Kazan — summer 2010

Today we had a lecture that was ostensibly about the Islamic economy. It was delivered by a very nice young woman who obviously was part of the young Muslim movement in Tatarstan. The title was a bit misleading. It wasn't about Islam and economics, per se, but rather how the Islamic concept of zakat, a form of tithing, had interacted with Tatarstan historically and in the 20th century in particular. Short version: the Tatars used their money to help fund Tatar education.

I came away again with the impression that the young Muslim movement here will have a profound effect on Tatarstan over the next 20 years.