Transnational Religious Networks in Central Asia: Structure, Travel, and Culture of Kyrgyz Tablighi Jama'at

Abstract

This paper explores the transnational character of religious networks in Central Asia based on the example of tablighi jama'at, a movement for the revival of Islam that emerged in the early 20^th century in India and after the break-up of the Soviet Union became very popular in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The paper looks at the transnational elements of Kyrgyz tablighijama'at's social organization, cross-border travel, and culture. Using ethnographic materials, the authors portray Kyrgyz tablighi travelers not as passive recipients of outside influence, but as committed transnational actors actively engaged in cross-border exchange of religious ideas and networking practices.

Keywords:

• transnational religious networks
• physical mobility
• transnational knowledge production
• ethnography
• tablighi jama'at
• Kyrgyzstan