On the 23rd day of the month of Rabi al-Akhir (October 15), a conference dedicated to the life and work of the Tatar theologian Shagiahmad Hazrat as-Simaki took place at the Muslyumovo Mukhtasibat. Before the start of the meeting, guests viewed the exhibition “Mosques of the Muslyumovo District” organized in the foyer of the Palace of Culture.

The scholarly and theological gathering was attended by the First Deputy Mufti of Tatarstan, Ilfar Hazrat Khasanov. In his welcoming speech on behalf of the Mufti of Tatarstan, Kamil Hazrat Samigullin, he noted that the name of Shagiahmad Hazrat as-Simaki, who lived and worked in the 19th century, is a relatively new one in the history of Tatar theology. Little is known about his writings, and the conference is intended to shed light on these “white pages” of history. He emphasized that as-Simaki, like all Tatar scholars before the revolution, followed the Hanafi madhhab and the Maturidi aqidah, and received his education in Bukhara, one of the centers of Sufism.

Among the speakers at the conference were Azat Akhmetzyanov, Deputy Head of the Muslyumovo District; Ilgiz Hazrat Sungatullin, Imam-Mukhtasib of the district; Rasikh Hazrat Kayumov, Chairman of the Council of Elders; Minnulla Hazrat Abdullin, author of the book “Shagiahmad Hazrat as-Simaki and His Descendants”; Rushat Sultanov, Chairman of the Public Council; Munir Hazrat Burkhanov, Head of the Educational Center; and Nazilya Badretdinova, Director of the Museum.

As part of the gathering, a memorial monument to Shagiahmad as-Simaki was unveiled near the cemetery of the village of Semyakovo, where the theologian found his final resting place. The participants recited verses from the Qur’an and offered dua (prayers).

Shagiahmad Hazrat as-Simaki was born in 1787 in the village of Salaush, Vyatka Governorate (now in the Baltasy District of the Republic of Tatarstan). In 1795, he moved with his family to the village of Semyakovo in Menzelinsky Uyezd (now Muslyumovo District). As noted by the famous Tatar theologian Rizaetdin Fakhretdin, his father, Rafik Mu’minov, served as the local imam. Shagiahmad himself worked as an imam and mudarris (teacher)—first in the village of Taktalachuk, then in Semyakovo.

In 1809, Shagiahmad Hazrat as-Simaki went to study in Bukhara, returning with his family to Semyakovo in 1830. He became a teacher (ustaz) to many imams and students (shakirds) not only from nearby villages but also from the Vyatka, Ufa, and Samara governorates, as well as the Orenburg region. Through his efforts, Semyakovo became widely known throughout the area.

The prominent scholar Shihabuddin Marjani spoke highly of Shagiahmad’s knowledge and writings, mentioning his work “Gumadat at-Tadqiqat” in “Mustafad al-Akhbar”, Marjani’s historical work on the Volga Bulgars and Tatars.

Today, active efforts are underway to study and publish the works of Shagiahmad Hazrat as-Simaki.

Source: dumrt.ru