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The Status Of The Muslim under European Rule: The Eviction and Settlement of the Cerkes.

Written by : Kemal H. Karpat

I found none about Cerkes from wikipedia, however when I typed Circassion, the notes strengthen my schemata on this topic, they are basically Caucassian people but live in Diaspora due to the Russian invasion of their homeland.

I am not going to highlight about them much here, what really attracts me is how Ottoman policy towards them is really beautiful due to their attention of Quranic commandments. Among them are:

“They ask thee what they should spend (in charity). Say: Whatever ye spend that is good, is for parents and kindred and orphans and those in want and for wayfarers. And whatever ye do that is good, Allah Knoweth it well.”(2:215)

“Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: they are the ones to attain felicity.”(3:104)

“Let not those among you who are endued with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against helping their kinsmen, those in want, and those who have left their homes in Allah’s cause: let them forgive and overlook: do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”(24:22)

High degree of demographic mobility happened during the periods of defeat and weakness, and Cerkes were treated as new arrivals or intruders regardless of their ethnic and linguistic origin and duration of their stay in their homelands, and this happened when Russia expanded southward and the establishment of nation state, they tried to undermine and destroy the Muslim communities regardless of their historical,language and ethnic affiliation. In order for the Cerkes to survive and and to preserve and perpetuate their cultural identity and integrity, they moved to where and which Muslim rule prevailed. In this case, they headed to be under Turk Ottoman Khilafah.

All the migration and settlement in the Ottoman land was under Idare I Umumiye –I Muhacirun Komisyonu( General Commission for the Administration of Immigration), this biro was responsible for settlement of immigrant. Eventhough there were few voices against this notion but later on, Islamic Principle that stress any Muslim who did not want to live under non Muslim rule should be allowed to immigrate and settle on Muslim Lands and be accepted and cared for. Khalifah at that time, ordered that all government offices to save 2% of their yearly budgets to be used for the settlements of the new comers. This is to avoid the fact that if they stay longer in Russia, they will be usurped /conscripted into the army and forced to fight against their Muslim brethren(coreligionists) This commission was functioned fully under the chairmanship of the Sultan and superseded the authority of all other existing bodies.

Tags: allah, amplitude, cerkes, cultural identity, ethnic affiliation, eviction, felicity, homelands, intruders, Islam, khilafa, kinsmen, linguistic origin, muslim communities, muslim rule, nation state, ottoman, russian invasion, schemata, time, wayfarers, wikipedia