FAKHRETDINOV, Rizaitdin Fakhretdinovich, Riza Fakhretdin

FAKHRETDINOV, Rizaitdin Fakhretdinovich, Riza Fakhretdin [4.1.1859, Derevnya Kichuchatovo of Bugulminsky Uyezd of Samara Gub. (now Almetyevsky Raion of the RT) – 11.4.1936, Ufa, buried in the Muslim Cemetery in Ufa], Writer, Orientalist, Educator, Religious Figure, Mufti and Chairman of the Central Muslim Spiritual Board of Internal Russia and Siberia (1923–36). Since 1867, studied in the madrassa in Chistopol, since 1869 – in Derevnya Nizhniye Chershilly of Samara Gub., and at the same time taught there while being a senior student himself. Since 1889 – the Imam of the mosque in Derevnya Ilbakovo of Samara Guberniya. Since 1891, Kazy at Orenburg Muslim Spiritual Assembly. Since 1906, Deputy Editor at the Vremya newspaper. Since 1908, Editor at the Shuro magazine. Between 1908–10, Mudarris at the Khusainiya madrassa (all – in Orenburg). Since 1918 – Kazy, since 1921, Acting Mufti of the Central Muslim Spiritual Board of Internal Russia and Siberia. In 1926, headed the delegation of Soviet Muslims at the 1st World Congress of Muslims (Mecca, Saudi Arabia). He was fluent in Turkic, Russian, Arabic, Persian and Turkish. Author of books on the history of the Urals and the Volga region people, Arabic language teaching, muslim law, ethics, etc. Wrote: The Heritage (1900–1908), a work on history and bibliography; such creative works as Famous Men, Famous Women (1903) and Salima, or Integrity (1899), as well as the Educated Mother, etc scholarly works on ethics and pedagogy. He opposed the closure of mosques, destruction of liturgical books, arrests of muslim clergy, etc.