Zaynulla Rasulev

Who was Zaynulla Rasulev?

Zaynulla Rasulev was a Bashkir religious leader in the 19th and early 20th century. He is notable as one of the most important representatives of Jadidism and the organizer of one of the first Jadidi madrasah.

Born in 1833 in the village of Sharip in Verkheuralsk province, Orenburg Governorate to the family of mullah of the local Islamic community. Received instruction in a medrese in his home village, then in the medrese in Troitsk. Upon instruction, began a clerical career. Since 1858, served as Imam khatib in the village of Yuldash .

While still in his shakird years, Zaynulla became interested in Sufism. In 1859, he joined the Sufi order of Naqshbandi. Received individual instruction from sheikh Ahmed Ziyaüddin Gümüşhanevi in Istanbul in 1869—1870, from whom received the Ijazah, or the authorization to teach Sufi Naqshbandi’s doctrine. Made a hajj. After returning to Bashkortostan, introduced several innovations into the local Sufi practices: singing zikr aloud, the observance of Mawlid, wearing prayer beads etc.