Anonymous
Editor: How many Muslims are there in the Moscow Region? Worker among Muslims in Moscow (WMM): Official figures are much lower, but our research indicates that the Muslim population in Moscow and its region is five to five-and-a-half million. Also, St. Petersburg is home to some two million Muslims.
Editor: What is the breakdown by nationality of Muslims in Moscow?
WMM: There are two basic categories: Citizens of the Russian Federation who come from the 80-plus republics and autonomous regions within Russia and nationals of other former Soviet republics. In the first category, the largest Muslim minority in Moscow is the Tatars, numbering one to one-and-a-half million. Next, are those from the autonomous republics in the North Caucasus, which includes migrants from 45 different ethnic groups. Perhaps half a million of Russia’s nine million North Caucasus Muslims live and work in Moscow. The second broad category of Muslims in Moscow, those who are not citizens of the Russian Federation, come mostly from other independent republics of the former Soviet Union, including Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan: around one million each. We do not meet many Muslims in Moscow from less populace Turkmenistan or comparatively prosperous Kazakhstan. Moscow is also home to small numbers of Muslims from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Jordan. For example, approximately 80 Jordanian medical students study at Peoples Friendship University.
Editor: Why have so many Muslims moved to Moscow, and what is their status?
WMM: Job opportunities draw most to Moscow, especially work in construction, but also the menial labor that Muscovites would rather not do. Many Muslims work in retail selling goods and produce such as watermelons brought in from the south, driving taxis, cleaning streets, etc. Some come to Moscow to study, but most come to make money to send back home.
Editor: What is the legal status of Muslims in Moscow?
WMM: Muslims who are born in Russia or obtain Russian citizenship are, of course, in Moscow legally. In contrast, an unknown but sizable number from the “Near Abroad” (Central Asia and Azerbaijan) do not have registration papers (propiski) for residence in Moscow. Many Muslims lose their legal status after their initial registration expires. Sometimes officials simply confiscate registration papers.
Editor: What is life like for Muslims in Moscow?
WMM: Muslims can be a very transient population in the capital. Many Central Asians in Moscow are men working in the building trades with families back home. Pay is not great but better than at home—if jobs can be had at all. The cold climate is difficult for many from farther south. Working and housing conditions are poor. Many work long hours each day, seven days a week; and many live in basements of buildings or in apartments that may house 10 to 40 workers each, sleeping in shifts. Life is harsh. Russians tend to ignore them, take advantage of them, or discriminate against them. Many opportunities are present to show them the love of Christ.
Editor: Are Muslims in Moscow strongly attached to their faith?
WMM: Some are, and some are not. Migrants from the North Caucasus most often are devout Muslims. Tatars and many Central Asians in Moscow tend to be adamant that they are Muslim, but quite nominal in their practice of Islam. For many their faith is a matter of cultural identity, which makes it difficult for them to consider becoming followers of Jesus.
Moscow has only four legally registered mosques. Moscow’s largest mosque near Prospekt Mira Metro Station has been under construction for more than five years. Explanations vary as to why the original structure was demolished in 2011, but now it is being enlarged to be a much grander structure. Moscow is also home to an unknown number of unregistered mosques functioning in out-of-the-way locations, such as in warehouse districts. Authorities know about many of these worship centers and close them down periodically. With such a large Muslim population and so few registered mosques, crowds around existing mosques on holy days, especially Ramadan and Kurban Bayram, can be huge: 50,000 to 100,000. These mass throngs freak out Russian Muscovites who typically hold prejudices against Muslims anyway. As an example, slurs directed at Central Asians are common on Russian TV. Tajiks tend to get the brunt of these.
Editor: Turning to your ministry, how long and where have you ministered among Muslims in the name of Jesus?
WMM: I have lived and worked among Muslim populations for 20 years in Africa, Central Asia, and Russia.
Editor: How do you witness to Muslims in Moscow?
WMM: Just being friendly to overworked, lonely, and stressed-out migrant workers is a good beginning. People from Muslim cultures are typically very relational and easy to talk to, and it is not difficult to engage in discussions about spiritual matters. I often strike up conversations with Central Asians and other Muslims on their work breaks. On very cold days, I go out and share a thermos of hot tea and Scripture portions with them. My wife and I try to show hospitality by inviting Muslims into our apartment for meals. Just treating my wife and children with love and respect in the home can be a powerful witness because our guests watch very carefully how we live. We try to show them what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus. I have learned not to wait to share Jesus with them in a loving, relational way, trusting that His sheep will hear His voice. I ask them if they have questions; I engage Muslims in real, caring conversations; I do not argue; I speak the Truth in love; I open my life to them; and I pursue hospitality.
Editor: What resources do you have to assist in your outreach to Muslims?
WMM: We have the Campus Crusade “Jesus” film in eight languages on a single disc. I think even more effective is a film called “Mary Magdalene.” It basically is the story of Jesus told from Mary Magdalene’s point of view, combining excerpts from the “Jesus” film with added footage shot for this production. We have the “Eastern” Translation of the Russian Bible (www.slovocars.org), which is designed with Muslim cultural and aesthetic preferences in mind. We also have excerpts of this translation of the Bible published in a more compact volume of about 100 pages. A Chechen-language Bible was printed in 2012, and a Chechen audio New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs have been available since June 2014—after 40 years of work! A complete Uzbek-language Bible is now being published; and we have the four Gospels in the Tajik language.
Editor: How receptive are Muslims in Moscow to Christian witness?
WMM: It varies by nationality. The least open to Christ are Muslim Tatars and Muslims from the Caucasus. Tatars often are adamant in their Muslim identity, but at the same time nominal in practice, consuming pork and alcohol, for example. However, among Muslim converts, Tatars who become followers of Christ are especially zealous to live out their faith and reach the lost. On the other hand, Muslims from Central Asia tend to be more open. Moscow is home to at least 25 communities of Christ-followers of Muslim background from Central Asia (Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, and Tajiks).
Editor: Are there any new developments that you find encouraging?
WMM: I am glad to see some Christ-followers of Muslim background from Central Asia intentionally moving to Moscow for the purpose of witness and evangelism. Also, some Russian evangelical churches are beginning to develop a heart for the nations (particularly for reaching Muslims) and acting on it. In Moscow reaching Russian-speaking Muslims is less about “going” to other places and more about faithfulness to the Gospel, as defined for us in Scripture: making disciples of ALL nations and modeling to our Russian brothers and sisters in Christ how to love ALL our neighbors, as Christ first loved us. In Russia, Christ’s command to reach ALL nations begins at the threshold of our apartments.