THE ROLE OF ZIYARATS IN THE SUFI PILGRIMAGE PRACTICES OF FEMALE MURIDS IN INGUSHETIA

Authors

  • Makka Sultan-Gireevna Albogacieva Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Sciences

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32653/CH221198-210

Keywords:

Ingush people, Kunta-Haji, Qadiriyya Tariqa, Islam, Zikr, female murids, Sufi practices, Ziyarat, ritual

Abstract

This article investigates the role of ziyarats (shrines dedicated to saints) within the Sufi pilgrimage practices of female murids in Ingushetia. The study aims to identify the specific characteristics of the religious experiences of these women, analyzing their motivations, ritual practices, and the social significance of their journeys. Central focus is placed on female religious activity associated with the cult of the awliya Kunta-Haji Kishiev, specifically the pilgrimages to shrines linked to his name. The research findings indicate that ziyarats play a vital role in the spiritual lives of female murids. Pilgrimage to these sacred sites is viewed as a means of spiritual purification, the atonement of sins, the attainment of barakat (divine blessing), and the establishment of a personal connection with Allah and the saints. Furthermore, these sites facilitate social interaction, the exchange of experience, and the strengthening of communal ties. Zikr and other ritual practices serve as platforms where women can express their religiosity, discuss life challenges, and receive support from fellow disciples. The analysis reveals that these women are driven by both personal and collective motivations. Personal ones include a need for spiritual growth, overcoming life’s hardships, and reinforcing faith. Collective ones include the maintenance of religious traditions, preservation of ancestral memory, and the promotion of social solidarity. The study concludes that for Sufi women, visiting ziyarats is a fundamental element of both religious and social life, providing a vital space for spiritual development, social engagement, and the reinforcement of cultural identity.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

  • Makka Sultan-Gireevna Albogacieva, Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Sciences
    Doctor of Historical Sciences, Head of the Department of Ethnography of the Caucasus

References

Rakhimov R. The originality of Islam in Central Asia. Russia and the Muslim world. 2011; 1: 97-114. (In Russ)

Basilov VN. Cult of saints in Islam. Moscow: Thought, 1970. (In Russ)

Syzranov AV. Holy places of Muslims of the Astrakhan Territory: historical and ethnographic essay. Astrakhan: Publishing House "Astrakhan University," 2006. (In Russ)

Khabibullina ZR. Pilgrimage of Muslims to the graves of "saints" in the field of activity of the authorized Council for Religious Cults in the BASSR. Ethnos. Society. Civilization: IV Kuzeev readings: Mat. International scientific practice. conf. Ufa: Polygraphservice, 2015: 201-204. (In Russ)

Babadzhanov B. Muminov A. Mausoleum of Najm ad-din Kubr as a symbol of the heyday of the cult of saints in Khorezm of the Golden Horde period. Journal of Central Asian History. 2023; 2(2): 176-229. (In Russ)

Stasevich IV. The role of pilgrimage in the formation of religious identity (based on materials of Kazakh culture). Bulletin of St. Petersburg University. History. 2022; 67 (2): 550-562. (In Russ)

Аitberov TM. Epitaphs of the sheikhs of the fraternities Safaviya, Khalvatiya and Sukhrawardiya in Dagestan: to the history of Iranian-Dagestan ties of the 15th century. Dagestan and the Muslim East. Collection of articles/Comp. and resp. ed. A.K. Alikberov, V.O. Bobrovnikov. Moscow: Marjani, 2010: 179-188. (In Russ)

Gusenova DA. "Women's practices" in non-canonical pilgrimage in Islam. Islamic studies. 2021; 12(2): 71-83. (In Russ)

Malsagov MS. Tree of life. Nalchik, 1999. (In Russ)

Albogachieva MS-G. Women's Sufi practices of loud dhikr in Ingushetia. Islam in the modern world. 2018; 2: 149-164. (In Russ)

Vachagaev M. Sheikhs and Ziyarats of Chechnya. Moscow, 2009. (In Russ)

Khabibullina Z., Muratova E. Virtual Islam in the post-Soviet space: cyber environment and religious authorities. Baku: AVE Print, 2023.

Albogachieva M. Sufism in Ingushetia in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sufism after the USSR. Moscow – Saint Petersburg: Marjani, Al-Makam, 2022: 121-139. (In Russ)

Albogachieva MS-G. Functioning in Ingushetia of a three-link court: adat, sharia and Russian (XIX century). Lavrovsky collection. Saint Petersburg RAS, 2009: 114-118. (In Russ)

Khabibullina ZR. Islam and gender on the Internet: women, visibility and the fight against stereotypes. Ethnography. 2021; 4 (14): 119-137. (In Russ)

Downloads

Published

2026-03-30

Issue

Section

Ethnography

How to Cite

1.
Albogacieva MSG. THE ROLE OF ZIYARATS IN THE SUFI PILGRIMAGE PRACTICES OF FEMALE MURIDS IN INGUSHETIA. ИАЭК. 2026;22(1):198-210. doi:10.32653/CH221198-210