The Inevitability of Classics, or Why We Need to Read Rare Books. A Book Review of Dmitry Cantemir «The Book of Sistima, or the Description of the Muslim Religion» (ID «Medina» Publ., 2025)

Abstract

This paper provides a review of the book of the Moldovan and Russian statesman, orientalist, scientist-polymat, ally and adviser to Peter the Great (1672–1725) on Dmitry Konstantinovich Cantemir (1673–1723) «Kniga Sistima, ili Opisaniie musulʼmanskoi religii» («The Book of Sistima, or the Description of the Muslim Religion»). This work is the first translation of the «Book of Sistima…» into modern Russian language. Cantemir D. K. Kniga Sistima, ili Opisaniie musulʼmanskoi religii / Mosk. islam. in-t; vstup. st., nauch. red. D. V. Mukhetdinov. M.: ID «Medina», 2025. 536 s. Seriia: «Nasledie rossiiskogo islamovedeniia». ISBN: 978-5-9756-0342-5.