This study opens a series of articles by the author devoted to the so-called “Catherine’s Qur’ans” (1787–1796), which were published in the “Asiatic Printing House” of I. K. Shnorr and became the first printed editions of the Qur’an in history created in accordance with Islamic norms and traditions. This article provides an introductory excursion into the history of the first editions of the Qur’an from the era of the Righteous Caliphate to the time of editions of the Qur’anic text in Europe at the turn of the 16th and 19th centuries. Special attention is paid to the analysis of editions of the full Arabic text of the Qur’an undertaken in Europe by Italian printers Paganino Paganini (fl . 1450–1538) and Alexandro Paganini (fl . 1509–1538) in 1537 in Venice, by German Lutheran theologian Abraham Hinkelmann (1652–1695) in Hamburg, and by Italian scholar Ludovico Marracci (1612– 1700) in 1698 in Padua. The introduction offered by the author allows us to reconstruct the general context of the Qur’anic text, as well as to outline and announce the ways of further research on this issue.

The article completes the formal (hadithological) and substantive verification of the traditions about the tribute Jizya as the motive for the Tabuk expedition (in the ninth year of the Hijra), which was started in the fourth issue for 2023 and continued in the third issue for 2024. These traditions concerning the imposition of such tribute on Christians and Jews from the cities of Eilat, Azruh, Jarba and Maqna (to which the peoples of Azriat, Tabuk and Tayma are sometimes added) are subjected to critical analysis. The study is conducted in line with the reformist orientation towards the reconstruction of traditional political theology and overcoming the exclusivist-militantist interpretations of the Quran teaching and Prophet’s mission.

This article is intended to serve as a kind of introduction to the treatise of the pioneer of the Peripatetic school in Arab Spain — Ibn Bajja (lat. Avempace, d. 1139) — “The Conjunction of the Active Intellect with Man”, the translation of which is published in this issue. The article covers the life and work of the philosopher, highlighting the main concepts of his philosophical psychology: the doctrine of spiritual forms; the proofs for existence of Active intellect (al-‘aql al-fa‘‘āl ); the theory of the conjunction (ittisāl) of human mind with Active intellect, and through it — with God; mononoistic intention.

This publication presents a translation of the work of the first major representative of the “Western” branch of Muslim philosophy (falsafa), the Arab-Spanish philosopher Abu Bakr ibn Bajja (lat. Avempace; d. 1139). This treatise, dating back to the last years of the philosopher’s life, was written as a message to his friend and follower, the vizier Ibn al-Imam (d. c. 1152). Substantiating the doctrine of the highest happiness in this life and the next, characteristic of Falsafa’s felicitology, as the conjunction of the human soul with the upper, intelligible world (God and the cosmic intellects-angels), Ibn Bajjah puts forward an original concept of the conjunction (ittisāl) with the Active intellect (al-‘aql al-fa‘‘āl ) — the ruler of the sublunary world, which is identified with the Archangel Gabriel and from which both prophets and philosophers receive intellectual truths. At the final stage of epistemological ascent, the cognitive subject becomes one with the object as well as with the other such subjects. The translation was made from the Arabic original; it was translated into Russian for the first time.

The renewal (tajdid) of the Islamic educational system is due to new challenges that cannot be overcome without modern methods and their practical application in the educational process. At the same time, rethinking the educational process can and should aff ect a wide variety of theological disciplines, including even such classical subjects as “Interpretation of the Qur’an” (tafsir).

The present article offers an attempt to comprehend the theoretical and methodological prerequisites for studying the issue of using e-learning resources in organizing educational activities of domestic Islamic higher education institutions in the era of universal digitalization due to author’s review of a number of modern pedagogical concepts, approaches and principles. The author focuses on the challenges facing confession-b ased education nowadays and notes that global changes taking place in the world have significantly influenced the specifics and content of traditional educational practices. The latest encounter with the need to adapt to new conditions, including the conceptual conditions of the multi-paradigmality of the scientific and pedagogical sphere.

The purpose of research is to study the content of the process of heroization in the Muslim environment. The implementation of the purpose is carried out on a heterogeneous source basis. In the article, the author examines specific features of the process of glorification in the Muslim environment based on the study of previously unknown or less-known archival documents, legislative acts, memoirs of Muslims or their descendants (“voice of Islam”). The perspective of presenting historical material with an emphasis on the religious phenomenon of heroism is original. For the first time in Russian historiography, the author used the optics of studying glorification in relation to the Turkic-Muslim environment, examining the factors influencing the transformation of this process: the connection between ethnic and religious principles, the deeds of outstanding Muslim heroes, and the state-ethnic-confessional policy. Conceptually, the article provides an analysis of the interweaving of religious and ethnic principles in the historical memory and objective reality of the Muslim part of the Russian population, which allows for a more in-depth study of the basic foundations of Pan-Turkism and Pan-Islamism. Particular attention is focused on the criteria for defining a hero or a group of heroes. It is concluded that the criteria for defining heroes of the Muslim world are: the deep faith in Allah, the ability to defend this faith even to the point of losing one’s own life, the knowledge of the fundamentals of Islamic doctrine, the adherence to the norms of Sharia in daily life, and the nurturing children in the spirit of Islam. In addition to that, there is a set of certain factors that contribute to the consolidation of the names of heroes in historical memory or, on the contrary, reduce their significance. Traditional society preserves the memory of its heroes from generation to generation, adding new names in the process of developing national self-awareness. A person who loves his multi-confessional Motherland extrapolates his understanding of the criteria of heroism depending on interfaith interactions.

The article is devoted to the magazine “Islam Majallasy” (1924–1928), which was actually a body of the clergy of the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims (TsDUM). The magazine gives a holistic view of the development of the Ummah of European Russia during the period of relative religious tolerance during the time of the New Economic Policy (NEP). Under the editorship of Kashshafetdin Tarjemani, “Islam Majallasy” largely continued the traditions of pre-revolutionary theological magazines, especially “Ad-Din wa al-Adab”. The main topic of the magazine was devoted to the theological justification of the reforms of the New Time and the ways of evolution of Muslims in the conditions of the Soviet regime. In this magazine, the official chronicle of the activities of the TsDUM occupies an important place. The periodical reports on Soviet legislation and analyzes the experience of Muslims interacting with Soviet authorities in the Center and regions (especially the Tatar and Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR)). A special feature of the magazine was the presence of a column devoted to women’s issues, in which, under the leadership of Mukhlisa Bubi, the principles of the development and preservation of Muslim female identity in Soviet Russia were developed.

The present article is devoted to how Muslim women who were members of Islamist organizations banned in Russia explain their path to Islam, and then the reason for their radicalization. The research paper also examines the self-positioning of Muslim women within the framework of the narrative that was received during our interview with them. In the article, the author argues that Muslim women assess themselves as reflective subjects who independently built their biography. The exception that violated this subjectivity was involvement in the activities of banned organizations, which, according to the Muslim women, took place under the influence of external causes.

The article examines one of the most relevant topics of Egyptian society — the issue of women’s education. From a historical point of view, the author analyzes the evolution of women’s education in Egypt, starting from the 19th century and ending with modern realities in the field of women’s education. In this context, important issues of the Arab-Muslim world are raised, such as the emancipation of women, the influence of religious factors on access to women’s education, gender inequality and women’s rights to education and work. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Egypt underwent significant changes in attitudes towards women’s education. With the beginning of reforms during the reign of Muhammad Ali, special attention was paid to education, including women’s education. Prominent Arab thinkers and educators of the time, such as T. Hussein and Q. Amin, actively advocated for women’s rights to education. They argued that it is impossible to build a strong and prosperous society without the participation of educated women who are able to make a significant contribution to the development of their country. Despite certain achievements, the current problems faced by Egypt in the social and educational spheres remain relevant. Women’s education continues to face obstacles, such as the high rate of illiteracy among women, especially in rural areas, where traditional views on the role of women in society continue to dominate. Gender inequality in education, where girls often receive fewer educational opportunities compared to boys. There are other social factors, such as strong demographic pressures and economic problems that affect women’s access to education. In conditions of poverty, families often prefer to send boys to school and girls to work or to the household. This creates a vicious circle where women’s lack of education leads to a low standard of living and limited opportunities for future generations. Nevertheless, the Egyptian government is aware that access to education for women is one of the key factors for the socio-economic development of the country. In recent years, the authorities have taken a number of steps aimed at improving the educational system and empowering women. This includes programs to increase literacy among women, the creation of special initiatives to support girls in schools, and the fight against gender stereotypes. Thus, the issue of educating women in Egypt remains an important and multifaceted topic that requires attention and an integrated approach.