Our drive to Bolgar Village took about three hours. The highway was wide and modern.On top of that, the view of Bolgar river, sunflower fields and the vast endless grass field were breathtaking. This is Republic of Tatarstan and we’re going to the original settlement of Tatar people They came here more than a thousand years ago.Later, the Russians came to claim the land and the rest is history.
The sky was gray and it looked cold and bitter outside despite summer is in fill swing. As if it’s a pretext to the stories that will be narrated to us. I kept an open mind and would somehow preserve the stories in this blog for myself to digest later and for everyone out there interested in the topic.
This transiberia trip has been an eye opener to the world so isolated from us. The world of our own brothers and sisters in Islam. No matter how we are apart, iman and Islam should always be the bond between us . But the world is cruel and life is sometimes unfair. We hope these people have had a greater and better life than us The fact that we’re here travelled from afar just to pursue their culture and traditions shows their success stories had gone far beyond these empty fields.
As the rain drops hit the glass windows of the bus, my hearts fluttered heavily, out of rhythm and almost agitated. Maybe too much coffee or less sleeping time or just tired from the journey. But it’s okay I will be fine InsyAllah. I always nervous to see if my expectations are true and my ultimate goal to be on this trip is worthwhile.
We stopped at The Bolgar State and Historical Museum. The history of Bolgar people and how islam came to this land in 922 about three hundred years after Hijrah. The tartars became Muslim and developed the area. Built houses, mosques etc. They have lived there until the present day. The Russians came and destroyed everything religious. What left are the ruins of humanity and civilisation. And what we saw today was the rage and brutality of human greed. The broken walls told me —“ you are a thousand years too late”. I didn’t know what to say or what to feel. They destroyed everything and I was to believe the nice narrations about the whole history. I don’t know really. Can you appreciate human civilisation based on some jewelleries, broken pots and pans from some dug out muddy houses?
But the works of Qul Ghali gave a glimpse of literary scenes at the time. His survived summary of Qassi Yussuf from the Quran proved the existence of ulama and knowledge discourse. during his time.
I was not impressed, to say the least, of the whole context of their history. Islam was totally eliminated and to revive and rebuild the lost civilisation just to be a prop for your stories was a bit too much for me to appreciate.
Anyway, the trip was compensated by the beauty of the river Bolgar. The views were awesome as if it was preserved by nature for us to see. I stood there with the rest of us and tried to see beyond the mighty river that had witnessed the glory of Islam anchored at the river bank. Looking at the mosaic when the king received the Caliph’s entourage, I could feel the welcoming spirit of the two sides to explore what Islam could offer.
On the way out , our group stopped at a restaurant for lunch.
The white mosque was the hidden jewel of this place. The beauty of its marble walls and courtyard displayed how Islamic architecture and design transcend the evolution of cultures and traditions. I was honoured to be there, performing prayers and zikr. Alhamdulillah ala kulli hal.
