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Finnish-Islamic Congregation

April 11, 2024

The Finnish-Islamic Congregation (Finnish: Suomen Islam-seurakunta, Tatar: Finlandiya Islam Cemaatı) is an Islamic congregation which members are local Tatars. It was founded in 1925 and was the first Islamic congregation in Finland. The congregation has activity in Helsinki, Järvenpää, Kotka and Turku.

Main building of the Congregation, in Fredrikinkatu, Helsinki.

History edit

The first Muslim people in Finland were Tatars. They arrived between the late 1800s and early 1900s as merchants from the Russian Empire. They were mainly Mishar Tatars, but some other Turkic peoples came as well, such as Bashkirs and Kazakhs. They blended in quickly because the first generation tended to identify themselves mostly through their religion (möselman).[1][2]

After settling in the country, they shortly felt the need to organize officially. The predecessor to the congregation was created in 1915, and its name was Helsingin musulmaanien hyväntekeväisyysseura (The Charity Club of Helsinki Moslems). They often held their services at the house of Weli-Ahmed Hakim, who would also become a founding member and long-time imam of the congregation.[1][3]

Due to laws at the time, these Muslim merchants could not establish an actual congregation in the beginning, but after the freedom of religion law was passed in 1922, it was possible. The congregation was officially registered in 1925.[1][2]

The name of the congregation was at first Suomen muhamettilainen seurakunta (The Finnish Mohammedan Congregation). It was changed in 1963 to its current version. The first administration consisted of following people; Weli Ahmed Hakim, Ymär Abdrahim, Nur-Muhammed Ali, Ismael Arifulla and Imad Samaletdin. Imam-Hakim also became the first chairman of the congregation. He has later been named an honorary member.[1][2][4]

During those times, the congregation was not yet officially only for Tatars, but back then, there were almost no other Muslims in the country.[5]

Facilities edit

 
Tatar Cemetery in Helsinki, Hietaniemi.

At first, In 1941, the congregation acquired a house from the Helsinki street Fredrikinkatu. In 1948, it bought a wooden house located on the same street. In its place the current building was built between 1958 and 1961, designed by a Finnish man, Armas Lahtinen. The cost was 170 million Finnish Marks, and it was funded with loans and donations. The congregation received five million marks from Pakistan and Turkey, and 600,000 marks from Morocco. The congregation owns the entire building, though only a couple of floors are in use and the rest is rented. The Finnish Islamic Congregation is fairly wealthy and therefore does not require taxes from its members.[6] In addition to the main building in Helsinki, the congregation owns the Järvenpää Mosque and also chapels in Turku and Kotka. The Tatars in Tampere have their own congregation. The Finnish-Islamic Congregation has cemeteries in Hietaniemi (Helsinki) and Turku. Before losing the area, Viipuri (now Vyborg) also had a space for the deceased Muslims.[6][7][8]

Orientation edit

The Finnish Tatars are Sunni Muslims.[9] It has been said, that they practice so called "liberal Islam", but at least one of the leaders of the congregation, Atik Ali does not accept given description. He says that there is only one Islam, and they also practice it - but many indeed have become secularized, while some are still more devout.[7]

The congregation is heavily tied to the Tatar ethnic identity; it does not try to convert others and only accepts Tatars and their spouses (after a three-year trial) as its members. Other Muslims can however come and pray during services.[10][7]

Many descendants of the Finnish Tatars are now Christian due to mixed marriages. Older members of the community have been against mixing with others.[11]

International guests visiting the congregation have been for example presidents Rustam Minnikhanov (Tatarstan) and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Turkey).[12][13]

Chairmen edit

  • Weli-Ahmed Hakim (1926–1926)
  • Kemal Baibulat (1926–1928)
  • Ismail Arifulla (1928–1929)
  • Zuhur Tahir (1929–1961)
  • Osman Ali (1961–1982)
  • Abdullah Ali (1982–1988)
  • Okan Daher (1988–2012)
  • Atik Ali (2012–2020)
  • Gölten Bedretdin (2020–present) [14][15]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Suikkanen, Mikko (April 2012). "Yksityinen Susi" (PDF).
  2. ^ a b c "Historia - Suomen Islam-seurakunta".
  3. ^ Halen, Harry (February 2001). "Hakim, Weli-Ahmed (1882 - 1970)". Kansallisbiografia.
  4. ^ Leitzinger, Antero (1996). Mishäärit - Suomen vanha islamilainen yhteisö. Helsinki: Kirja-Leitzinger. p. 162. ISBN 952-9752-08-3.
  5. ^ Leitzinger, Antero (2006). Suomen tataarit. East-West Books Helsinki. p. 172. ISBN 952-99592-2-2.
  6. ^ a b Leitzinger 2006, p. 174
  7. ^ a b c Salminen, Pietarinen, Reetta & Eetu (2015). "Tataarimoskeija: Suomalaistunutta muslimiyhteisöä eivät rahahuolet paina". Yle.
  8. ^ Baibulat, Muazzez (2004). Tampereen islamilainen seurakunta: juuret ja historia (in Finnish, Tatar, and English). Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy. ISBN 952-91-6753-9.
  9. ^ Marjamäki, Marja-Leena (1980). Suomen Tataarimusiikki (in a book: Tugan Tel - Kirjoituksia Suomen Tataareista, reporter: Kadriye Bedretdin, 2011.). Helsinki: Suomen Itämainen Seura. p. 356. ISBN 978-951-9380-78-0.
  10. ^ Leitzinger 2006, p. 171
  11. ^ "Tavismuslimit". Ylioppilaslehti. 2004.
  12. ^ "Рустам Минниханов на встрече с татарами Финляндии: Мы всегда ставим вас в пример". 2018.
  13. ^ "Turkish Prime Minister Meets Tatar Diaspora Leaders In Finland". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2010.
  14. ^ Evren Küçük. Türkiye-Finlandiya ilişkileri (1917-1980). Ankara: Atatürk Kültür , Dil ve Tarih Yüksek Kurumu, Atatürk Araştırma
  15. ^ Vasantola, Satu (2020). "Ensimmäinen nainen". Helsingin Sanomat.

Further reading edit

  • Kadriye Bedretdin (reporter): Tugan Tel - Kirjoituksia Suomen Tataareista. Suomen Itämainen Seura, Helsinki 2011. ISBN 978-951-9380-78-0.
  • Muazzez Baibulat: The Tampere Islamic Congregation: the roots and history. Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy, Jyväskylä 2004. ISBN 952-91-6753-9.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Documentary on the congregation
  • Imam Ramil Bilal (Belyaev)

April 11, 2024
finnish, islamic, congregation, finnish, suomen, islam, seurakunta, tatar, finlandiya, islam, cemaatı, islamic, congregation, which, members, local, tatars, founded, 1925, first, islamic, congregation, finland, congregation, activity, helsinki, järvenpää, kotk. The Finnish Islamic Congregation Finnish Suomen Islam seurakunta Tatar Finlandiya Islam Cemaati is an Islamic congregation which members are local Tatars It was founded in 1925 and was the first Islamic congregation in Finland The congregation has activity in Helsinki Jarvenpaa Kotka and Turku Main building of the Congregation in Fredrikinkatu Helsinki Contents 1 History 2 Facilities 3 Orientation 4 Chairmen 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksHistory editThe first Muslim people in Finland were Tatars They arrived between the late 1800s and early 1900s as merchants from the Russian Empire They were mainly Mishar Tatars but some other Turkic peoples came as well such as Bashkirs and Kazakhs They blended in quickly because the first generation tended to identify themselves mostly through their religion moselman 1 2 After settling in the country they shortly felt the need to organize officially The predecessor to the congregation was created in 1915 and its name was Helsingin musulmaanien hyvantekevaisyysseura The Charity Club of Helsinki Moslems They often held their services at the house of Weli Ahmed Hakim who would also become a founding member and long time imam of the congregation 1 3 Due to laws at the time these Muslim merchants could not establish an actual congregation in the beginning but after the freedom of religion law was passed in 1922 it was possible The congregation was officially registered in 1925 1 2 The name of the congregation was at first Suomen muhamettilainen seurakunta The Finnish Mohammedan Congregation It was changed in 1963 to its current version The first administration consisted of following people Weli Ahmed Hakim Ymar Abdrahim Nur Muhammed Ali Ismael Arifulla and Imad Samaletdin Imam Hakim also became the first chairman of the congregation He has later been named an honorary member 1 2 4 During those times the congregation was not yet officially only for Tatars but back then there were almost no other Muslims in the country 5 Facilities edit nbsp Tatar Cemetery in Helsinki Hietaniemi At first In 1941 the congregation acquired a house from the Helsinki street Fredrikinkatu In 1948 it bought a wooden house located on the same street In its place the current building was built between 1958 and 1961 designed by a Finnish man Armas Lahtinen The cost was 170 million Finnish Marks and it was funded with loans and donations The congregation received five million marks from Pakistan and Turkey and 600 000 marks from Morocco The congregation owns the entire building though only a couple of floors are in use and the rest is rented The Finnish Islamic Congregation is fairly wealthy and therefore does not require taxes from its members 6 In addition to the main building in Helsinki the congregation owns the Jarvenpaa Mosque and also chapels in Turku and Kotka The Tatars in Tampere have their own congregation The Finnish Islamic Congregation has cemeteries in Hietaniemi Helsinki and Turku Before losing the area Viipuri now Vyborg also had a space for the deceased Muslims 6 7 8 Orientation editThe Finnish Tatars are Sunni Muslims 9 It has been said that they practice so called liberal Islam but at least one of the leaders of the congregation Atik Ali does not accept given description He says that there is only one Islam and they also practice it but many indeed have become secularized while some are still more devout 7 The congregation is heavily tied to the Tatar ethnic identity it does not try to convert others and only accepts Tatars and their spouses after a three year trial as its members Other Muslims can however come and pray during services 10 7 Many descendants of the Finnish Tatars are now Christian due to mixed marriages Older members of the community have been against mixing with others 11 International guests visiting the congregation have been for example presidents Rustam Minnikhanov Tatarstan and Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkey 12 13 Chairmen editWeli Ahmed Hakim 1926 1926 Kemal Baibulat 1926 1928 Ismail Arifulla 1928 1929 Zuhur Tahir 1929 1961 Osman Ali 1961 1982 Abdullah Ali 1982 1988 Okan Daher 1988 2012 Atik Ali 2012 2020 Golten Bedretdin 2020 present 14 15 See also editTatars Finnish Tatars Jarvenpaa Mosque The Tampere Tatar Congregation European Islam Islam in Europe Islam in FinlandReferences edit a b c d Suikkanen Mikko April 2012 Yksityinen Susi PDF a b c Historia Suomen Islam seurakunta Halen Harry February 2001 Hakim Weli Ahmed 1882 1970 Kansallisbiografia Leitzinger Antero 1996 Mishaarit Suomen vanha islamilainen yhteiso Helsinki Kirja Leitzinger p 162 ISBN 952 9752 08 3 Leitzinger Antero 2006 Suomen tataarit East West Books Helsinki p 172 ISBN 952 99592 2 2 a b Leitzinger 2006 p 174 a b c Salminen Pietarinen Reetta amp Eetu 2015 Tataarimoskeija Suomalaistunutta muslimiyhteisoa eivat rahahuolet paina Yle Baibulat Muazzez 2004 Tampereen islamilainen seurakunta juuret ja historia in Finnish Tatar and English Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy ISBN 952 91 6753 9 Marjamaki Marja Leena 1980 Suomen Tataarimusiikki in a book Tugan Tel Kirjoituksia Suomen Tataareista reporter Kadriye Bedretdin 2011 Helsinki Suomen Itamainen Seura p 356 ISBN 978 951 9380 78 0 Leitzinger 2006 p 171 Tavismuslimit Ylioppilaslehti 2004 Rustam Minnihanov na vstreche s tatarami Finlyandii My vsegda stavim vas v primer 2018 Turkish Prime Minister Meets Tatar Diaspora Leaders In Finland Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty 2010 Evren Kucuk Turkiye Finlandiya iliskileri 1917 1980 Ankara Ataturk Kultur Dil ve Tarih Yuksek Kurumu Ataturk Arastirma Vasantola Satu 2020 Ensimmainen nainen Helsingin Sanomat Further reading editKadriye Bedretdin reporter Tugan Tel Kirjoituksia Suomen Tataareista Suomen Itamainen Seura Helsinki 2011 ISBN 978 951 9380 78 0 Muazzez Baibulat The Tampere Islamic Congregation the roots and history Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy Jyvaskyla 2004 ISBN 952 91 6753 9 External links editOfficial website Documentary on the congregation Imam Ramil Bilal Belyaev Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Finnish Islamic Congregation amp oldid 1211543646, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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