Islam, a traditional religion of Central Asia, has played a key role in the areas of politics, economy, and society as well as in religion since the disintegration of the Soviet Union and resulting independence of Central Asia. the undergoing resurre ...

Islam, a traditional religion of Central Asia, has played a key role in the areas of politics, economy, and society as well as in religion since the disintegration of the Soviet Union and resulting independence of Central Asia. the undergoing resurrection of Islam of the area is closely linked with the process of overcoming a legacy of lengthy Russian rule and recovering ideological, political and sociocultural identity of Central Asia. On the other hand, this situation is worldwidely notified in connection with a politicization of Islam, especially with an expansion of Islamic fundamentalism. Thus, Islam bears an extremely significant meaning for the understanding of current Central Asia.
In this context, this study aims to research an early process of spreading of Islam in Central Asia and its characteristics, to investigate historical religious situation and policy in Central Asia since a Russian dominance, to analyze a present religious situation in Central Asia and its meaning, and finally, to give a prospects of Islam's future in the area. In doing this, due to a special historical relation between Central Asia and Russia (including imperial Russia and Soviet regime), Russia's rule and its legacy become a fundamental object of this study.