A Father, Who returned to Islam
The Qazaq Newspaper on the spiritual wandering
The Qazaq Newspaper/Qalam
As the nineteenth century gave way to the twentieth, a great wave of awakening surged through Kazakh intellectuals, sparking a passionate quest for knowledge. This outpouring of intellectual zeal led to an explosion of new magazines and newspapers being published in Kazakh, heralding the dawn of a new era in sharing culture. However, what these intellectuals wrote went beyond only spreading knowledge. Soon, a variety of publications emerged, covering topics like business, society, politics, art, and humor. Qalam invites you to explore snippets from Kazakh publishing culture and history, offering a glimpse into the important issues of the past.
In the Kazakh newspapers of the early 20th century there appeared many stories about Kazakhs who converted to Christianity for various reasons. The authors often complained about the expanding network of missionaries, financial and career opportunities that were offered to the newly converted. However, in issue No. 172 of the newspaper Qazaq for the year 1916, there was a somewhat remarkable story about a Kazakh who had once graduated from the Kazan Spiritual Academy and even served at the board of the All-Russian Congress of the Orthodox Church, but ultimately decided to return to Islam.
In the town of Yrgyz in the Turgai province lived Father Nikolai Sarkin, a Kazakh who once converted to Christianity. Originally from the Kostanay district, specifically the Kenaral volost, this man was known as Khakimjan Sarke-uly during his days as a Muslim. After baptism, he changed his surname to "Sarkin." Now, this individual has persistently submitted appeals to the appropriate authorities expressing his desire to return from Christianity to Islam.
"There is no blame for those who wander off, as long as they return to their herd," goes our ancestral wisdom. So, welcome back, Mr. Khakimjan Sarke-uly!
Qazaq is a socio-political and literary newspaper in the Kazakh language, founded in 1913 by Akhmet Baitursynov, Alikhan Bukeikhanov, and Mirjaqyp Dulatov. In total, 266 issues were published, with a circulation reaching 8,000 copies.
The Qazaq Newspaper/Qalam
