The Muridism and Prophet Schamyl in the Works of the 19th Century French Researchers: Depping and Dulaurier

Abstract

The geostrategic significance of the Caucasus has led to numerous states to establish the political domination in the region by throughout history. However, Northern Caucasus attracted global attention in the 19th century due to its struggle for independence against Russian expansionism. With the establishment of the Naqshbandi Sufi order in the region, a movement known as Muridism emerged. Leaders of this movement, known as Imams, declared war against the Russians and for many years served as a barrier to Russia's territorial expansion. This movement aroused curiosity in the West, which closely monitored Russian political activities in the region, leading to various studies on the subject. The aim of this study is to examine and evaluate how Muridism, under the leadership of Imam Shamil, the movement's final leader who had fought against the Russians for 25 years, has been portrayed in French literature, specifically based on Depping and Dularier. Through this analysis, the study aims to contribute to the existing literature on the subject