Imam Shamil facts. Imam Shamil: biography, activities, achievements and interesting facts. Highlander control system

IMAM SHAMIL AND ABKHAZI

Imam Shamil, who became in the 19th century. leader not only of armed resistance to imperial expansion, but also of the revival of Islam among the peoples North Caucasus, had a significant impact on Abkhazia. Many facts indicate that Imam Shamil was known and respected in Apsny. So, back in 1837, General Rosen was afraid of actions in the Dal tract because The Dalits expected help from the Ubykhs and Imam Shamil. According to General Raevsky (1840), the princes of Marshania sent a messenger to Dagestan in order to reliably find out “in full detail about Shamil’s actions.” Shamil himself actively sought contact with the Muslims of the Western Caucasus, in connection with which in 1848 he sent his talented naib Magomed-Emin (Muhammad-Amin), who became the religious leader of the Adyghe tribes, Ubykhs, dzhigets of the coastal Lesser Abkhazia and the mountain societies of Mdavei, Tsebelda and Dal Abkhazians until the end of the Caucasian War.
Currently, evidence has become available that next to Imam Shamil himself there was a whole group of murids from Abkhazia. They are mentioned in the now famous “Letter to a Brother” by G.D. Shervashidze, a descendant of the Chachba ruling house. These are Dzhigrits Palba and Makhty Tskuya from the village of Dzhirkhva, Khura Lowa from the village of Zvandripsh, Damey Khashig from the village. Khuap, Khaki Azhiba from the village of Mgudzyrkhva and others. The Abkhaz murids were known for their heroism at Akhulgo, where they first used burning “barrels with ... liquid,” as well as in other battles. For this they earned a personalized dagger from Imam Gamzat, and a personalized saber from Imam Shamil. They were the last to leave the battle in Gunib, and after the capture of Shamil they continued the fight in the Western Caucasus. The fact that these people were among the imam's murids in itself speaks of their deep commitment to the ideals of Islam and freedom. It should be noted that the “Muridism” movement itself existed within the framework of the Naqshbandiyya tariqa, the fundamental principles of which were based on the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). At one time, the head of the Black Sea coastline, Vice Admiral M.L. Serebryakov, advocating for the conversion of the Abkhazians to Orthodoxy, emphasized in 1852: “It is necessary to prevent Abkhazia from becoming a field of struggle between Christianity and Muridism - a struggle that given the ignorance of the Abkhazians, it can be long-lasting. This shows the importance of the opening of the Abkhaz diocese, the restoration of the ancient Pitsunda temple and the establishment of a monastery and a spiritual mission within the borders of the followers of the false prophet.”

Another example is in one of the Russian documents from the early 40s. XIX century it is said that among Shamil’s associates there was one of the Abkhaz feudal lords, “...almost the brother of the ruler.” Being at first a second lieutenant of the Russian guard, outraged by the lawlessness “... tore off his epaulettes and hacked him with a saber...”, he fled to the mountains and “during the uprising of Shamil ... united with him, helped to outrage the mountaineers and teach them regularity.”



It is interesting that it was in Abkhazia, in Sukhum, in 1855 during Crimean War, when Apsny temporarily again came under the protection of the Ottoman Caliphate, the Turkish serder-ekrem (generalissimo) Omar Pasha (Austrian by birth), conveyed the firman of the Sultan Magomed-Emin about the appointment of Imam Shamil to the rank of mushir (marshal)

Already in 1877, during the last, albeit unsuccessful, attempt of Ottoman Turkey to restore its rights to Abkhazia, when a large militia of Abkhaz-Muhajirs landed on the shores of their historical homeland, among them was the son of Imam Shamil Gazi-Magomed, along with the Ossetian Musa Kundukhov is one of the commanders of the Caucasian Volunteer Army. The mere mention of his name caused panic among the imperial military, who hastened to leave Abkhazia. These facts indicate the significant role Apsny played for the pan-Caucasian diaspora in Turkey, and the perception of its residents as fellow Muslims.
The movement of Imam Shamil's murids throughout Abkhazia, for a number of reasons, did not become widespread, but some of its regions, not to mention the Ubykhs and Adyghe tribes, experienced his very strong influence (seaside Sadzny, mountain societies of Akhchipsou, Aibga, Dal, Tsebelda, partly Bzyb Abkhazia.

However, Imam Shamil himself remained for a long time in the people's memory of Abkhazians, as a real hero. The fact that in Abzhui Abkhazia they were familiar with the movement of Imam Shamil, albeit in artistic form, says the description in the novel “Sandro from Chegem” by Fazil Iskander, a famous expert on Apsny, an old man named Naharbey, who once fought in Shamil’s detachment. In memory of the imam, the name Shamil (a variant of Shamel) was common among Abkhazians for a long time, which can still be found today, especially among the older generation.

Imam Shamil is a famous leader of the Caucasian highlanders who was active in the second quarter of the 19th century. In 1834, he was officially recognized as the imam of the North Caucasus Imamate, which was considered a theocratic state. It was located on the territory of modern Chechnya and the western part of Dagestan. Considered a national hero of the peoples of the North Caucasus.

Origin of Shamil

Imam Shamil is an Avarian by origin. His father was a blacksmith, and his mother was the daughter of an Avar bek. He was born in 1797 in the small village of Gimry on the territory of modern western Dagestan. They named him Ali in honor of his grandfather.

At a young age, the future imam Shamil was a very sickly child. Therefore, his parents, in order to protect him from misfortunes, decided to give him another name - Shamil, which in literal translation means "Heard by God." That was the name of his mother's brother.

Hero's childhood

Whether it happened by chance or not, having received a new name, Shamil soon recovered and began to amaze everyone around him with his health, strength and energy.

As a child, he was a very lively and playful child, often caught in pranks, but rarely any of them were aimed at harming anyone. It was often said about Shamil that outwardly he was distinguished by a very gloomy appearance, a strong will, unprecedented curiosity, lust for power and a very proud disposition.

He was a very athletic child, he was fond of gymnastics, for example, few could catch up with him while running. Many noted his strength and courage. Therefore, his passion for fencing and his passion for edged weapons, especially checkers and daggers, popular in the Caucasus, are understandable. As a teenager, he hardened his body so much that in any weather, even in winter, he appeared with his chest open and barefoot. This quote from Imam Shamil characterizes him well:

If you're afraid, don't speak; he said, don't be afraid.

His first mentor is considered to be his childhood friend Adil-Muhammad, who was born in the town of Gimry. For many years they were inseparable. By the age of 20, Shamil had completed courses in logic, grammar, Arabic, rhetoric, law and even higher philosophy. His education was the envy of many of his contemporaries.

Passion for "holy war"

The sermons that Ghazi-Muhammad read eventually captivated the future Imam Shamil. He broke away from the books from which he drew knowledge and became interested in muridism, which at that time began to spread rapidly. The name of this teaching comes from the word “murid”, which literally means “seeking the path to salvation.” In its rituals and teachings, Muridism differed little from classical Islam.

In 1832, Shamil took part in the Caucasian War, which was quite expected due to his hobbies. Together with Ghazi-Muhammad, he found himself in the village of Gimry, besieged by Russian troops. The operation was led by General Velyaminov. The hero of our article was seriously wounded, but still managed to break through the besiegers. At the same time, Gazi-Muhammad, who was the first to rush into the attack, leading the troops, was killed. Quotes from Imam Shamil are still reproduced by many of his fans and followers. For example, he described this, one of the first battles in his career, as follows:

Kazi-Magomed said to Shamil: “Here we will all be killed, and we will die without causing harm to the infidels; it’s better to go out and die fighting our way.” With these words, he pulled his hat over his eyes and rushed out of the door. He had just run out of the tower when a soldier hit him in the back of the head with a stone. Kazi-Magomed fell and was immediately stabbed to death with bayonets. Shamil, seeing that two soldiers stood opposite the doors with guns aimed, in an instant jumped out of the doors and found himself behind both. The soldiers immediately turned to him, but Shamil cut them down. The third soldier ran from him, but he caught up and killed him. At this time, the fourth soldier stuck a bayonet into his chest, so that the end entered his back. Shamil, grabbing the barrel of a gun with his right hand, chopped up a soldier with his left (he was left-handed), pulled out the bayonet and, holding the wound, began to chop in both directions, but did not kill anyone, because the soldiers ran away from him, amazed by his courage, and were afraid to shoot so that do not injure your own people surrounding Shamil.

The body of the murdered imam was transported to Tarki to avoid new disturbances (these are places in the area of ​​modern Makhachkala). The territory was controlled by Russian troops. Shamil managed to meet his sister, presumably because of this he became so excited that a fresh wound opened. Some of those around him considered him close to death, so they did not choose him as the new imam. His associate named Gamzat-bek Gotsatlinsky was appointed to this place.

Two years later, during the Caucasian War, the highlanders managed to win several significant victories. For example, Khunzakh was taken. But already in 1839 they suffered a severe and devastating defeat at Akhulgo. Shamil then left Dagestan; he was forced to urgently move to Chechnya, where he lived for some time in the village of Gush-Kort.

Congress of the Chechen People

In 1840, Shamil took part in the congress of the Chechen people. To do this, he arrives in Urus-Marta, where Isa Gendargenoevsky invites him. There is a preliminary congress of Chechen military leaders taking place there.

And the very next day, at the congress of the Chechen people, he was elected imam of Chechnya and Dagestan. IN short biography Imam Shamil this fact is necessarily mentioned, being one of the key ones. The future hero of the Caucasian people becomes the third imam. He sets his main task to unite the mountaineers, while continuing to fight against Russian troops, who, as a rule, outnumber the Dagestanis and Chechens quantitatively, and their weapons and uniforms are of higher quality.

Shamil differs from the previous imam of Dagestan in his military talent, slowness and prudence; he displays organizational skills, as well as perseverance, endurance, and the ability to choose the moment to strike.

With his charisma, he managed to raise and inspire the highlanders to fight, while at the same time forcing them to obey his authority, which extended to the internal affairs of almost all subject communities. Last moment was especially unusual for Dagestanis and Chechens, it was not easy to perceive, but Shamil coped with it.

Shamil's power

One of the main achievements in the biography of Imam Shamil is that he managed to unite almost all societies of western Dagestan and Chechnya under his rule. He relied on the teachings of Islam, which tell of a “holy war” against the infidels, who were called ghazavat. Here he also included demands to fight for independence, uniting the mountaineer communities scattered throughout all regions.

In the biography of Imam Shamil, it was repeatedly noted that in order to achieve his ultimate goal, he sought to abolish institutions and customs, many of which were based on centuries-old customs, called adat in those places.

Another merit of Imam Shamil, in the short biography that is in this article, this is especially emphasized, this is the subordination of both public and privacy Highlanders Sharia. That is, Islamic injunctions based on the sacred texts of the Koran, as well as Islamic injunctions applied in Muslim legal proceedings, came into their everyday life. The name Shamil was directly associated among the mountaineers with the “time of Sharia,” and when he died, they began to say that the “fall of Sharia” had occurred.

Highlander control system

When talking about the biography of Imam Shamil, you need to focus on how he organized the management system. Everything was subordinated to him through a military-administrative system, which was based on a country divided into districts. Moreover, each of them was directly controlled by the naib, who had the right to make key decisions.

To administer justice in each district there was a qadi appointed by the mufti. At the same time, the naibs themselves were strictly forbidden to decide any cases according to Sharia; this was an agency exclusively subordinate to the qadi or mufti.

Every four naibsts united into murids. True, in the last decade of his reign, Shamil was forced to abandon such a system. The reason for this was the outbreak of strife between the amirs of the jamaat and the naibs. The assistants of the naibs were often entrusted with the most important and responsible tasks, because they were considered dedicated to the “holy war” and very courageous people.

Their total number was not definitively established, but at the same time, 120 of them necessarily obeyed the so-called centurion and were included in the honorable suffering of Shamil himself. They were with him both day and night, accompanying him on all trips and at all meetings.

All officials, without exception, unquestioningly obeyed the imam; any disobedience or misconduct was fraught with severe reprimands. They could even end in arrests, demotions, and corporal punishment with whips. Only naibs and murids got rid of this.

This is described in the administration built by Imam Shamil, in the biography of this hero of the Caucasian people, military service were required to be carried by all men capable of bearing arms. At the same time, they were divided into groups of up to 10 and 100 people. Accordingly, they were under the leadership of tens and centurions, who, in turn, were directly subordinate to the naibs.

At the very end of his reign, Shamil slightly changed the army control system. Regiments numbering a thousand people appeared. They were already divided into smaller units.

Shamil's artillery

Among Shamil's personal guards were Polish cavalrymen who had previously fought on the side of the Russian army. The mountaineers had their own artillery, which was usually led by a Polish officer.

Some villages that suffered more than others from the invasion and shelling of Russian troops were getting rid of conscription. This was an exception. In return, they were obliged to supply saltpeter, sulfur, salt and other necessary ingredients for conducting successful military operations.

At the same time, the maximum number of Shamil’s troops at some times reached 30,000 people. By 1842, the highlanders had permanent artillery, which was made up of abandoned or captured cannons that had previously belonged to Russian troops. Due to this, during the Caucasian War, Imam Shamil began to achieve success and even a certain advantage.

In addition, some of the guns were produced at our own factory located in Vedeno. At least 50 guns were cast there. True, no more than 25% of them turned out to be suitable. Gunpowder for the artillery of the highlanders was also produced in the territories controlled by Shamil. It was the same Vedeno, as well as Gunibe and Uktsukule.

Financial condition of the troops

Imam Shamil's war was fought with varying degrees of success, largely due to interruptions in funding; it was inconsistent. Casual income was formed from trophies, and permanent income from the so-called zakat. This is the collection of one tenth of the income from sheep, bread and money of all residents established by Sharia. There was also a Kharaja. This is a tax that was collected from mountain pastures and from some particularly remote villages. They once paid the same tax to the Mongol khans.

Basically, the Imamate's treasury was replenished from the Chechen lands, which were very fertile. But there was also a system of raids, which also significantly replenished the budget. Of the trophies obtained, it was necessary to give one fifth to Shamil.

Captivity

The turning point in the history of Imam Shamil was when he was captured by Russian troops. In the 1840s he won several major victories, but in the next decade its movement began to decline.

By that time, Russia had entered the Crimean War. Türkiye and the Western anti-Russian coalition called on him to act jointly against Russia, hoping that he would be able to hit the rear of the Russian army. However, Shamil did not want the Imamate to join Ottoman Empire. As a result, during the Crimean War he took a wait-and-see attitude.

After the conclusion of the peace treaty in Paris, the Russian army concentrated its forces on the Caucasian War. The troops were led by Baryatinsky and Muravyov, who began to actively attack the Imamate. In 1859, Shamil’s residence, located in Vedeno, was taken. And by the summer, the last pockets of resistance were almost completely crushed. Shamil himself was hiding in Gunib, but at the end of August he was overtaken there and the leader of the highlanders was forced to surrender. True, on this Caucasian War did not end, continuing for about five more years.

Shamil was brought to Moscow, where he met with Empress Maria Alexandrovna and Alexander II. After that, he was assigned to live in Kaluga, where his family moved. In 1861, he again meets with the emperor, asks to be released on the Hajj, a Muslim pilgrimage, but receives a categorical refusal, since he lives under supervision.

As a result, in 1866, the leader of the highlanders, together with his sons, swore allegiance to Russia, and soon he was even invited to the wedding of Tsarevich Alexander. At this celebration he saw the emperor for the third time in his life. In 1869, he was even made a hereditary nobleman by a special decree; Shamil’s life in Russia was finally settled.

In 1868, when he was already 71 years old, the emperor, knowing about the poor state of health of the highlander, allowed him to live in Kyiv instead of Kaluga, where he immediately moved.

On next year he finally received the desired permission for a pilgrimage to Mecca, where he went with his family. They first arrived in Istanbul and then traveled by ship through the Suez Canal. In November we reached Mecca. In 1870 he arrived in Medina, where Imam Shamil died a few days later. Years of life of a Caucasian highlander 1797 - 1871.

He was buried in a cemetery called al-Baqi, located in Medina itself.

Personal life

Imam Shamil had five wives in total. The very first one bore the name Patimat. She was the mother of his three sons. These are Gazi-Muhammad, Jamaludin and Muhammad-Shapi. In 1845 she died. Even earlier, Shamil’s second wife, named Dzhavgarat, died. This happened in 1839, when Russian troops tried to take Akhulgo by storm.

The military leader's third wife was born in 1829 and was 32 years younger than her husband. She was the daughter of Sheikh Jamaluddin, who was a close associate of the Imam and his de facto mentor. She gave birth to a son, Muhammad-Kamil, and two daughters named Bahu-Mesed and Najabat from the hero of our article. Despite this age difference, she died within the same year as her husband.

He was survived by his fourth wife, Shuainat, by 5 years, who was an Armenian and from birth bore the name Anna Ivanovna Ulukhanova. She was taken prisoner in Mozdok by one of Shamil’s naibs. Six years after her captivity, she married the leader of the highlanders and bore him 5 daughters and 2 sons. True, almost all of them died in infancy, only the girl Sapiyat lived to be 16 years old.

Finally, the fifth wife was Aminam. Their marriage did not last long and there were no children.

In memory of Imam of Dagestan and Chechnya Shamil...

February 4 marks 146 years since the Untsukul region, Dagestan, the entire Caucasus and the Muslim world lost an outstanding leader, sheikh, theologian, politician, ideal to follow and national hero, Imam Shamil. The fact that Shamil’s personality was legendary and great has been told for decades by historians, politicians, theologians and ordinary people. Today, on the eve of this sad date, we want to recall some points from the biography of Imam Shamil, as well as talk about examples of courage, heroism, and complete dedication legendary personality 19th century, and interesting facts related to his personality during his life and after his death.

Ali's Birth Story

Imam Shamil was born on a June day in 1797 into the family of a simple worker Dengava from the village of Gimry, Untsukul region. Father Dengav Magomed and mother Bahu-Mesedu were incredibly happy about the appearance of their son, and named him Ali. However, from early childhood the child began to get sick often, was weak, frail, and was fading away every day.

According to stories, one day the residents of Gimry saw a large eagle with snow-white wings above the Dengava house. The eagle circled over the house, circled, as if looking for something, and suddenly rushed to the ground and soared into the sky again. Then everyone saw that a large snake had become the eagle’s prey. For many, this event became a kind of sign, a symbol that the life of the family would change for the better. Ali's parents decided to change the boy's name, as was customary in the mountains in cases of frequent illnesses in children. The boy received the name Shamil.

Shamil...

From the time the boy began to be called Shamil, he began to grow stronger, and soon overtook his peers in growth, development and health. He was strong in studies, sports, wrestling, shooting, and racing. Shamil loved to study and made every effort to acquire knowledge. Shamil's upbringing was in the spirit of mountain customs: the boy was instilled with respect for elders, hard work, courage, and restraint. From the age of 6, Shamil read the Koran. Then he studied other sciences. One day school teacher he even called Shamil’s father to school and said that he had nothing more to teach his son. Shamil decided to go to neighboring villages in search of knowledge.

In search of knowledge

Shamil set off on the journey with his older comrade Gazi-Muhammad. They were lucky enough to study and communicate with the best representatives of the clergy of that time: Magomed Yaragsky, Jamaludin Kazikumukhsky, Said Arakansky, Gazi-Magomed Gimrinsky, Abdurakhman Sogratlinsky.

Shamil began serious studies in Untsukul with his mentor Dzhemal Eddinn, famous for his learning. By the age of 12, he completed a course in grammar, logic, rhetoric, Arabic and began taking courses in higher philosophy and law. Receiving such an education helped Shamil to reveal his oratorical abilities, develop a broad intellect and great moral strength.

Having returned after a long search for knowledge, Shamil and Gazi-Muhammad no longer wanted to live as before. The fire of justice burned in them, which called for changing the way of life of the mountaineers, making it worthy. It should be noted that in everyday life Shamil was a very modest person who carefully fulfilled all his religious duties.

Assistant to Ghazi-Muhammad

In 1829, at the congress of representatives of the peoples of Dagestan, Gazi-Muhammad was awarded honorary title imam. Shamil becomes his right hand in all matters. By that time the Caucasian War was already underway in full swing, so the comrades had to solve the issues of arranging the villages in the intervals, between fierce battles.

Gazi-Muhammad spent only two years in his post. In one of the battles, he, Shamil and several murids find themselves surrounded in the Gimry tower. No one was going to give up, but there was no chance of leaving alive. Ghazi-Muhammad opened the gates of the tower, going out to his death from the bullets of the royal army with his head held high.

Shamil, having climbed to the top of the tower, jumped down from there. Since the tower was located on a small hill, he managed to jump over his enemies in this way, landing behind them. The chase began. However, through tough resistance, he managed to fight off his pursuers.

Exhausted Shamil lay in the clearing. He did not believe that his injuries would allow him to survive, he simply waited for the hour of death. And then he again saw in the sky the same eagle that had flown into their yard as a child. This gave me hope and strength. He managed to get to the doctor Abdul-Aziz, who was a friend of his father. And having gotten back on his feet, after many months of treatment, he marries Abdul-Aziz’s daughter.

The Imam's Difficult Fast

After the death of Gazi-Muhammad, people wanted to see Shamil in the position of Imam and leader. However, Shamil refused such an honorary title, saying that he was not yet ready for this post. Gamzat-Bek was elected imam, who, like Gazi-Muhammad, was destined for a very short term board. Two years later, Gamzat-Bek was treacherously killed in a mosque where he came to pray.

In 1834, in the village of Ashilta, by unanimous decision, Shamil was appointed imam. The Imamate created by him was divided into several districts, which were called “naibstvos”. In each district, a naib was appointed who strictly monitored the implementation of all the instructions of the imam.

It was created under Shamil Supreme Council, treasury, some semblance of an army and military ranks. Shamil banned blood feud and introduced laws and fines, which no one here could have even thought of before. Six years later, Shamil was recognized as an imam by the Chechen people.

Ahulgo

Akhulgo, which today has become a symbol of reconciliation, unity of peoples, common memory and sorrow, became the capital of the Imamate in those distant and difficult years. One of the bloodiest battles of the Caucasian War took place near its walls, which claimed the lives of thousands of people. In 1836, the siege of Akhulgo by the royal army, under the command of General Grabbe, lasted several months. The mountaineers did not give up. Not only men, but also women and children died. Despite the complete blockade, no one agreed to surrender.

Grabbe invited Shamil to surrender along with his eight-year-old son Jamaluddin, thereby guaranteeing an end to the siege. Shamil refused. The assault resumed with renewed vigor. There are practically no men left who could hold back the attacks. Knowing that no harm would come to Jamaluddin, Shamil was forced to give his son as a hostage, saving the remaining villagers. He himself, with a small detachment, managed to break into neighboring Chechnya.

Meeting with Jamaluddin

Jamaluddin was taken to Russia and assigned to the Imperial Cadet Corps for orphans. The imam had three more sons and two daughters, but for the next 15 years his soul ached for the child, who was now being raised by strangers. The chance helped Shamil see his child again. His detachment captured the estate of the Armenian prince Chavchavadze, capturing the princess and her sister. It was decided to exchange the princesses for Shamil’s son. While they were waiting for a response from Tsar Nicholas I, they were settled in Shamil’s house. Later, Countess Chavchavadze spoke of Shamil as an educated and charming person.

Dzhemal-Eddin Shamil - that’s what the Russians called Jamaluddin; by this time he already had the rank of cornet, was pleased with his service and loved Russia. Before returning to his homeland, he was invited to the palace, where Nicholas the First asked him to tell his father that he wanted peace.

Unaccustomed to the mountain climate and mountain life, 26-year-old Jamaluddin fell ill with consumption and died before last day asking his father to reconcile with Russia.

Wives of Imam Shamil

In 1840, Shamil married for the second time. His chosen one is the daughter of a wealthy merchant from Mozdok, Anna Ulukhanova, who was captured by a mountain detachment. However, having loved the imam with all her soul, she agreed to convert to Islam and become Shamil’s wife. Until the end of his life, Shamil was in love with his Anna, who always remained a loving and devoted wife, took the Muslim name Shuainat and bore him five children. Some sources mention the names of the gimrinok Hadisat, who was Shamil’s first wife. And Patimat, whom the Imam married after his divorce from Hadith. As other sources mention, it was Patimat who bore him three sons Jamaludin, Gazimagomed and Magomedshafi and two daughters Napisat and Patimat. And his beloved wife Shuainat gave birth to his only daughter, Sapiyat, who died at the age of 17 in Arabia.

The names of other wives of the Imam are also mentioned. Dzhavgarat, who died during the assault on Akhulgo with her son Said in her arms. Zaidat is the daughter of Kazikumukh Sheikh Jamaludin, who gave birth to two daughters Nazhabat, Bakha-Meseda and a son Magomedkamil. The name of the Kist woman Aminat, whom the Imam gave a divorce shortly before the end of the war, is also mentioned in the sources, due to the lack of children.

Honorary prisoner

After the accession of Emperor Alexander II to the throne, the Caucasian War began its final phase. Prince Baryatinsky, who was a childhood friend of the new tsar, bribed the most key figures in the Caucasus. This broke Shamil’s imamate. Fragmentation and widespread betrayal of the Imam flourished.

Shamil hoped to hold out on the top of Mount Gunib, fighting off the royal troops. But the forces were not equal. In order to save those who remained, and accepting the proposal to conclude a truce, Shamil decides to surrender.

On August 25, 1859, a historic meeting between the imam and Prince Baryatinsky took place at the foot of Gunib. Baryatinsky met Shamil without harming his dignity, but on the contrary, showing all possible respect. And already in mid-September, Alexander II met with Shamil and even presented him with a golden saber, thanking him for his step towards creating the world.

Peace with Russia

Shamil visited several Russian cities, never ceasing to be amazed at the beauty and greatness of Russia. And he was especially amazed at how people greeted him. He believed that they were obliged to hate him, but he was greeted everywhere as a hero, calling him the Caucasian Napoleon.

Shamil was settled in Kaluga. He and his family were given a beautiful three-story house. Shamil often traveled, got acquainted with the life of people, visited hospitals where wounded soldiers of the tsarist army lay, and followed theatrical life. In a word, this was not the life of a prisoner, it was the life of an honored guest.

In 1861, Shamil turned to the emperor with a request for a trip to Muslim shrines in Mecca. Having invited Shamil and his eldest son Gazi-Magomed to Tsarskoye Selo, Alexander promised to let him go, but only later. For now, he considered this inappropriate, since everything in the mountains had not yet been pacified.

Shamil's son Magomed-Shapi entered the service of Alexander in the Caucasian squadron. Shamil's third wife Zagidat gave the imam a son, Magomed-Kamil, already in Kaluga. Here, Shamil takes the oath of allegiance to the emperor.

The years took their toll, the Kaluga climate was no longer suitable for the imam, and a decision was made to move to Kyiv. Before leaving, Shamil went to the cemetery to say goodbye to the seventeen family graves that he left here.

Sitting on the banks of the Dnieper in Kyiv, Shamil understood that the time had come to go to his last trip. He again asked the emperor for a trip to Mecca, promising that his sons would stay. And so, permission was received. On February 16, 1869, Alexander II gives his consent. The most cherished dream Imam Shamil.

Death of the Imam

Imam Shamil died on February 4, 1871, after completing his pilgrimage, in Medina. There he was buried in the Al-Bakiya cemetery, where many more venerable people of the Muslim world are buried.

In 2007, some interesting facts from the last moments of the imam's life. On the 137th anniversary of the imam’s death, at a memorial evening, a letter from Abdurakhman At-Teletl, who witnessed Shamil’s death, was read out. The letter states:

“...Great ulamas, mudaris, imams, preachers, sheikhs came to him [Shamil] in Mecca. They came to him as pilgrims to see his face. The Emir of Mecca issued a decree to be revered. One day, when the imam was returning from evening prayers, the prophet Khizri (peace be upon him) met him at the gate called Babu Ali. Sometimes, so that people would not recognize him [the imam], when he went to prayer, he changed his clothes. Muhammad-Amin from Gonod (former naib of Shamil) knew about his meeting with the prophet Khizri (peace be upon him). When he saw the dome of the mosque of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (meaning the mazar on the grave in the shape of a dome), the imam prayed: “Allah Almighty, make me a neighbor of this Your Prophet [Muhammad]. The imam went to the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) many times. He addressed him: “Prophet of Allah, if You are pleased with me, make sure that I see Your face.” One fine day, when he was sitting like this near the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) appeared to him. From there the imam returned home trembling. After this, his body began to weaken. He died in love with Allah. At this time, there lived a sheikh named Saygid Hussein in Medina. The Imam died with his head on his lap. Imam Shamil was a man who reached great levels of knowledge of the Almighty. On the day he died, his miracle work was revealed. At the moment when his body was lowered into the grave at the Bakiya cemetery, he spoke: “You be a garden that protects me, not letting me get bored.” Great alims and others came to the funeral of Imam Shamil famous people city ​​of Medina. And janaza prayer (funeral prayer) was performed in Ravza, in the mosque of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Many people mourned him. Women and children, rising to the roofs of houses, saw off the imam, saying that the death of the emir of the people of Gazava was a great misfortune. Before the body was taken to the cemetery, a lot of people gathered. There were many who wanted to take Shamil’s body to the Bakiya cemetery, because they wanted to receive Allah’s reward from this. And I am Abdurahman from Teletl. 1871"

Historical conclusions

The story of Imam Shamil once again confirms that it is never too late to rethink your views and find common language even with the strongest opponent. Shamil, who fought with the tsarist army for many years, nevertheless chose the path of reconciliation and called on all descendants to live in peace with Russia. Memorial complex“Akhulgo” was conceived precisely with the aim of perpetuating such reconciliation. Ahulgo is a symbol of common memory and sorrow, a common historical fate and a common future.

P. S. We need history in order to draw conclusions and never repeat the mistakes of the past. To learn from the worthy, wise and best sons and daughters of yesteryear. May there never be wars, bloodshed, strife and discord. Let peaceful, simple, innocent people not suffer or die anywhere on earth. World peace. Amine!

Shamil - Imam of Chechnya and Dagestan.

Shamil was born in June, on the 26th, in 1797. He was born in the village of Gimry.

As a child, Shamil was sick very often, but began to recover and even grow after his first name “Ali” was replaced with “Shamil”.

Shamil had such strength that none of his peers could defeat him in jumping, running, or wrestling - Shamil always won! There are legends that if Shamil saw a donkey loaded with firewood on the street, he simply jumped over it.

From a very young age, Shamil's maternal uncle taught him to read the Koran. And when he reached the age of 10 years, the boy was sent to a madrasah for further education.

Shamil was very brave, courageous and decisive. Everyone knew about these qualities of his, since they manifested themselves in any of his actions. One day, when Shamil finally got tired of seeing his father at home drunk (and he loved to take a drink from the bottle), he directly told him that if he ever decided to drink wine again, his son would throw himself off a cliff straight into the river that same day. . The father knew the boy’s character very well, and therefore immediately stopped drinking.

They say that the following incident happened to him: while he was studying at a madrasah in the village of Kudul, a man approached him. His name was Mazulav. He told Shamil: “I heard that you are the strongest fighter among all the Koisubulins. I would like to check this out. Let’s fight and make sure which of us is stronger!” To which Shamil replied: “Leave me alone, I have no desire to fight with you!” But Makhulav attributed what was said to Shamil’s fear and began to tease him without stopping.

Friends told Shamil that he would not leave until he got what he wanted. After thinking, Shamil agreed.

Climbing onto the flat roof of the mosque, Makhulav and Shamil rushed at each other and began to fight. Makhulav grabbed Shamil by the belt and then hit him in the chest with his head! But Shamil held Makhulav tightly by his shirt, not letting go, even though Makhulav’s blow was so strong that Shamil’s bones cracked after it.

Angry, Shamil threw his opponent to the floor, stepped on his stomach with his knee, and then said: “If you are a man, get up!” Makhulav never managed to get up until Shamil got off him. After this fight, Shamil was sick for a whole month - the blow to the chest took its toll.

One day, Shamil and his friend Gazimuhammad were talking about swimming. Gazimuhammad told Shamil that in their village no one had yet managed to swim across the place where two rivers merged - the whirlpool there was so strong. In that place the waters were boiling strongly, and there was a whirlpool.

Shamil said: “I can swim to the other side.” “Even though you are a good swimmer, can you get out of the whirlpool?” - Gazimuhammad asked him. And Shamil answered him: “All this is the will of Allah. I am destined to swim across. If not, I’ll die.”

Shamil. Gazimuhammad and the invited peers went to the river. There Shamil took off all his clothes and boldly threw himself straight into the water! Straight into the whirlpool.

Shamil fought for a long time with streams of water, falling into one and then another. For some time he escaped from the whirlpool and swam to the shore, but each time the strong current produced by the whirlpool pulled him back.

At some point, Shamil completely disappeared from sight.

“We have lost our friend,” Gazimuhammad said in confusion.

At this very moment, Shamil, being under water and almost losing his last hope, began to read the Shahada. And then, he gathered all the last strength he had left into his fist and still swam to the shore! All witnesses to his victory were delighted with this triumph of man's strength and faith.

Shamil tried to please his mother. She was very pleased with him, she always asked Allah: “Exalt my son, make him the person who occupies high level“And already in the status of imam, Shamil often said: “Most likely, Allah accepted prayers from my mother.”

When Shamil was still a mutaalim, he was in a mosque in another village. It was during the month of Ramadan. Each of the mutallims had oatmeal in their hands - three lumps each. They received it in the form of saadak.

At the same time, a beggar man entered the same mosque and began to ask for food. However, no one wanted to give the poor man the food that he had prepared for himself for an early breakfast before the day of fasting. And Shamil approached the man and gave him the oatmeal.

“May Allah raise your level!” - said the grateful beggar.

Already being an imam, Shamil often said that this beggar could be none other than the Prophet Khizri (peace be upon him!).

There is another case. One day, Shamil and his peers went to an aul, which was located far in the mountains, to study at the madrasah located there. They all stopped at the mosque for the night. They did not have the conditions that they have modern people- hotels, and other things.

Some time passed, and one of his friends noted that Shamil gets up and goes out somewhere two hours before morning prayer. When he told the other guys about this, they decided to follow Shamil to find out where he was going and why he was doing it.

At first, they decided that he got himself a girlfriend by falling in love with her.

When the time came, all the Mutaalim went to bed as if nothing had happened. But everyone only pretended to be asleep and did not sleep. Everyone was waiting for Shamil to get up again and go somewhere. And so it happened. Shamil stood up somewhere again.

As soon as Shamil got up and went somewhere, everyone immediately got up and went after him.

Shamil went to the dilapidated house and entered it. No more than a few minutes later, he came out of there with several jugs and went to the spring. There he filled them and went back and brought them into the house. Half an hour passed. Shamil left the house and headed towards the mosque.

His comrades were full of suspicions and doubts. They thought that Shamil’s beloved was in the house. Wanting to expose and shame their comrade, they entered the house, intending to find Shamil’s beloved there. But they found an old woman there who could barely walk around the room. Their amazement knew no bounds!

In the end, it turned out like this: when Shamil arrived in the village, the first thing he did was find out who needed help here. He was brought to the abandoned old woman. And, having found out that a lonely old woman lived here, abandoned by everyone, he undertook to help her - clean the room, and also bring water every night.

The old woman had no children, no relatives, or anyone else who could care for her for a long time. And all this time Shamil made up for the care of her from her possible relatives, whom the old woman did not have.

The future imam secretly went to this old woman, looked after her, cleaned up, and then returned to the mosque and back. This is how Shamil was at a very young age, before he became an imam.

Shamil was extremely witty and eloquent. As the reasonable and quick-witted Muhammad Kasyr (which means “short”) Andireevsky Muhammad told Karakhsky the following words about him: “The Russians, namely their superiors, want to show respect to Shamil. They want to exalt him, they do not want to make him despicable and humiliate him. There is the following evidence of this: There is a state of friendship between me and Prince Chavchavadze. And one day, after Shamil left for the Russian Tsar, I managed to visit my friend - the prince - and also meet there a scientist who had previously been close to the same Shamil, who replaced him. Chavchavadze sat me down next to him and put his hand on my shoulder. Then he asked: “Aren’t you going to ask about your friend Shamil?” I answered: “I did not know that you visited him, truly.” He said: “And I did not visit him, but I heard rumors about him.” And the scientist said that Shamil in lately, in a state of extreme old age, began to grow old and weaken in mind.

Chavchavadze said so: “In Russia in our time, there is a widespread opinion that Shamil’s mind is perfect and his courage is limitless. Otherwise, it cannot be otherwise, because Shamil endured a twenty-five-year struggle against tsarism, and the Russian Tsar could not stand it, after which he decided to go to war!”

Muhammad Kasir, mentioned here, said that the same Chavchavadze spoke and told him about the conversation with Shamil and the bishop. But a bishop is one of the greatest monks. And Chavchavadze said: “The bishop is higher among us than even the king.”

And it turned out that, during the conversation, Shamil asked the bishop: “Is it not the custom of Allah to replace previous instructions from the prophets with the instructions of the prophet who came after? After all, certain tablets were replaced by others. The prescription of the tablets was also replaced by the Torah from the prophet Moses (peace be upon him), and the same Torah was in turn replaced by the Gospel." And the Bishop replied: "Of course, this is all so." Shamil continued: “And why can’t you recognize the replacement of the Gospel with the Koran?” And then he said: “We will leave this topic, but bring me the Gospel, which is written in Arabic.” They brought him a copy. And when Shamil read the Gospel, he said: “The Gospel forbids pork, wine and adultery. At the same time, you do not act according to him!”

Chavchavadze said: “Should Shamil give this speech to such a respected person, and is there really nothing in the Koran that you do not do?”

“Yes,” the scientist admitted. - “There are things in the Koran that we do not follow”

But I said: “We follow the instructions of the Koran. We pray, pay zakat, fast during the holy month of Ramadan, and abstain from wickedness and adultery. In the same case, if the drinker drinks, or the one who steals steals, then this is only due to their personal depravity.”

Chavchavadze said. Putting his hand on my shoulder: “Muhammad, you blame me for this.”

The same messages are stated differently. This was also written about in Russian newspapers that came to Temir-Khan-Shur. They said that the bishop eventually invited Shamil to visit his home, along with the Russian Tsar.

Shamil found the bishop a decrepit old man and asked him: “Don’t you have a wife?”

“No,” answered the bishop. Prophet Jesus did not marry, but I follow him.”

Shamil looked - the bishop’s house was filled with gold, silver, lamps and vessels.

“Was the house of Jesus filled with gold and riches?” - he asked the bishop.

“No,” he answered.

“So why do you follow the prophet only in celibacy, but avoid following him in everything that concerns wealth?”

The bishop became embarrassed and fell silent.

Imam Shamil, the third imam of the Chechen and Dagestan lands, left this world on February 4, 1871.

Imam Shamil is the famous leader and unifier of the highlanders of Dagestan and Chechnya in their struggle with Russia for independence. His capture played a significant role in the course of this struggle. September 7 marked 150 years since Shamil was captured.

Imam Shamil was born in the village of Gimry around 1797 (according to other sources, around 1799). The name given to him at birth - Ali - was changed by his parents to “Shamil” as a child. Gifted with brilliant natural abilities, Shamil listened to the best teachers of grammar, logic and rhetoric of the Arabic language in Dagestan and soon began to be considered an outstanding scientist. The sermons of Kazi Mullah (Ghazi-Mohammed), the first preacher of ghazavat - the holy war against the Russians - captivated Shamil, who first became his student, and then his friend and ardent supporter. The followers of the new teaching, who sought salvation of the soul and cleansing from sins through a holy war for faith against the Russians, were called murids.

Accompanying his teacher on his campaigns, Shamil in 1832 was besieged by Russian troops under the command of Baron Rosen in his native village of Gimry. Shamil managed, although badly wounded, to break through and escape, Kazi-mullah died. After the death of Kazi-mullah, Gamzat-bek became his successor and imam. Shamil was his main assistant, gathering troops, obtaining material resources and commanding expeditions against the Russians and the enemies of the Imam.

In 1834, after the assassination of Gamzat-bek, Shamil was proclaimed imam and for 25 years ruled over the highlanders of Dagestan and Chechnya, successfully fighting against the enormous forces of Russia. Shamil had military talent, great organizational skills, endurance, perseverance, the ability to choose the time to strike and assistants to fulfill your plans. Distinguished by his strong and unyielding will, he knew how to inspire the mountaineers, knew how to excite them to self-sacrifice and obedience to his authority.

The imamate he created became, in the conditions of the far from peaceful life of the Caucasus at that time, a unique entity, a kind of state within a state, which he preferred to govern individually, regardless of the means by which this management was supported.

In the 1840s, Shamil won a number of major victories over Russian troops. However, in the 1850s, Shamil's movement began to decline. On the eve of the Crimean War of 1853 - 1856, Shamil, counting on the help of Great Britain and Turkey, intensified his actions, but failed.

The conclusion of the Paris Peace Treaty of 1856 allowed Russia to concentrate significant forces against Shamil: the Caucasian Corps was transformed into an army (up to 200 thousand people). The new commanders-in-chief - General Nikolai Muravyov (1854 - 1856) and General Alexander Baryatinsky (1856 - 1860) continued to tighten the blockade ring around the Imamate. In April 1859, Shamil's residence, the village of Vedeno, fell. And by mid-June the last pockets of resistance in Chechnya were suppressed.

After Chechnya was finally annexed by Russia, the war continued for almost five more years. Shamil with 400 murids fled to the Dagestan village of Gunib.

On August 25, 1859, Shamil, together with 400 associates, was besieged in Gunib and on August 26 (September 7 according to the new style) surrendered under conditions that were honorable to him.

After being received in St. Petersburg by the emperor, Kaluga was assigned to him for residence.

In August 1866, in the front hall of the Kaluga Provincial Assembly of Nobles, Shamil, together with his sons Gazi-Magomed and Magomed-Shapi, took the oath of allegiance to Russia. After 3 years By the Highest Decree Shamil was elevated to hereditary nobility.

In 1868, knowing that Shamil was no longer young and the Kaluga climate was not in the best possible way affects his health, the emperor decided to choose a more suitable place for him, which was Kyiv.

In 1870, Alexander II allowed him to travel to Mecca, where he died in March (according to other sources in February) 1871. He was buried in Medina (now Saudi Arabia).