Islamic clergyman A. Beganskas: “We remember that we are Tatars and Muslims, but Lithuania is our homeland”
This year marks the 700th anniversary of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas calling troops to the Tartars to help fight the Teutonic Order. From that time until today, the Tartars, together with Lithuanians, joined the most important historical struggles for Lithuania’s independence. The history of Lithuanians is closely connected with those – it is one of the oldest religious communities in the country.
ALEKSANDRAS BEGANSKAS, a muffin of the Lithuanian Council of Muslim Communities, taken by the Nemėžis Mosque, tells about the intertwined history of nations, as well as the fighting and religious traditions of the Tartars.
The arrival is associated with the Battle of Grunwald
A. Beganskas says that the Tartars to Lithuania are closely connected with the Battle of Grunwald. In 1410 the Tartars came to defend the battle of Lithuania and distinguished themselves as brave and loyal soldiers. According to the imam of the Nemėžis Mosque, the Tartars were settled on the then Lithuanian border in Nemėžis, where Vytautas the Great also lived with his family.
The Tatars came to Lithuania from the Golden Horde, at that time its capital was in Tatarstan. The Muslim mufia states that the Tartars were highly respected and awarded for their merits to Lithuania by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas.
“All the Tatars who have them in the Battle of Grunwald were awarded the title of nobility, even those who were able to prove that their ancestors were fighting. Both my and my wife’s family had the title of nobility, “says A. Beganskas.
Traditions are inseparable from religion
The Muslim Muffin says that in the Duchy of Lithuania, mosques were usually built in square shapes and with a tower – a minaret. In the house of worship at that time, the first place was considered the most honorable place – everyone had to stand there, so the mosques were built wider.
“Now the middle of the mosque is carpeted, it used to be – simple clay was covered. Nevertheless, the floor of the mosque had to be clean, because according to our faith we can pray everywhere – in the woods, on the street, at home, but with the only condition – it must be clean there. This is why carpets are now being built in mosques and you always have to take off your shoes when entering it – you can’t bring dirt inside. It is also forbidden to hang paintings and statues in mosques, and it is forbidden to paint portraits of prophetic people. We are afraid to take responsibility for not drawing and misleading people, ”says A. Beganskas.
According to the Islamic clergyman, the traditions of a funeral are extremely simple – a dead person must have his body washed, wrapped in a white cloth, perform a funeral prayer and be buried as soon as possible. The Muslim faith urges not to invest in funerals – if a person dies, his living relatives need more money.
“If we have a lot, God has given it to share with others. As many people as possible must come to a Muslim funeral and ask for forgiveness and grace to get to heaven. “All living things must take care of and help the relatives of the deceased,” he says.
Lithuania considers it a homeland
A. Beganskas says that when Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union, people could not speak out loud about faith or God – Tatar children secretly had to read the Qur’an and learn about religion. At present, there are even several Islamic schools, an Islamic culture center and mosques in Vilnius and Kaunas.
“My grandfather worked leather, but then it was banned as a national activity and he went to jail for it. When he left prison, he was afraid to pass on this national craft to his children and grandchildren. After the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, Muslims began to visit mosques in a completely different way – realizing why they were coming there and to whom they were praying, ”he says.
According to A. Begansko, not so many young people come to mosques, but now people understand why they go there. They are interested in the origin, the history of the Tartar nation, their relations with Lithuanians and ask what the contribution of the Tartars to Lithuania and independence was.
“In all the uprisings, many Tartars fought against tsarist Russia – we helped Lithuanians and know how precious freedom is. We always remember that we are Tatars and Muslims, but Lithuania is our homeland, ”he says.
The project is partially supported by the Department of National Minorities under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.