Abstract:

The main aim of the paper is to analyze the essence of protectorate system of Russian Empire in the Bukharan Emirate using the imperial policies regarding the waqf institution. Having a brief comparative analysis of the waqf practices of Russian Central Asia with other Muslim colonial societies, it will clarify main points of “colonial policy” of tsarist administration.

The Russian Empire took colossal measures in order to reinforce its position in the Emirate and to achieve its economic, military-strategic goals. Restrictions were introduced on the privatization of land by supplementary regulations, which were adopted between Russian and Bukhara governments for Russian interests in 1888.

The Bukharan Emirate was mainly a country specialized in agriculture, and the basis of its economy was agriculture based on artificial irrigation, in which waqf lands also played a large role. The Zarafshan River was the main source of the Emirate’s irrigation system. After the Russian invasion, the control over the use of the Zarafshan River was transferred to the administration of the Turkestan General Governorship, and the timely blocking of water by colonial power caused great loss to the agriculture of the Emirate. Consequently, much arable land dried up, resulting in decreasing of harvests. Considering the fact that waqf lands were among them, it is obvious that the political changes that happened in the country had a serious negative impact on the Emirate’s waqf property system. In this respect this issue will analyzed in detail, and will elucidate specific aspects of the policy of the Russian Empire.

The concept of “sacred and inviolable property” that had been practiced for centuries in Bukhara changed after the treaty was signed with the Russian Empire. A number of Bukhara mosques, madrassas and khānaqāh lost their right to own their properties beyond Bukhara, and on the contrary, many waqf institutions in the general governorship, which were transferred into the governor's control, lost the right to management on the properties in the Bukharan Emirate. As becomes evident from the sources under study, the waqf properties of Bukharan waqf subjects located in Zarafshan Okrug were directed to the Turkestan General Governorship’s treasury. The situation, which shows the essence of the policy pursued by the tsarist administration, is proved by historical documents, and relevant conclusions are given in this regard.