatars in the 19^th century and, thenceforth, escalated at the beginning of the 20^th century. My presentation concentrates on the following fundamental question: what were the main reasons for the emergence of this movement for understanding the meaning of the Qur’an and how did these factors stimulate the main focus and viewpoint of translators and commentators? Hence, I will argue in this presentation that the focus of translators and their understanding of certain verses changes along with the change in socio-political realities and cultural context.